note: before you start, please check that you have PiMS records for any Samples, Reagents, Targets and Constructs
  which you will refer to in your experiment.

In PiMS, a 'simple' experiment is an experiment that is not performed in a plate. For example expression scale-up.
To record a simple Experiment, mouse over "Experiment" in the horizontal menu bar and select 'New Experiment',
or Click the 'Create New Experiment' link in the PiMS Home page.

You will be presented with a list of Experiment types to select from.  note: the list will only include Experiment types for which your PiMS has a protocol (experiment template) recorded.

• Select the type of experiment you would like to record.
  
  
• You will then be shown a drop down list of PiMS protocols (template) available for your experiment type, choose the protocol for your experiment, then click the button.
  A new experiment record will be made and the details will be displayed in the next screen.   -see View and update Experiment details.
  note: if only one protocol is available for your experiment type, you will not have the opportunity of selecting a protocol, instead the available protocol will be shown.
  
  

Information recorded for Experiments can be displayed by clicking 'Save', when you create a new Experiment record, or when you click the magnifying glass icon in a list of Experiment records resulting from a search (-see Search for an Experiment), or when you click an Experiment link in the list on the left, or when you click an Experiment link in a Construct Results table.

The information is displayed in blocks:
  'Basic Details', 'Setup and Results', 'Samples', 'Images','Attachments' and 'Notes'.

Basic Details block

The basic details block is used to record the standard information for an experiment
The following information can be recorded in the basic details block:

Name: An experiment has a name, which must be different from the name of any other experiment. PiMS will suggest a name but you can change this.

Type: This is the Experiment type which was selected when the experiment record was being created.
  -in the example, this is PCR

Status: You can set the Experiment status from a list of 'To be run', 'In process', 'OK' or 'Failed' from the drop-down list.
The default value is 'To be run'.
  -in the example, the status has been set to 'To be run'

Protocol: This is the PiMS protocol which was selected when the experiment record was being created.
  Click the protocol name for more details.

Start and End date: An experiment has 'Start' and 'End' dates.
By default, these are set to the current date. A different date can be recorded either by editing the default value, or by clicking the calendar icon and selecting a new date.

Construct/Target: You can select the Construct or Target to which the experiment relates.

Scientist: You can select the Scientist who is responsible for the Experiment. By default this is the name of user who is currently logged in.
 note: you may need to ask your administrator to create a new 'Person' record if the one you are looking for is not in the list.

Details: You can record any extra information in the 'Details' field.
 note: if you habitually enter the same details here, it would be better to use an experiment Parameter.
  (see Parameters)

You can change these values by selecting Make Changes, and when you have finished, click on the button.
The updated Experiment details tab will be re-displayed.

Setup and Results

The "Parameters" of a PiMS experiment are the details you intend to record for a specific experiment.
Examples might include possible options for the set up of an experiment, such as the 'number of cycles' to perform for a PCR experiment or details which describe an experimental observation, such as the 'number of colonies' which grew.

Parameters are described in a PiMS protocol (experiment template) as 'Parameter definitions'. These make it possible to record the same information in a consistent way for all experiments which use that protocol.
You may create any number of Parameter definitions for a protocol in PiMS.

The example shows the 'Parameters' box for an experiment using the default PiMS PCR protocol.
The names of the Parameter definitions are on the left and the Parameter values, which relate to an individual experiment, are on the right and can be updated.

• To change the Parameter value, edit the text in the appropriate box, then click 'Save'

Samples

The example shows the 'Samples' box for an experiment record created using the default PiMS PCR protocol.

The Input samples table contains a list of reagents and also samples created in other experiments.
You can specify the actual samples used.

• The Input sample information is displayed in 4 columns. Mouse over the column heading for a description.
    Role: the role the sample plays in the experiment e.g. 'Buffer'.
    Amount: the amount (e.g. volume) of the sample.
    Sample: the record for the actual sample used, you may select this from a drop-down list.
  
    note: if you are not interested in recording the particular batch of a sample used, but only want to record the type,
    you may prefer to create a Parameter definition for this in your protocol, rather than an Input sample.

An output sample is the product of an experiment.
Most experiments produce one output sample. Exceptions are QA experiments, which produce only information, and some experiments which have more than one product.

Records of the output samples for an Experiment are created for you automatically when you create the record of the experiment. You rarely need to alter them.

• The Output sample information is displayed in 3 columns. Mouse over the column heading for a description.
    Role: the role the sample plays in the experiment. If there is only one output sample, this is likely to say 'Product'.
    Amount: the amount (e.g. volume) of the sample.
    Sample: a clickable link to more information on the output sample.
    Click this link to use the Output sample as an Input sample for another Experiment
    see -Linking Experiments for more details.
  
  

Images block -Associating images with an Experiment

You can associate files: images, spreadsheets, etc. with the experiment.
An example of the 'Images' block for a new Experiment is shown below.
  note: there is currently just one images associated with this Experiment.

• Enter a 'Title' and a 'Legend' for the image.
  
  
• Use the button to navigate to the image file.
  
  
• Then click
  
  
• The re-displayed page will include the 'Title' and the 'Legend' which you entered, and a thumbnail image. You can click on the thumbnail to display the full image.
  
   note: there will also be a delete icon, to remove the image, if you have permission to do so.
  
  

Notes block - Writing notes for an Experiment

You can write notes to be associated with the experiment.
An example of the 'Notes' block for a new Experiment is shown below.
  note: there is currently no notes associated with this Experiment.

• Enter your note in the 'Details' textarea.
  
  
• Then click
  
  
• The re-displayed page will include the 'Title' and the 'Legend' which you entered, and a thumbnail image. You can click on the thumbnail to display the full image.
  
  

 note: there will also be a delete icon, to remove the association, if you have permission to do so.