Welcome to the eighth volume of our 2024 product release notes! We’ve been working hard to bring you performance improvements that add value to your work. Read on to learn about the product enhancements and bug fixes released in August 2024.
Watch our Feature Release Highlights to more deeply explore this month's updates.
Notebook
Benchling Notebook helps users log their experiments, create protocols, and capture results against their samples.
General Availability Launch of Notebook Sections [2024.8.N.1]
A better way to organize Entry Templates and Entries. Notebook Sections can be named, dated, color-highlighted, and collapsed.
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Support for Table Formula =SEARCH() [2024.8.N.2]
Find the position of a string within text inside Notebook Tables using the =SEARCH() table formula.
Bulk Resize Table Column Widths [2024.8.N.3]
Resize multiple columns of a Notebook Table by selecting and dragging to resize them. Resizing will apply to all selected table columns.
New Review Filters [2024.8.N.4]
When using global search to find Entries, users can now filter by review start and completion dates.
Registry and Inventory
The Registry and Inventory combine to form an extremely powerful solution for life sciences R&D samples. The Registry can be used to model and log any biological entities while the Inventory provides an interactive digital window into the physical storage system of your lab.
"Raw Text" Spreadsheet Import Option Update [2024.8.RI.1]
The "Raw Text" spreadsheet import option is now displayed in sentence case for improved readability.
Add to Worklist Button in Inventory Tables [2024.8.RI.2]
Users can now add inventory items to the worklist directly from an Update Inventory table.
Small Molecule
The molecule entity in Registry helps users model and interact with chemical compounds throughout the platform, enabling users to draw, visualize, store, and search chemical structures.
Custom Notations for Monomer Library [2024.8.SM.1]
Customers can now manage their custom notations that map to HELM monomers directly from their Monomer Library. Tenant admins can manage custom notation tokens, which are mapped to HELM monomer triplets. This enables registration of entities using custom syntax or generating the syntax via a computed field.
To enable this feature, reach out to Customer Support.
In Vivo
Manage in vivo studies with modern software designed for data capture, collaboration, and insights.
Auto-Save Study Creation Form [2024.8.IV.1]
When users click “Next” to proceed to the next section of study registration, all progress is automatically saved as a draft. Drafts are deleted when the study is successfully registered, and incomplete drafts can be manually deleted from the “Drafts” tab.
Data Analysis Export Direct Download [2024.8.IV.2]
Data analysis exports are now downloaded directly to your device instead of being attached as files under Study Attachments.
Increased Length of Link Attachments [2024.8.IV.3]
The maximum URL length that can be saved in study attachments has been increased.
Preset Builder [2024.8.IV.4]
Administrators can now create and manage presets in their tenant glossary.
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Offline Messaging [2024.8.IV.5]
When internet connectivity is lost, an offline message is displayed until the connection is restored, returning you to the screen where the disconnection occurred.
Folder Selector in Study Settings [2024.8.IV.6]
Users with write access can now search for and select Benchling folders within study settings.
Workflows
Workflows are a sequence of processes that are performed to answer a research question or synthesize new material. For example, synthesizing a new set of proteins from supernatants, or improving the transduction process.
Copy Tasks with Assignees [2024.8.W.1]
Users can now copy tasks with an assignee, even if the task schema doesn’t allow setting an assignee at task creation. The new task will be unassigned.
Insights
Insights enables users to query, visualize, and share high quality, structured data that resides in Benchling
Create Templates for Insights Analysis [2024.8.IN.1]
Create templates to automate frequently repeated Insights analyses, reducing manual repetition. These templates can accept fixed or variable data inputs from other Insights analyses.
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Run Regressions and Interpolation in Insights Analysis [2024.8.IN.2]
Perform linear, quadratic, and 4PL regressions in Insights Analysis, and use generated regression models for interpolation in other analyses.
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Duplicate Analysis & Replace Table [2024.8.IN.3]
Duplicate an existing Insights analysis to create a backup or to run the analysis on a different set of input data. You can also replace tables in an existing analysis, causing the entire analysis to rerun with the new input.
Benchling Connect
Benchling Connect, formerly Lab Automation, enables seamless integration of Benchling to liquid handlers, plate readers, imaging instruments, and more.
Show Out-of-Date Indicator on Result Tables [2024.8.BC.1]
An out-of-date indicator is now shown only if a result has been updated since creation.
Add Refetch Buttons in Connection Data Tab [2024.8.BC.2]
Users can now fetch individual files in the Connection Data tab by clicking the refetch button.
Associate Studies with Lab Automation Runs [2024.8.BC.3]
Add studies to the Run UI, which appends the study to the Studies list of any studyable objects (entities, results, storables, datasets) created or updated by the run.
Release Methodical Mind Connector [2024.8.BC.4]
Methodical Mind Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release TapeStation Connector [2024.8.BC.5]
TapeStation Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release MabTech Apex Connector [2024.8.BC.6]
MabTech Apex Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release QIAcuity dPCR Connector [2024.8.BC.7]
QIAcuity dPCR Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release Cedex HiRes Connector [2024.8.BC.8]
Cedex HiRes Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release Qubit 4 Connector [2024.8.BC.9]
Qubit 4 Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release Qubit Flex Connector [2024.8.BC.10]
Qubit Flex Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Associate Studies with Studyable Objects via Lab Automation Run [2024.8.BC.11]
Customers with the Studies application can now add studies directly in the Run UI. These studies will be carried over during output file processing and appended to the Studies list for any studyable objects (including entities, results, datasets, and storables) created or updated by the run.
Release PharmSpec Connector [2024.8.BC.12]
PharmSpec Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Release BMG LabTech Connector [2024.8.BC.13]
BMG LabTech Connector Release
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Agilent Gen5 Connector Enhancement [2024.8.BC.14]
The Agilent Gen5 Connector now supports multi-endpoint reads (single-read and multi-read with the same detection).
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Allotropy Update v0.1.49 [2024.8.BC.15]
Allotropy Update Changelog
Access Management
Access management is the way customers control who is able to access which resources, and includes things like project permissions, access policies, and admin roles.
Capability Management in User Export CSV [2024.8.AM.1]
Capability management information is now available in the exported CSV and as an optional column in the UI. We’ve also added the “password last changed” field in the UI.
Simplified User Export CSV [2024.8.AM.2]
Users will now appear only once in the export, with their orgs and teams listed in the appropriate columns. The API ID has been added to differentiate between teams with the same name.
Audit Log Enhancements for User Creation Events [2024.8.AM.3]
Audit logs now show whether a user was created manually or through just-in-time creation via SAML authentication.
Application Core
To create a seamless Benchling experience, our platform must be consistent, compliant and predictable. The Application Core provides the central capabilities platform to create a smoother user experience.
Removed Feedback Button in Config Migration [2024.8.AC.1]
The "Provide feedback" button has been removed from Config migration. For feedback, please contact Benchling Support.
Rotated Warehouse Certificates and Credentials [2024.8.AC.2]
In response to AWS RDS certificate upgrades, Warehouse credentials have been updated to a more secure hashing method. Customers need to update their logins and certificates to maintain access.
Filter by Relative Date Ranges [2024.8.AC.3]
In global search, users can now filter by relative date ranges, such as “in the next week” or “in the last month.”
Config Migration Validation Warning [2024.8.AC.4]
Users are now informed that validation may take a while during config migration.
Improved Product Limit Warnings in Config Migration [2024.8.AC.5]
More detailed warnings are provided when hitting product limits in config migration.
Performance Improvements for Config Migration Planning Step [2024.8.AC.6]
Performance during the planning step of config migration has been improved.
Compliance Controls
With Compliance Controls, gathering required information for compliance is simple, intuitive, and performant. The team’s primary focus is on our auditing platform but we also own exporting and archiving.
API IDs in Chain of Custody Reports [2024.8.CC.1]
Add API IDs to the Item(s) column of Chain of Custody reports by enabling the config flag: CHAIN_OF_CUSTODY_REPORT_DISPLAY_ITEM_API_IDS.
To enable this feature, contact a Benchling representative.
Unicode Support in Reason Codes and Comments [2024.8.CC.2]
Customers can now input Unicode characters (e.g., accents, symbols) in reason codes and comments, which will appear in downstream CSV and PDF exports.
Append Transfer Events in Chain of Custody Reports [2024.8.CC.3]
Chain of Custody reports now include both "transferred to" and "transferred from" events, showing relevant plate/container information.
Plate-Level Chain of Custody Reports [2024.8.CC.4]
Generate plate-level Chain of Custody reports to monitor events such as plate transfers and updates to plate-level fields.
Developer Platform
Our developer platform is fundamental to centralizing and standardizing all your R&D data. Benchling’s APIs and Events are built to match the flexibility and speed of modern life science R&D.
Shareable Apps General Availability [2024.8.DP.1]
All new apps created on non-GxP tenants are now "global," meaning they have versions, can be shared between tenants, and are stored in the global App Catalog.
Interactive Webhook Playground [2024.8.DP.2]
Developers can test available events using a custom webhook URL, without triggering the original action in Benchling.
Benchling Apps Installation Update [2024.8.DP.3]
Benchling apps are no longer automatically installed on the home tenant. Developers must now manually install specific versions of their apps.
New Webhook: v2.workflowTaskGroup.mappingCompleted [2024.8.DP.4]
A new webhook event for workflow task group completion is now available.
Promoted Organization and Team Membership APIs to /v2 [2024.8.DP.5]
Automate adding or removing users from organizations and teams using the /v2 API endpoint.
Bioprocess
Our Bioprocess offering helps with process development studies, including non-In Vivo workflows. It includes tools for tracking, managing, and analyzing experiments like process development studies, recipes, and studies.
Material Input Confirmation in Recipes [2024.8.BP.1]
Operators executing a Recipe can now specify which Benchling containers were used to fulfill a given Material Input.
Bug Fixes
-
Notebook
- Fixed a bug where adding a Table Mapping to a misconfigured Lookup column caused crashes.
- Fixed inconsistent behavior with Inventory tables, ensuring the "Add/deduct by" column does not clear on re-sync.
- Fixed an issue where the close preview button was nonfunctional for attachments in structured tables.
- Resolved an issue where users were shown an unintended pop-up message when logging in or starting export jobs.
-
Molecular Biology
- Fixed a bug that disabled keyboard events (copy/paste, type to insert) in Chrome due to a new feature that auto-focuses scrollable elements.
-
In Vivo
- Treatment Group Names now fully display in Data Tables.
- Fixed issues where Doses from the previous animal were displayed for the next animal in Workflow.
- Sorting Users by Role was not functioning correctly and has been fixed.
- Fixed an issue where devices could be mapped to multiple fields in the measurement form.
- The search bar in Workflow is now protected from Browser Control to avoid showing previous searches.
- Fixed an issue where the Calculation field in Data Tables was not displayed correctly due to browser scroll bars.
- Fixed an issue that allowed users to click 'Add other reviewers' multiple times, leading to duplicate reviewers.
- Fixed an issue where connected device data was not written to fields not visible in the window.
- Fixed a bug preventing the export of analysis summary tables.
- Administrators can now save cage cards without issue.
- Fixed an issue where not all required configurations were applied for average bodyweight calculations.
- Resolved issues with data table exports not reporting measurement calculation variables correctly.
- Only active presets can now be used for instrument mapping.
- Fixed a bug where Data Tables PK Bleed columns were not updated for all animals.
- Treatment names linked to custom entities will now display updated names in In Vivo studies.
- Fixed an issue where the raw study data export was not generated when using the email method.
- Users are now able to sort animal tables by study group.
- Fixed an issue where draft studies with alerts set to thresholds involving large numbers could not be saved.
- Fixed an issue where the deceased comment or reason could not be edited.
-
Workflows
- Fixed a bug where you couldn’t drag to add rows in an Output table if you clicked into a schema field table cell.
- Improved UX for "collapsing nodes without Tasks" in Routers with Loops.
- Task table submissions no longer fail due to errors in rows corresponding to archived Tasks.
- Fixed an issue where a "success" toast was erroneously displayed before Output schema field updates were submitted.
-
Benchling Connect
- Fixed an issue with the 'create and send to output' functionality in a run with connections enabled.
- Fixed an issue with connectors returning NaN values where commas are used as decimal separators.
- Added PlateID fields to the Bio-Rad BioPlex Manager Connector.
- Fixed errors in QIAcuity dPCR (ASM-to-CSV) related to detector dye settings.
- Fixed an error in QuantStudio D&A File Format when using Relative Quantification or No Analysis Module.
- Resolved an issue in the Agilent Gen5 connector where a 'NoneType' object was not subscriptable.
- Fixed errors in Agilent Biotek Cytation 5 files when using the Agilent Gen5 Image Connector.
- Fixed a file format error in QuantStudio Design & Analysis, including handling for Primary Analysis experiment types.
- SpectraMax connectors now handle files with numeric values reported as Range or Masked.
- Fixed case sensitivity issues with the Machine ID in the MabTech Apex connector.
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Schemas
- Prevented schemas from linking to other schemas outside the organization.
-
Access Management
- Fixed an issue where we assumed a principal had to be a User, which caused failures when a Benchling app or Service Account was used instead.
- Resolved issues with audit logs on some archived projects.
- Fixed an issue where "Granted to Author" in access policies didn’t work for edit actions on Studies.
- Fixed a bug where adding more access via Capability Management caused warnings about access removal.
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Application Core
- Fixed a bug where output schemas were incorrectly allowing updates via config migration.
- Resolved issues with tooltips not migrating correctly for snapshot fields.
- Fixed a bug where copying folders failed.
- Improved Config Migration validation and import to display more descriptive error messages.
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Compliance Controls
- Fixed an issue where the submit button was incorrectly appearing inside text boxes when creating entries from templates.