Synchronization

[add-on] [BioPharma]

Metadata can be synchronized from an external system, such as a laboratory information system (LIS), via the Universal LIS Connector (ULC).

The Universal LIS Connector add-on is required to synchronize metadata from a third-party system.

Viewing Synchronized Metadata

Metadata which come from a third-party system are applied to items in the Repository as Custom Fields. Users can modify the value of these Custom Fields after they are added from the third-party system, and subsequent synchronization will not automatically overwrite their changes.

To see synchronized metadata fields from the Repository

Navigate to any folder in the Repository (click on the Repository button from the Navigation Menu then navigate to a folder)
Select an image or folder from the folder listing
Locate the Custom Fields header in the Metadata tab of the right-hand panel. You may need to click on the button if the panel is collapsed
Look for the icon next to the fields listed to identify which were synchronized from a third-party system
(Optional) Hover over the icon to display the name of the third-party system that provided the field's value

To see synchronized metadata fields from within the Viewer

Open the image in the PathcoreFlow Viewer
If the left sidebar is not displayed, toggle it by clicking on the Menu > button at the bottom left of the Viewer
Hover or click on the button in the left sidebar
Look for the icon next to the fields listed to identify which were synchronized from a third-party system
(Optional) Hover over the icon to display the name of the third-party system that provided the field's value

To see the last time fields were synchronized for an item

Navigate to any folder in the Repository (click on the Repository button from the Navigation Menu then navigate to a folder)
Select an image or folder from the folder listing
Look for the relative time (e.g., "5 minutes ago", "an hour ago") to the right of the Custom Fields header in the Metadata tab of the right-hand panel. You may need to click on the button if the panel is collapsed
(Optional) To get the precise date and time of synchronization, hover over the relative time to display the exact time the sync occurred in the local timezone

To identify synchronized metadata fields which have been changed by a user

Navigate to any folder in the Repository (click on the Repository button from the Navigation Menu then navigate to a folder)
Select an image or folder from the folder listing
Locate the Custom Fields header in the Metadata tab of the right-hand panel. You may need to click on the button if the panel is collapsed
Look for the (greyed-out) icon next to the fields listed to identify which have values that have been changed by a user
(Optional) Hover over the (greyed-out) icon to display the name of the user who modified the value

Synchronizing Metadata

There are three actions that may cause the metadata for an item to be synchronized from the third-party system:

Uploading an image
Viewing an image or navigating to a folder
On demand by a user

These can be individually enabled or disabled when configuring the connection.

Only fields which do not have a user-defined value are synchronized.

To manually synchronize metadata for an item from the Repository right-hand panel

Navigate to any folder in the Repository (click on the Repository button from the Navigation Menu then navigate to a folder)
Select an image or folder from the folder listing
Click on the Custom Fields header in the Metadata tab of the right-hand panel. You may need to click on the button if the panel is collapsed
In the dropdown menu, click on Update Fields

If you attempt to manually sync metadata for an item which is governed by a reason for change tracking policy, you will be required to provide a reason for the change.

To manually synchronize metadata for an item from a context menu

It is possible to trigger synchronization from the context menu for an item. The context menu is available in folder listings, search results, and from the button next to an item's name in the breadcrumb or right-hand panel.

Bring up the context menu for an item.
Click Update Fields

If you attempt to manually sync metadata for an item which is governed by a reason for change tracking policy, you will be required to provide a reason for the change.

Forced Synchronization

When synchronization is forced for an item, all metadata fields which have a value in the third-party system are retrieved and replace the current Custom Field values in PathcoreFlow. This will replace any values which users have manually updated, so caution is recommended.

To force synchronization of metadata for an item from the Repository right-hand panel

This will overwrite all custom field values which have a value in the remote system, including any which users have manually updated.

Navigate to any folder in the Repository (click on the Repository button from the Navigation Menu then navigate to a folder)
Select an image or folder from the folder listing
Click on the Custom Fields header in the Metadata tab of the right-hand panel. You may need to click on the button if the panel is collapsed
In the dropdown menu, click on Update Fields (Forced)

If you attempt to manually sync metadata for an item which is governed by a reason for change tracking policy, you will be required to provide a reason for the change.

To force synchronization of metadata for an item from a context menu

This will overwrite all custom field values which have a value in the remote system, including any which users have manually updated.

It is possible to force synchronization from the context menu for an item. The context menu is available in folder listings, search results, and from the button next to an item's name in the breadcrumb or right-hand panel.

Bring up the context menu for an item.
Click Update Fields (Forced)
If you attempt to manually sync metadata for an item which is governed by a reason for change tracking policy, you will be required to provide a reason for the change.