Scheduling System Information

This file documents how to use the biomolecular NMR facility's online instrument scheduling application.

Components

The application is made up of a Postgres SQL database back end with a number of PHP-based web pages making up the interface on the front-end. This provides a platform-independent mechanism for people to interact with and view the schedule from any computer on the internet that has a web browser and is authorized to connect.

User and Adminstrative Functions

The web pages are divided into two categories, those accessible to users of the system, and those accessible to administrators.

The pages that are intended for administrative access are protected with a password. When these functions are accessed, a login screen will be presented so that the administrator can authenticate herself to the application and continue on to schedule instrument time and maintain the user database.

User functions are not password protected. The pages are restricted by IP number only. Contact the administrators to have an IP number added to the access list. Except for viewing the schedule and cryogen logs, all functions require a valid username that is assigned by the administrator of the scheduling system.

Mechanism for Requesting and Assigning NMR Time

To request instrument time, a user (with a valid scheduling username) needs to visit the request page and fill out the form there. The request is stored in the database with all other pending requests.

At regular intervals, the schedule administrator will log in to the system and move requests out of the request queue, and into the actual schedule. Once assigned a slot, the administrator can fairly easily slide the assigned block of time forward or backward on the schedule if needed. Once the block of time has been assigned into the schedule, the administrator can remove the request from the request queue.

How to Use Each Page

The administrative pages have their own help page.

The schedule calendar is the main page for viewing instrument status, and the one you are likely to visit most frequently. To use it, select the spectrometer schedule you wish to view from the dropdown box and click go. The calendar for that spectrometer will appear, overlayed with users in their assigned time slots as well as past and pending cryogen fills.

The usernames of scheduled users appear as hyperlinks on the calendar. Choosing a link will bring up detailed contact information for that user in a seperate window. This facilitates contacting the individual who is on the spectrometer immediately before or after your scheduled slot in order to coordinate your activities.

Cryogen fills which have been completed appear as green hyperlinks. Choosing a link will display information about the fill including who completed the task and when it was entered. Pending cryogen fills are shown in red to alert the scheduled user when the magnet needs to be filled so they can plan their experiments accordingly. There are currently plans to implement a cron job which will alert the administrator if a fill has not been logged in the system by the date it was scheduled to be done.

The schedule calendar page can be accessed here.

The request queue, not to be confused with the schedule, is a database of pending requests for time. The view reqests page allows you to see who has requested time on which spectrometer. In order to use it, select the spectromter for which you wish to see the queue and click go. All details of each the request appear, including who made the request, when it was made, the amount of time requested, and the desired start time. Usernames appear as hyperlinks to their contact information.

The request queue can be viewed here.

The "Request Instrument Time" page is used to enter a request for NMR time into the queue. You must have a valid username to request instrument time. You simply select the spectrometer you want, fill out the form, and click submit. The information you need to provide is your username, how much time you need, the date you and your sample will be ready to begin (in mm/dd/yy format), and a short description of the experiment(s) you wish to run.

The request instrument time page can be accessed here.

The Nitrogen and Helium Log pages are where to visit when you've just completed a cryogen fill. These pages allow you to log your fill into the calendar system, which automatically resets the target date for the next pending fill. Detailed instructions for these pages are maintained at the top of the pages themselves.

Visit the nitrogen log and the helium log.