1. CERF 5.0 – Features and Functions
An Electronic Lab Notebook created by Lab-Ally

2. CERF Desktop – Main Window
CERF main window contains
buttons to launch tools and
navigators:
1. Document manager
2. Checked out Documents
3. Bookmarks
4. Saved Searches
5. Local Files Browser
6. Notebook
7. Controlled documents
8. Data and Forms
9. Inbox
10. Notifications
11. CERF Search
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6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Why CERF?
CERF
Key
Features

3. • CERF allows users to import files and
folders from local operating systems through
drag and drop.
• CERF can import entire hierarchic file trees,
retaining the folder and file structure
• CERF server has a true copy of your files, it
is not a reference or pointer to items on your
local drive
Drag and Drop
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

4. Round Trip Editing
• CERF uses check out > edit > check
in workflow for round trip editing.
This ensures only one user may edit
a document at a time. Users may
still view documents while another
user has a document checked out.
• Each change of a document is
stored as a new version. Users may
still access old versions. Every user
interaction with CERF resources is
tracked for easy traceability
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

5. Document Check In,
Check out
• Documents are checked out to third
party applications, where they can be
edited, saved, and checked back in
hassle free. If a document has not been
modified since being checked out, the
user will only have the option to
“uncheckout”
• All of the checked out items in CERF
appear in a single pane, so the user is
able to easily track checked out
resources. In addition checked out
items are marked with a red check mark
in the documents pane.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

6. Bookmarks
• CERF allows users to bookmark files,
folders, file cabinets, and notebooks for
quick access. As the Documents tree
grows, bookmarks are a simple way to
keep track of the most frequented
resources. Click the arrow in the
Bookmarks pane(circled in red), and
CERF will show the location of the
Document in the Documents pane.
• Add bookmarks through drag and drop,
right click, or using the book symbol
encircled in red.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

7. Saved Searches
• Tailor specific search models
that perform in your semantic
and scientific environment. A
saved search will populate
search parameters with pre-
defined values. The parameters
may also be saved without a
value.
• Saved Searches is the quickest
way to access CERF’s best in
industry search engine.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

8. Easy Export to local Drive
• CERF is integrated with
the client local hard-
drive, and allows easy
transfer of files from
within CERF to the local
computer(drag and drop
supported)
• CERF can also export
bundled .ZIP files
containing entire
collections of data and
associated metadata.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

9. Creating Data,
Viewing Files
• CERF has many ways to input and
edit scientific data including:
standard text formats, tables,
images and chemistry file types.
• This list includes
• MS office, text, html, PDF
• AB1 trace
• Chemical Structure Files
• GB sequence Files
• Images
• SVG files
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

10. Controlled Documents - SOPs
• CERF has built in
management features for
controlled documents and
SOP approval. The FDA
requires regulated labs to
maintain SOPs of many
items. Use CERF to maintain
GDP and usage records for
specific documents and
create automated “gateway
events” that grant users
access to workflows and data
as appropriate.
Why CERF?

11. Experiment Management System
• CERF allows users to create
experiment headers that can
be used to categorize,
register, filter and quickly
reference specific
experiments. Allow entire
multiple users to utilize
shared experiment templates
for GLP and consistency.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

12. Sample Management
• Use custom Sample Structured Data Entries to
incorporate known information about samples for
efficient entries into notebooks.
• Drag and Drop Samples into the notebook.
Information captured includes: sample id, sample
name, location, volume, description, creator, and
creation date.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

13. • Forward important email
messages(including attachments)
to CERF, where they are secured,
out of the cloud and into CERF’s,
secure, and traceable database.
• This is a useful way to input field
data into CERF. Email the data to
CERF using a mobile device,
without actually having to open
CERF client.
Email-to-CERF
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

14. Access Control
• CERF includes 10 user roles with
varying levels of control and access
within organizations
• CERF allows a deep level of control
from the top down of organizations,
and allow for strict enforcement of
21CFR11 requirements, GLP, ISO,
or ALCOA regulatory considerations
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

15. Organization
• CERF allows users to organize
documents and resources in virtual
file cabinets and notebooks, which
contain user controlled links or
references
• This helps to reduce in
organizational documentation
redundancies, audit trails, and
tracking down old data
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

16. At-a-Glance Details
• CERF allows user to view and edit
rich semantic metadata including
creation / modification dates, creator,
keywords, smart tags, Dublin Core
Element Set, and more.
• Build ontologies for data to increase,
searchability and reusability of data
located using the CERF semantic
search engine.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

17. Best in Industry: Semantic Search Engine
• CERF semantic search engine has access to the comprehensive metadata within CERF, as well as
the file contents. It is a best in class tool, and when coupled with manually entered user data, results
in quick data retrieval time and increased research output.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

18. Notifications
• Communicate within CERF using
the built in notifications. Send
notifications to anyone within the
resource’s Workgroup. Instead of
sending confidential scientific
information over email, keep it
contained within CERF’s secured
server.
• Users are able to instantly access
resource content if they are logged
into CERF
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

19. Signatures
CERF
Key
Features
• CERF contains a signature system
which supports single, and double
peer review workflows, as well as
custom signature policies.
Signature policies are
customizable via CERF Business
Policies. CERF signatures can be
used in accordance with 21CFR11
requirements.
• Link an image of a handwritten
signature to CERF
Why CERF?

20. Signature Reports
• CERF allows users to run
signature reports which can
indicate if a digital signature or
co-signature is needed on
particular documents. Users
may also receive a notification
email if their signature is
needed.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

21. Contextualized Right Click
• CERF users may use a right
click to perform many
functions in CERF. The right
click menu will change
depending on user access
level in an associated
workgroup
• CERF expert users will
familiarize themselves with
right click functionality as
well as the easy-access
buttons
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

22. Offline Mode
CERF
Key
Features
• CERF allows users to access
Checked-Out documents from
offline mode. They may be
checked back in when the user
comes online.
Why CERF?

23. CERF History
CERF
Key
Features
• CERF has a history function that
allows users to access recently
visited notebook entries and
documents. The user is also able to
see whether they viewed an
item(eye), or checked out an item
(arrow).
• Once the user has identified the
resource of interest, CERF allows
them to view or navigate to the
resource.
Why CERF?

24. Architecture
• CERF utilizes a secure local
filestore, as opposed to cloud
based storage. CERF can even
be used in a sealed LAN if
necessary, and does not
require connection to the
internet.
• CERF organizes contents using
a database, MySQL, MS SQL,
and Oracle databases
supported.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

25. Automaton - Data Automation Tool
• CERF Automaton is an add on
application which was built to
automate data collection from
scientific instruments. Automaton
allows the user to create data
capture jobs which automatically
save files from a local computer to
CERF
• Automaton can also be used for
automated back ups for CERF.
CERF
Key
Features
More about CERF Automaton... Why CERF?

26. iPad Support
• Access your enterprise CERF server
from an iPad application. Take CERF
wherever you go for constant access
to data with iCERF
• Use iPad features with CERF for easy
scientific recording:
• Voice to text
• Voice Memos
• iPad Camera
• Pinch and zoom on high resolution
images
CERF
Key
Features
iCERF is free in the Apple App Store Why CERF?

27. CERF Help Resources
• CERF desktop application
includes access to CERF’s
online help tutorial,
comprehensive Help Contents,
as well as integrated CERF
support email system(with
support contract)
• The About window gives the
user information about the
current CERF version they are
running.
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?

28. Thank you for viewing this presentation, if you would like more information about
CERF, click About CERF 5.0
To understand why Lab-Ally believes that CERF is the best combined ELN and
document manager on the market, click Why CERF?
Additional Links:
CERF IQ, OQ Validation
About Lab-Ally
Lab-Ally would be happy to answer any questions about CERF, or our other
scientific solutions and products, contact us at:
http://cerf-notebook.com/contact/
CERF
Key
Features
Why CERF?