Signals Notebook: Container Not Linked to Registered Material When Created Before Registration

Description

When a container is added to a sample before that sample is registered as a material, the container will not be automatically linked to the subsequently registered material asset or batch/lot.

The container holds a reference only to the source sample and cannot auto-associate with a material registration that occurs afterward.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a sample from a reaction.
2. Add a container to the sample: Row Options → Add Container.
3. Register a material from the same sample: Row Options → Register Material.
4. Click the View Containers icon on the registered material.

Result: No container is linked to the registered material.

Root Cause

This is expected behavior. Containers added to a sample prior to material registration reference only the sample — they do not auto-associate with any material/lot registered afterward.

Solution

Follow the recommended workflow to ensure correct associations and accurate inventory tracking:

Important: Always register the material before adding containers. 

Recommended order: Sample → Register Material → Add Containers

Workflow 1 — Add Containers via the Material Record

1. Create a sample.

2. Register the material: Row Options → Register Material.

   

3. Open the material record by clicking the Material ID link.

4. Navigate to the Batch/Lot tab → click Add Containers.

   

5. Enter all required container information → click Create Container.
6. The container is now directly linked to the registered material/lot.

Workflow 2 — Add Containers via Row Options After Registration

1. Create a sample from a reaction in your experiment.
2. Register the material: Row Options → Register Material.

3. Add containers: Row Options → Add Containers.

   

4. Enter all required container information → click Create Container.

5. The container is now directly associated with the registered material/lot.

   

⚠️ Warning

Warning: Do not add containers to unregistered samples when the intent is to track inventory against a material/lot. Doing so will result in the container being unlinked from the lot, causing quantity inconsistencies and inaccurate inventory records.