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Key concepts
Details on documents and templates, the data editors and the Content editor of PLA 3.0.
Templates
Use templates to simplify tasks, standardize processes, and improve data security. Define document structures and initial values for documents, and control who can view and edit document sections and individual elements within documents.
Use cases
Templates are the main method for creating new documents in PLA 3.0. They support a variety of use cases, from the creation of single assays to the setup of control and monitoring mechanisms.
Generate a set of assay runs and calculate reportable values
This use case utilizes the Basic bioassay protocol, Quantitative response assay, and Combination of assay results document types. You work with three templates, a protocol template, an assay template, and a combination calculation template.

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PLA 3.0 supports you in your daily work by providing a set of graphical and textual user interface elements. Learn about the different elements and how to use them efficiently.
Key concepts
Details on documents and templates, the data editors and the Content editor of PLA 3.0.
- Documents
  PLA 3.0 securely stores all your data within electronic documents. Documents are organized within a database and presented through a folder tree for easy navigation and access. Your data remains complete, accurate, and consistent throughout its life cycle, thus ensuring data integrity.
- Templates
  Use templates to simplify tasks, standardize processes, and improve data security. Define document structures and initial values for documents, and control who can view and edit document sections and individual elements within documents.
  - Create templates
    Create templates to standardize the setup of new documents. Documents created from templates inherit template settings like document structure, initial values, and protection settings for document elements.
  - Protection settings
    Use protection settings to restrict access to elements, and ensure correct usage of the template.
  - Use cases
    Templates are the main method for creating new documents in PLA 3.0. They support a variety of use cases, from the creation of single assays to the setup of control and monitoring mechanisms.
    - Run an experiment
      This use case utilizes the Quantitative response assay document type.
    - Generate a set of assay runs
      This use case utilizes the Basic bioassay protocol and Quantitative response assay document types. You work with two templates, a protocol template, and an assay template.
    - Generate a set of assay runs and calculate reportable values
      This use case utilizes the Basic bioassay protocol, Quantitative response assay, and Combination of assay results document types. You work with three templates, a protocol template, an assay template, and a combination calculation template.
- Data tables
  Data tables in PLA 3.0 act as containers for observation data or referenced data. You use them to configure the display of observation data and to set up automated data flows between PLA 3.0 documents, thus minimizing the need for manual interaction.
- Position factors
  PLA 3.0 can handle a wide range of plate layouts and is not restricted to any particular format. Position factors in PLA 3.0 support you in defining plate layouts. They let you associate your observation data in PLA 3.0 with its physical location on a plate or rack.
- Data aggregation
  Data aggregation in PLA 3.0 lets you automatically transfer data and results from source to target PLA 3.0 documents, thus supporting complex and compliant operations. Manually entering data in spreadsheets or other programs is not necessary.
Data analysis
Data analysis add-ons offer a wide range of capabilities, ranging from analytical methods over comprehensive analysis to statistical process control. PLA 3.0 also provides a set of add-ons that support and supplement data analysis add-ons.
Data import
Use data acquisition and data import add-ons to import external response values and observation data into PLA 3.0 for further processing and evaluation.
Installation
Details on the deployment and installation of licensed PLA 3.0 versions.
Licensing
Details on the licensing solution of PLA 3.0, the available licensing options, and the activation and management of licenses.
Administration
Details on system administration tasks such as setup and maintenance of databases and add-ons, user accounts, access rights, and migration and update procedures.
Regulatory compliance
PLA 3.0 supports you in achieving compliance with regulations such as ISPE GAMP^® 5 and 21 CFR Part 11. It also provides options to validate PLA 3.0 in your environment.
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Generate a set of assay runs and calculate reportable values

This use case utilizes the Basic bioassay protocol, Quantitative response assay, and Combination of assay results document types. You work with three templates, a protocol template, an assay template, and a combination calculation template.

The protocol template provides the setup of the protocol document. The Basic bioassay protocol document generated from this template provides the workflow for generating the assay runs. The protocol template also references the assay template that provides the setup of the assays that are to be generated during the run as well as the combination calculation template. This template defines how the run results are to be aggregated to calculate reportable values from the run results.

In the following example, the number of replicates in the protocol template is set to two. The Basic bioassay protocol generated from this template, therefore, generates two Quantitative response assays. A Combination of assay results document is generated from the combination calculation template, containing the aggregated values from the Quantitative response assays.

Protocol template utilizes assay and combination templates to aggregate data from generated assay documents — Figure 1. Protocol template utilizes assay and combination templates to aggregate data from generated assay documents