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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.
Extensibility with add-ons
PLA 3.0 consists of a framework and add-ons. The PLA 3.0 framework handles data as electronic documents. It provides the features you need to achieve regulatory compliance such as access control, data integrity, security, validation, and traceability.
Advanced actions
Set up the add-on repository
By default, each computer running PLA 3.0 hosts its own add-on repository in a default folder. You can change this setup, for example, if you want to set up a central repository.
Set up a central repository
Set up a central repository to reduce your maintenance efforts, for example, if the teams working with PLA 3.0 should have access to a different set of add-ons, or if your teams work on different databases.

Get started
Explore PLA 3.0, its key features and ongoing enhancements. Learn how it fits into your environment, and how to log in and register.
User interface
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.
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.
- Databases
  PLA 3.0 databases store all your data and also hold information such as user accounts, rights and permissions, signatures, and audit trail information. When logging in to PLA 3.0, users connect to a specific database, which sets their work environment for the session.
- Extensibility with add-ons
  PLA 3.0 consists of a framework and add-ons. The PLA 3.0 framework handles data as electronic documents. It provides the features you need to achieve regulatory compliance such as access control, data integrity, security, validation, and traceability.
  - Add-on management
    Manage your existing add-ons from within PLA 3.0 and request trial versions or quotes for add-ons not yet included in your license.
  - Activate add-ons
    PLA 3.0 add-ons extend the functionality of the PLA 3.0 framework to include the analytical methods your users require and enable them to visualize, document, and report results. To make the functionality of the add-on available for use, you have to activate it in your database.
  - Download sample data
    For some add-ons, sample documents and templates are available. If you did not download the data when activating the add-on, you can download it from the Add-ons tab.
  - Request trial versions and quotes
    To evaluate the functionality of a not yet licensed add-on in your work environment, request a trial version. To include an add-on in your license, request a quote.
  - Advanced actions
    - Migrate existing packages
      As of PLA 3.0.5, packages have been replaced with add-ons. To use the full add-on functionality, we recommend you migrate your existing packages to the new add-on format.
    - Set up the add-on repository
      By default, each computer running PLA 3.0 hosts its own add-on repository in a default folder. You can change this setup, for example, if you want to set up a central repository.
      - Configure the repository path
        Change the default add-on repository folder, for example, if your company regulations require program data to reside in a specific folder.
      - Set up a central repository
        Set up a central repository to reduce your maintenance efforts, for example, if the teams working with PLA 3.0 should have access to a different set of add-ons, or if your teams work on different databases.
- Rights and permissions
  PLA 3.0 provides the features you need to control access to your data in a sophisticated and compliant manner. It combines role-based user rights with resource-based permissions, which enables you to exercise fine-grained control over who can perform particular tasks in a given context and which tasks are allowed with particular data.
- Update, upgrade, and migrate
  Find details on how to update, upgrade or migrate your environment to work with the latest version of PLA 3.0.
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.
PDF downloads
Download PDF guides of current and previous framework and add-on versions.
Sample lab
Meet the team of Stegmann Labs Inc. and use our sample laboratory to explore core features and functions of PLA 3.0.
Glossary
Find definitions of terms.

Set up a central repository

Set up a central repository to reduce your maintenance efforts, for example, if the teams working with PLA 3.0 should have access to a different set of add-ons, or if your teams work on different databases.

In both cases, you host all add-ons in the central repository, and therefore only have to set up the folder permissions once. In the first case, you use separate databases for each add-on combination and activate only a subset of add-ons in each database. In the second case, you activate the full set of add-ons in each database.

About this task

Setting up a central repository is a two-step process. You start by configuring the repository path on each computer running PLA 3.0. In the second step, you build up the add-on repository.

Procedure

To set up a central repository:

On each computer running PLA 3.0, configure the repository path. For details on the required steps, see the Configure the repository path topic.
Build up your add-on repository:
1. In PLA 3.0, on the System menu, select Add-on management.
2. On the Add-ons tab, right-click the add-on you want to add to the repository, and select Download to repository.

What to do next

Activate the add-ons that should be available in the database. If required, connect to a different database, and repeat the process to activate a different set of add-ons.