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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.
Document actions
The action bar of PLA 3.0 provides a set of actions you can perform on documents and document data. The actions you can perform depend on the document type.
Upgrade the structure of documents
You can edit documents only if they follow the structure required by the currently active add-on version. If a newly activated add-on version requires a different document structure, you have to upgrade your existing documents. Documents open in read-only mode until you do so.

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.
- 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.
  - Create documents
    Create a document to store your data.
  - Work with documents
    Learn how you manage documents within PLA 3.0, including renaming, importing and exporting, calculating, and signing documents.
  - Organize documents
    Create folders and subfolders to organize your documents and to set up a folder tree that suits your needs. Move, copy and delete folders and documents to adapt your folder tree if required. Organizing documents requires sufficient permissions.
  - Document actions
    The action bar of PLA 3.0 provides a set of actions you can perform on documents and document data. The actions you can perform depend on the document type.
    - Calculate documents
      After you entered the response values and finished the setup of your document, you can calculate the reportable values.
    - Create reports
      Reports summarize the details and the results of an action that was executed on a document. You can create reports for a single document or for multiple documents.
    - Sign documents
      When you finished working on a document, you can sign it to prevent further change. Electronic signatures in PLA 3.0 are compliant with 21 CFR part 11.
    - Upgrade the structure of documents
      You can edit documents only if they follow the structure required by the currently active add-on version. If a newly activated add-on version requires a different document structure, you have to upgrade your existing documents. Documents open in read-only mode until you do so.
      - Upgrade individual documents
        Upgrade the structure of an individual document (upgrade structure) to comply with the latest add-on version.
      - Upgrade all documents in a folder
        Upgrade the structure of all documents in a folder (upgrade structures in folder) to comply with the latest add-on version.
      - Upgrade document structure
        Use the upgrade document structure feature to upgrade documents to the structure required by the latest add-on version.
  - Document properties
    Document properties include general information such as document type, date of creation, and signature details. They also include the property keys available for data aggregation and the label of a document in the form of a barcode.
- 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.
- 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.
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.

Upgrade the structure of documents

You can edit documents only if they follow the structure required by the currently active add-on version. If a newly activated add-on version requires a different document structure, you have to upgrade your existing documents. Documents open in read-only mode until you do so.

Note: To upgrade the structure of documents, you require the Edit documents document permission.

About this task

You can upgrade the structure of an individual document (upgrade structure) or all documents in a folder (upgrade structures in folder). You can also create upgraded copies of your documents instead of upgrading the originals. For security reasons, the upgrading copies is the default setting.

Upgrading a document structure removes all results from the document and, if your database policies allow it, also all signatures.

Important: Structure upgrades cannot be reverted. To leave the original documents untouched, select the Upgrade copies of documents option.