(New) Properties Segments
Embed a segment into an element's Properties tab (Scheme tab for reactions) instead of giving it a tab of its own, and optionally scope it to one element-type variant.
Segments used to always get their own tab, on every element of their type. Now a segment can instead embed inside the Properties tab — or the Scheme tab, for reactions specifically — and optionally apply to only one type variant of that element.
Table of Contents
- Key Features
- Where Does a Segment End Up?
- Setting It Up in the Designer
- Example Scenario
- How It Works
- 🚀 How to Participate in the Preview
Key Features
Audience: Template Designers, Researchers
Interface: Chemotion ELN / Segment Designer, Sample, Reaction and other element pages
- Embed instead of a new tab: a segment can render inside the Properties tab (Sample, Screen, Wellplate, …) or the Scheme tab (Reaction), stacked with a heading, instead of getting its own tab.
- Narrow to a type variant: an embedded segment can be scoped to one variant — Micromolecule/Mixture for samples, Standard/Interaction for reactions — or left on “all types”.
- Live filtering: switch an element’s type and matching embedded segments appear or disappear immediately — no reload.
- Data isn’t lost: a segment that no longer matches the current variant is hidden, not deleted — its data comes back as soon as the variant matches again.
- Generic elements unaffected: generic element segments keep their own tab only; embedding and variants are for built-in elements.
Where Does a Segment End Up?
Every segment picks where it renders, and optionally which element-type variant it applies to:
Green boxes are where you end up; blue diamonds are choices you make in the Designer.
Setting It Up in the Designer
Both new controls live in the same Segment Attributes dialog you fill in when creating a segment:
The two highlighted rows are new. Segment Tab’s options depend on the element you picked above — Scheme tab only appears for Reaction, other elements offer Properties tab. Reaction Type (or Sample Type) is hidden entirely whenever Segment Tab is New (own tab), since an own-tab segment always applies to every variant.
Example Scenario
- In the Segment Designer, create a new segment and set Assign to Element to Reaction — this choice is only made at creation; an existing segment can’t be reassigned to a different element later.
- Set Segment Tab to Scheme tab, and optionally Reaction Type to Interaction.
- Create a template for that segment, then Save and Release as usual.
- Open a reaction of type Interaction — the segment now appears stacked inside the Scheme tab instead of on its own. Switch the reaction to Standard and it disappears; switch back and it’s there again, data intact.
How It Works
- A per-segment choice. Placement and variant are set per segment template in the Designer, not as a global setting, and travel with the segment’s releases.
- Nothing breaks. Segments and templates from before this release keep working unchanged, as their own tab.
Note: This feature is currently in preview and may undergo further refinements based on user feedback.
🚀 How to Participate in the Preview
Follow these steps to explore the new features and share your insight:
🖥️ Visit the Staging Instance
Access the preview environment at: labimotion-stage.ibcs.kit.edu🔍 Explore and Test
Try out the enhancements — see how they fit your workflow.❤️ Your Feedback Matters
Share your comments or report any issues in our GitHub Discussion Thread.
We appreciate your help in testing these new features!