Report settings

What this area controls

Report setup has two connected pages in the Lab Panel. Test Report Settings stores the global header and footer images used by printed released-result reports. Report Builder stores the dynamic templates that decide which released results appear together, what the patient information block looks like, which result columns print, which notes or instructions appear, and whether the template should use global or individual branding.

Use this area whenever the printed report needs to match your lab's real workflow. Reception, sample processing, result entry, and result review create the data. Report settings decide how that released data is presented to the patient, doctor, partner lab, or internal team.

Test Report Settings page

The Test Report Settings page is intentionally focused. It manages the global report header image and global report footer image. These images are used by reports unless a specific template in Report Builder is set to use individual template branding.

Use the global header for stable lab identity: logo strip, address, accreditation, branch contact information, or approved legal wording. Use the global footer for stable footer content: signature strip, disclaimers, website, patient portal reminder, or printed-report policy. Upload JPEG, PNG, or WebP files no larger than 5 MB or 4000 × 1200 pixels. Keep both images sized for A4 printing. A header that is too tall reduces the space available for results. A footer with critical legal text should be tested with short and long reports before staff rely on it.

The Open Report Builder button takes you to the template workspace. The Preview Default Template button opens a print preview using the current fallback template and localized sample report data without changing saved settings. Save Test Report Settings saves only the two global images; opening or saving this page does not restore or overwrite report templates.

Report Builder page

Report Builder is where administrators create reusable report templates. A template is not a fixed CBC, urine, or chemistry design. It is a dynamic rule set and layout. You choose what results it applies to, how it should arrange rows, which design style it uses, and whether it has custom text or individual branding.

The builder is organized as a two-pane workspace. The left side contains settings and configuration. The right side shows a live preview that follows the current form state. Use the live preview for quick layout decisions, then use the full Preview action from the table or edit page to open the printable report preview in a new tab.

Template identity

The identity section names the template and controls whether it participates in report generation.

Template name is the staff-facing label. Use names that explain the purpose, such as "Generic fallback", "Chemistry follow-up", "Partner lab report", or "Endocrinology summary".

Code is the stable internal identifier. Keep it short and predictable. Do not change it casually after staff start using the template, because duplicates and support notes may refer to it.

Printed title appears on the report itself. This is what patients and doctors see, so use approved wording.

Priority controls matching order. Lower numbers run first. Specific templates should have lower priority numbers. The fallback template should normally have a higher number so it catches only remaining results.

Template kind is a label that helps staff understand the template's purpose. It does not replace matching rules. The available kinds support generic dynamic templates, specific test sets, category templates, and custom rule templates.

Active determines whether the template is used. Inactive templates stay saved but are skipped.

Fallback default and Use as fallback define the catch-all behavior. A fallback template does not match first. It receives released results that were not collected by more specific templates.

The built-in default template is protected from deletion so the laboratory always has a known fallback. Use Restore defaults only when you intentionally want to replace changes made to that built-in template with the shipped layout. The action does not change templates created by your laboratory.

Matching and application rules

Matching rules decide which released result rows the template should collect.

Apply to tests targets exact catalog tests or parameter codes. Use this when a report design is tied to a known test set. For example, a lab can create its own CBC-style report by selecting the CBC-related tests and then arranging the blocks manually.

Apply to categories targets broader catalog groups, such as chemistry, hematology, immunology, or hormones. This is useful when the lab wants one template to handle a whole service area without maintaining a long list of test codes.

Apply to sample types limits matching by sample type. Use it when the same test or category should print differently for blood, urine, stool, swab, or another sample type.

Group on same page keeps matched rows together. This is usually best for panels and categories.

Require all tests means the template is used only when every selected test exists in the order. Use it carefully. It is strict and can make the template appear not to work if one selected test is missing.

Allow partial match lets the template print when only some selected tests are present. This is usually safer for daily work because patient orders often vary.

Layout blocks

Layout blocks define what prints below the report title. They are dynamic and reusable.

Results table prints released result rows in table form. You can choose visible columns: test, result, flag, unit, and reference range. You can also limit the block to selected row codes or leave it empty so it prints all matched rows.

Field grid prints result rows as label, value, and reference fields. Use it for structured exams or compact review sections.

Custom text block prints free text inside the template. Use it for patient instructions, report disclaimers, preparation reminders, clinical-context notes, or template-specific wording approved by the lab owner.

Notes list prints one note per line. Use it when the template needs bullet-style interpretation notes or standard comments.

Signature area prints a signature label, such as Doctor Signature, Lab Director, or Reviewed by.

Spacer adds vertical space when a printed layout needs breathing room.

Branding per template

Each template can use global branding or individual branding.

Choose Use global report setting when the template should use the header and footer from Test Report Settings. This is the normal choice for most labs.

Choose Use individual template branding when one template needs its own header image, footer image, header note, or footer note. This is useful for partner lab reports, special business lines, accreditation-specific printouts, or reports that must carry a different disclaimer.

Individual header and footer uploads accept JPEG, PNG, or WebP files no larger than 5 MB or 4000 × 1200 pixels. They replace the global image only for that template.

Choose Use generated lab header/footer when the report should use the lab name, branch details, and generated footer instead of image branding.

Design controls

Report Builder includes separate design choices for the whole template, patient information, and results table. This lets the lab change the look of a report without changing matching rules.

Template design controls the overall hierarchy. Available styles include Classic lab report, Compact clinical, Executive summary, Bordered matrix, and Minimal review.

Patient information design controls the patient, order, doctor, registration, and print metadata block. Available styles include Compact card, Bordered grid, Split band, Timeline strip, and Minimal lines.

Results table design controls row rhythm and borders. Available styles include Clinical grid, Zebra bands, Compact lines, Section cards, and Bordered matrix.

Accent color controls key lines and headings. Use a readable brand color with enough contrast.

Density controls spacing. Compact fits more rows. Comfortable is easier to read.

Section style controls block headings. Grey band is strong, Underline is formal, and Plain is quiet.

Abnormal marker controls how flags appear when the flag column is visible.

Previewing safely

Use the live preview while editing to catch layout mistakes early. It is fast and useful for seeing how design controls affect patient information, tables, headings, text blocks, and signatures.

Use the full preview before staff rely on a template. The Preview sample report action opens the same print view used by released reports with localized sample patient and result data. After that, use Preview using real order and test at least one order that contains only the target tests, one mixed order, and one order that should fall back to the generic template.

How templates are chosen

When a report is printed, Kashef loads active templates for the lab company ordered by priority. It checks released results against test codes, category IDs, and sample types. Matched rows become report pages. Rows that are not matched by a specific template are sent to the fallback template.

This means report setup is operational. If the wrong template is used, review priority, active status, matching rules, sample type, category assignment, and whether the selected result rows are actually released.