Service eLabFTW

Electronic lab notebook for a variety of disciplines

The web-based software eLabFTW allows you to maintain an electronic lab notebook and use it to plan, monitor and document scientific experiments. eLabFTW has an flexible and open design. Thus, it can be used and adapted for use with a wide variety of disciplines.

An overview of key features:

  • Plan, monitor and document experiments digitally and as a team
  • Cross-experiment object database (for devices, molecules, chemicals, etc.)
  • Scheduler, experiment templates, to-do lists
  • RFC 3161 compliant timestamping, versioning, tags
  • Ability to export in various formats (e.g. PDF, ZIP, CSV, JSON)
  • Browser-based and responsive, thus platform-independent
  • Available in multiple languages
  • API access for advanced users

eLabFTW is an open source software and is hosted at the University Computing Centre. All data is encrypted by eLabFTW and stays on University servers.

This service is operated and managed by URZ in the context of the Research Data Unit (RDU), a joint institution run by the University Library and University Computing Centre that provides centralized services for archiving and publishing research data.

Target Group

  • Researchers
  • Students
  • University employees

Use

  • Digital management of experiments for individual users and teams
  • Support with laboratory management, e.g. time scheduling for lab equipment
  • Increase efficiency with experiment templates and objects stored in a central database

Access and Requirements

Those with a Uni ID can request access for eLabFTW teams for their working group and projects via email: elabftw(at)uni-heidelberg.de.

The costs of the service is documented in our price sheet.

Training & How-tos

Research Data Unit (RDU)

The Research Data Unit (RDU) offers training, advice and support for eLabFTW. The RDU is a joint institution run by the University Library and University Computing Centre.

eLabFTW User Guide

Electronic lab notebook for a variety of disciplines

All How-tos

Frequently asked questions

Table filters

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Who can use the service?
In principle, the service is open to all interested parties. The only requirement is a Uni-ID (or alternatively a work email address).
How do I use the service? Which programs do I need to install?
No installation or similar is necessary to use the service. You can access the service's web interface via your Internet browser. Please use Firefox, or a Chrome based browser (Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Brave, Opera). Safari is known to cause issues and is not officially supported. Internet Explorer is not supported.
How can I collaborate on an existing project or team?
Please ask the person responsible for the team or project to request access for you by sending a request to

elabftw@uni-heidelberg.de

, ideally including your Uni-ID (alternatively your work email address) and the name of the project or team.
Is it possible to test the service?
Yes, after creating a project or team, a 6-month free trial period begins. Only after this (and after signing a contract) are costs incurred for a project or team.
Who can apply for their own project or team?
Anyone with a Heidelberg University Uni-ID can apply for a project or team.
How can I apply for a project or team?

Send an email to elabftw@uni-heidelberg.de with the following information: 

A) the desired name for your project or team, 

B) the first and last names of the users who are to receive access, 

C) the Uni-ID of the users who are to receive access (if no Uni-ID is available, a work email address can also be provided for the time being), 

D) a subgroup of users who should have admin rights for the project or team (admin rights contain the possibility to customize the rights structure of templates of the project or team and in addition, new user accesses for the project or team must currently be requested or confirmed by us via the admins of a team).