Academic Scientists at Work
Freezer Storage File System Appendix 4-3
The Freezer/ Refrigerator Storage system is designed to help you organize and find your
reagents over the course of your lifetime. Both Macintosh and PC versions written with
FileMaker Pro version 7.0 are included. The file was designed in Dr. Boss’ laboratory and is in
use. Modifications have been made to make it more general. The program can be modified and
expanded, which you may wish to do. Importantly, the file can be used as it is. Below is a
discussion of different Views and the fields:
Form View - This is the data entry and general search view that you should use. A panel of active
buttons is provided that will allow you to view the two different views and box contents/grid
pages.
To add a new record, press the new record button.

Name of Box: Each Box should have an assigned a name that you will be able to place
with an individual or a reagent.

Box Owner: While you own all the boxes, the person who is using the box should be the
owner. In this case: Curly.

Location: If you have the funds to get a storage rack system for your –80 or –20 freezer,
you should do it. This allows you to have assigned space for people and to have
boxes/reagents in the same place for years and years. With a freezer rack system, you
can assign coordinates to the box. Here shelf 1, rack 2, row 3, column 4. Thus, s1r2r3c4.

Category: Here we have added a number of categories with an edit option if you do not
use any of these. Note that general lab supplies make up most of the list, with My Stuff
being the only personal category.

Other Info: This can be used for anything. Important info to store would be the quality
of a reagent that is stored in this box or if items have been removed. For example, if the
box contained competent E. coli cells for transformation you could write:
Electrocompetent E. coli efficiency 1.2 x 109 colonies/µg. You could also write Stay Out
or DO NOT THROW AWAY…

Date Created, Date Modified, and Inventory ID are automatic values.
List view – allows you to print a summary sheet for notebooks. The sort functions here allow you
to sort by creator, location, and content.
BOX CONTENTS view and Box Contents– provides a 10 x10 grid for storage boxes. Using this
view, –80° and liquid nitrogen freezer contents can be cataloged. Each grid is attached to a box.