Detailed Description of the Problem

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 112 views

Introduction

As part of a test instance of eLabFTW at our university, we are preparing to roll out suggestions to multiple groups in our institute. During testing, we encountered an issue where clicking the "import links" button on a resource linked to a new experiment displayed unrelated experiments from outside our group in the "linked experiments" section. This article outlines the problem, expected behavior, steps to reproduce the issue, and the eLabFTW version used.

Detailed Description of the Problem

When testing different features, we noticed that upon clicking the "import links" button on a resource that we had created and linked to a new experiment, unrelated experiments from outside our group were shown in the "linked experiments" section in addition to our own. We could see the title of these experiments but were unable to open them. This behavior was unexpected, as we were not aware that data from a different group would be accessible in our instance of eLabFTW.

Expected Behavior

We were not expecting to have any data from a different group accessible in our instance of eLabFTW. Since all instances are hosted by our university computing center, we assumed that data would be isolated to each group.

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

To reproduce the issue, we followed these steps:

Edited an experiment and clicked the "import links" button on a linked resource. However, this issue does not apply to all resources.

eLabFTW Version

We are using version 5.1.15 of eLabFTW, which is visible in the bottom right corner of the page.

Potential Causes

We are unsure of what may have caused this issue. If we notice a match in resource ID or anything else between the two instances, we will update this information.

Potential Solutions

Unfortunately, we do not have any ideas on how to solve this issue.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has provided a clear description of the issue we encountered with eLabFTW. We appreciate any assistance that can be provided in resolving this issue.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, we recommend the following steps:

Verify eLabFTW Configuration: Ensure that the eLabFTW configuration is correct and that there are no issues with the instance settings.
Check Resource Permissions: Verify that the resource permissions are set correctly and that the user has the necessary permissions to access the linked experiments.
Review eLabFTW Documentation: Check the eLabFTW documentation to see if there are any known issues or workarounds for this problem.

Additional Information

Thank you very much for your help in resolving this issue. We appreciate any assistance that can be provided.

Related Issues

If you are experiencing similar issues with eLabFTW, please let us know. We can work together to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

eLabFTW Community

If you are part of the eLabFTW community, please feel free to share your experiences and suggestions on how to resolve this issue.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed an issue with eLabFTW where clicking the "import links" button on a resource linked to a new experiment displayed unrelated experiments from outside our group in the "linked experiments" section. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the common questions and concerns related to this issue.

Q: What is the expected behavior when clicking the "import links" button?

A: The expected behavior is that only the linked experiments from your own group should be displayed in the "linked experiments" section.

Q: Why are unrelated experiments from outside my group being displayed?

A: This issue is likely due to a configuration or permission issue with eLabFTW. We are unsure of the exact cause, but we are working to resolve the issue.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, we recommend verifying the eLabFTW configuration, checking resource permissions, and reviewing the eLabFTW documentation for known issues or workarounds.

Q: Can I access the unrelated experiments from outside my group?

A: Unfortunately, you are unable to access the unrelated experiments from outside your group. You can only see the title of these experiments, but you cannot open them.

Q: What eLabFTW version are you using?

A: We are using version 5.1.15 of eLabFTW.

Q: Have you noticed any patterns or correlations between the instances that are experiencing this issue?

A: We have not noticed any patterns or correlations between the instances that are experiencing this issue. However, we are continuing to investigate and gather more information.

Q: Can you provide any additional information or context about the issue?

A: We have provided as much information as possible about the issue, including the steps to reproduce the behavior and the eLabFTW version we are using.

Q: How can I stay up-to-date with the latest developments and solutions to this issue?

A: We recommend checking the eLabFTW community forums and documentation for the latest information and solutions to this issue.

Q: Can I contribute to the resolution of this issue?

A: Yes, we encourage anyone who is experiencing this issue to contribute to the resolution of the issue. We can work together to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Conclusion

We hope that this Q&A article has provided helpful information and answers to some of the common questions and concerns related to the issue with eLabFTW. We appreciate any assistance that can be provided in resolving this issue.

Experiments from a Different User Group Called in via "Import Links" Button for a Resource
Troubleshooting Steps for eLabFTW

eLabFTW Community

If you are part of the eLabFTW community, please feel free to share your experiences and suggestions on how to resolve this issue.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has provided a helpful Q&A section to address some of the common questions and concerns related to the issue with eLabFTW. We appreciate any assistance that can be provided in resolving this issue.