In Smatrix, there are two ways to establish trials for data collection:

  • Create your own trial template within Smatrix

  • Import an existing trial template from another user

The following are instructions for the first method: Creating a Trial in Smatrix. See also Importing a Trial in Smatrix.

Initial Setup

  1. Open Smatrix.

  2. Tap the black plus icon (blue star) in the upper right hand corner of the start up screen.

3. Select “Create”.

4. Assign a trial name, for example, “Example greenhouse”.

note

About names. When assigning a name for your new trial, be aware of the following constraints:

  • Names may consist of letters and/or numbers.

  • Names cannot be exact duplicates of names from existing trials.

  • Names cannot include emojis.

About names. When assigning a name for your new trial, be aware of the following constraints:

  • Names may consist of letters and/or numbers.

  • Names cannot be exact duplicates of names from existing trials.

  • Names cannot include emojis.

Setting Hierarchies

Now it is time to set the trial hierarchies.

note

About hierarchies. In Smatrix, “hierarchy” is a term used to specify the spatial organization of your field site. For example, a horticultural site might use the hierarchies “field, row, plot”. An aquacultural site might use the hierarchies “building, room, tank”.

About hierarchies. In Smatrix, “hierarchy” is a term used to specify the spatial organization of your field site. For example, a horticultural site might use the hierarchies “field, row, plot”. An aquacultural site might use the hierarchies “building, room, tank”.

Example field site. In these instructions, we will establish the hierarchies “row, table, plant” for an example field site. We will be using an example greenhouse site containing 2 rows, with 3 tables per row, and 10 plants per table.

Hierarchy 1: Row

5. Begin your setup of hierarchies for the example field site, above, by tapping the “(blue star) Trial setup” tab. (More information will appear.)

6. Tap the button “(blue star) HIERARCHY LEVEL”.

7. You should see a screen that says “Choose hierarchy level” in a green bar at the top, with a catalog of pre-installed hierarchies listed (Fig. 6).

On this view (Fig. 6), you can select up to three of the existing hierarchy levels to use in your trial. If you prefer hierarchy levels that are not provided, you can create new ones.

In this example, we are creating a trial for a greenhouse site that has the following organization: 2 rows of 3 tables each with 10 plants per table, for a total of 60 plants.

The first hierarchy in our example, “Row”, is provided by Smatrix. However, because our example site has only 2 rows, we’ll need to customize the number of rows from the 20 rows provided.

8. Tap to check the box for “Row”.

9. Because our example trial only has 2 rows, we need to change the number of rows from 20, to 2. Tap the bar for “Row” to edit. (It will turn grey to indicate selection before opening a new screen).

10. The “Edit hierarchy level” screen will appear. Tap the box “End value”.

11. A numeric keyboard should appear. Delete “20”. Input “2”.

12. Tap the “Save” button in the lower right-hand corner.

Now we’ve completed setup for the first hierarchy at the example field site, row.

Hierarchy 2: Table

The second hierarchy in the example field site, “Table”, is not provided by Smatrix. We’ll need to add it.

13. Tap the black plus icon (blue star) (located in the upper right hand corner of the “Choose hierarchy level” screen) to add a hierarchy that is not provided by Smatrix.

14. Tap the prompt “Please name the hierarchy level”. A new screen appears.

15. In the box “What you read in the table”, type “Table”.

The entries for “What you hear from Smatrix” and “What you say to Smatrix” will auto-populate to “Table”. (If you would like to hear and/or say something different, change the entry for what you hear or say from “Table” to something else.)

16. Tap “Done” in the lower right-hand corner.

17. Tap the box “End value”.

18. Delete “20”.

19. Input “3”.

note

Even though there are 6 tables total, we input “3” because our first hierarchy is row, and there are 3 tables per row.

Even though there are 6 tables total, we input “3” because our first hierarchy is row, and there are 3 tables per row.

20. Tap the “Save” button in the lower right-hand corner.

“Table” should now appear on the list of available hierarchies. It should be checked.

Now we’ve completed setup for the second hierarchy at the example field site, table.

Hierarchy 3: Plant

The third hierarchy in our example, “Plant”, is provided by Smatrix. We’ll need to customize the number of plants.

21. Tap to check the box for “Plant”.

22. Tap the word “Plant” to edit. (It will turn grey to indicate selection before opening a new screen).

23. The “Edit hierarchy level” screen will appear. Tap the box “End value”.

24. Delete “20”.

25. Input “10”.

26. Tap the “Save” button in the lower right-hand corner.

27. Verify that the boxes for “Table (1-6)”, “Plant (1-10), and “Row (1-2) are checked.

28. Tap the “Choose” button in the lower right-hand corner.

Reordering

The selected hierarchies may not appear in the correct order for your trial. For the example field site, we need the hierarchies to appear in the order “Row”, “Table”, “Plant”.

29. To reorder of the hierarchies, touch the hierarchy you wish to re-order. (It will turn grey to indicate selection.) Drag to the preferred order.

Verification

note

Tip: You can double-check that you have entered the hierarchy values correctly by seeing if the expected number of trial units appear in the calculation beneath the hierarchies. (For the example field site, 2 rows x 3 tables per row x 10 plants per table = 60 trial units).

Tip: You can double-check that you have entered the hierarchy values correctly by seeing if the expected number of trial units appear in the calculation beneath the hierarchies. (For the example field site, 2 rows x 3 tables per row x 10 plants per table = 60 trial units).

Now we’ve completed setup for the third hierarchy at the example field site, plant.

Adding Traits

Now we will setup traits for data collection.

Example traits. In these instructions, we will be setting up two example traits, “total number of storage roots” and “flesh color”.

30. To add a trait to your trial, tap the “(blue star) Trait setup” tab. (More information will appear.)

31. Tap the button “(blue star) TRAITS”.

32. You should see a screen that says “Choose trait” in a green bar at the top, with a catalog of pre-installed traits listed (Fig. 29).

On this view (Fig. 29), you can select from the existing traits.

In this example, we will establish two traits for data collection: “total number of storage roots”, and “flesh color score”.

Trait 1: Total Number of Storage Roots

33. “Total Number of Storage Roots” is not an existing trait in Smatrix. Tap the black plus icon (blue star) (located in the upper right-hand corner of the “Choose trait” screen) to add a trait.

34. Tap the prompt “Please name”. A new screen appears.

35. In the box “What you read in the table”, type the trait name, for example ”total number of storage roots”.

The entries for “What you hear from Smatrix” and “What you say to Smatrix” will auto-populate to the text entered for trait name.

(If you would like to hear and/or say something different, change the entry for what you hear or say from “[Trait Name]” to something else.)

Because “Total Number of Storage Roots” will take a long time to hear or say, you might wish to change it to something shorter, for example “storage roots”.

36. In the text field “What you hear from Smatrix”, delete “Total Number of Storage Roots”. Input “Storage Roots”.

37. In the text field “What you say to Smatrix”, delete “Total Number of Storage Roots”. Input “Storage Roots”.

38. Tap “Done”.

Next, we need to set the values for trait collection.

note

About values. You can define numerical or word value ranges. The default value range for Smatrix is “date”.

About values. You can define numerical or word value ranges. The default value range for Smatrix is “date”.

39. Tap the “Date” field. A new screen appears, showing other options for value ranges.

40. Select the radio button for “0-9”.

41. Tap “Choose”.

42. Tap “Done”.

Now, we’ll establish a second trait for data collection, “Flesh color”.

Trait 2: Flesh color

43. To add a second trait, tap the button “(blue star) TRAITS”.

44. Tap the black plus icon (blue star) (located in the upper right hand corner of the “Choose trait” screen).

45. Tap the prompt “Please name”. A new screen appears.

46. Input “flesh color”.

Next, we need to set the values for trait collection. However, our preferred trait values for flesh color “Orange”, “Yellow”, and “White” are unavailable.

We’ll need to set custom value ranges.

47. To see the options for value ranges, tap the “Date” field. A new screen appears, showing other options for value ranges.

To set a custom value range for words, we’ll select an existing value range, and edit it.

48. Select “(4) blue, green, red, yellow”.

49. Tap “Choose”.

50. Press and hold “Wordset value range” until a small pop-up box appears.

51. Tap “Edit” (Fig. 46).

52. Delete “blue”, “green”, “red”, and “yellow'.

53. Tap “Add word” to add “white”, “yellow”, “orange”.

54. Tap “Done” after each color entry.

54. Tap “Save”.

55. Tap “Done”.

56. Tap “Save”.

Read Next:

Importing a Trial in Smatrix

Related articles

The content by label feature automatically displays related articles based on labels you choose. To edit options for this feature, select the placeholder and tap the pencil icon.

Breeding Insight is funded by USDA at Cornell University. For more information, please visit http://www.breedinginsight.org.