---
title: "SPC:Perspective:GUI:Configure Manual Sample Collection"
id: "spc-perspective-gui-configure-manual-sample-collection"
project: "Tutorials"
url: "https://docs.sepasoft.com/articles/mes-module-tutorials/spc-perspective-gui-configure-manual-sample-collection"
updated: 2026-07-23T18:14:04Z
---

# SPC:Perspective:GUI:Configure Manual Sample Collection

## Building the Operator Interface for Sample Collection
 
The goal of this section is to construct a user-friendly and efficient interface for manual data entry. A well-designed operator screen is crucial for ensuring data accuracy and consistency on the factory floor, which in turn guarantees the reliability of the entire SPC system.

### Assemble the Interface Components

* Create a new View called **SPC\_01\_GUI/Production Control** and create page url for later use.

The Manual Sample Collection set-up on the view has four main components:

1. [MES Object Selector](/smart/project-imported-manual/mes-object-selector-perspective)

2. [Ignition Dropdown Component](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/appendix/components/perspective-components/perspective-input-palette/perspective-dropdown)

3. [Sample Entry](/smart/project-imported-manual/sample-entry-in-perspective)

4. [Ignition Button](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/appendix/components/perspective-components/perspective-input-palette/perspective-button)

![](/resources/Storage/mes-module-tutorials/spc-perspective-gui-configure-manual-sample-collection/spc-perspective-gui-configure-manual-sample-collection-2025-08-04.png)

**Area 1: MES Object Selector**

* Purpose: Allows users to select the desired Sample Definition from a list.​​

**Area 2: Location Selector (Dropdown)**

* Purpose: Shows the available equipment locations where the selected sample definition can be applied.​​

**Area 3: SPC Sample Entry**

* Purpose: Provides the input fields for the sample attributes **(LocationX, LocationY, Diameter)**.

**Area 4: Create Sample Button**

* Purpose: Triggers the data collection process for a new sample.

#### Configure Sample Definition Selector
* Drag an **MES Object** **Selector** component onto the view. From the Component Properties, set **includeSampleDefinitionObjects = true**
* Rename the component **mos\_sampleDef** in the project browser

#### Configure Location Selector
 * Drag an Ignition Dropdown component onto the view.
* Location the options[] array in the component props.

    * Select binding
    * Set a property binding to the **mos\_sampleDef** component previously created.

        * Bind to the **mos\_sampleDef.props.selectedMESObject.mesObjectUUID**
    * Add a script transform below. This returns all locations applied for a given sample definition and populates the dropdown options:


```python
def transform(self, value, quality, timestamp):
	locations = []
	if not value:
		return locations
	obj = system.mes.loadMESObject(value)
	if obj.getMESObjectTypeName() != 'SampleDefinition':
		return locations
	
	for loc in obj.getAllSampleLocationProperties():
		locationPath = loc.getLocationLink().getMESObject().getEquipmentPath()
		locations.append({'value':locationPath,'label':locationPath})
	return locations
```

 
#### Configure Sample Entry Component

* Drag an **SPC Sample Entry** component from the Perspective Component list in the Statistical Process Control section to the view.
* No further configuration is required.

#### Configure Create Sample Button
* Drag an Ignition **Button** to the view.
* Create an **onActionPerformed** event script. This script will create a sample and add it to the Sample Entry component for data input:


```python
def runAction(self, event):
	sampleDef = self.getSibling("mos_sampleDef").props.selectedMESObject.name
	locationPath = self.getSibling("drp_locations").props.value
	
	sample = system.quality.sample.data.getCreateSampleByName('',sampleDef, locationPath)
	system.quality.sample.data.updateSample(locationPath, sample, False)
	
	self.getSibling("Sample Entry").props.sampleUUID = sample.getSampleUUID()
	self.getSibling("Sample Entry").props.sampleTakenDateTime = system.date.now()
```


* Add labels as desired.
* **Save Project**.

[Next](/articles/mes-module-tutorials/spc-perspective-gui-populate-manual-sample-data)