Fixing Seedlot Display Issues On Accession Detail Page

Have you ever encountered a situation where the accession detail page is cluttered with an overwhelming number of seedlots? It's a common problem that arises when the system uses a substring search instead of accurately identifying seedlots by their unique stock_id. This article delves into the intricacies of this issue and provides a comprehensive guide to resolving it.

Understanding the Problem

The core of the problem lies in how the system identifies and displays seedlots on the accession detail page. Instead of using the precise stock_id for matching, a substring search is employed. A substring search essentially looks for any occurrence of a given string within a larger string. While this approach might seem convenient initially, it often leads to inaccurate results. Imagine you have stock_id values like '12345' and '123456'. If the system searches for '12345', it will incorrectly include '123456' as well, leading to an inflated and inaccurate list of seedlots. This inaccuracy not only clutters the user interface but also degrades the overall user experience, making it difficult for researchers and users to find the specific seedlots they need.

The impact of this issue is far-reaching. Researchers might waste valuable time sifting through irrelevant data, potentially leading to delays in their work. Data integrity is also compromised because the displayed information doesn't accurately reflect the true relationships between accessions and seedlots. Furthermore, the system's performance can be negatively affected as it processes and displays a larger dataset than necessary. Therefore, addressing this issue is not just about improving the user interface; it's about ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the entire system. The resolution requires a shift from substring searches to exact matches using the stock_id, ensuring that only the correct seedlots are displayed for each accession. This fix will streamline workflows, improve data accuracy, and enhance the overall usability of the accession detail page. The corrected method ensures users can quickly and easily access the information they need, leading to more efficient research and data management.

Identifying the Root Cause

To effectively resolve this issue, we must first pinpoint the exact location in the codebase where the substring search is being used. This typically involves examining the code responsible for querying the database and displaying the seedlots on the accession detail page. Look for any functions or methods that handle the retrieval of seedlot data based on stock_id or related identifiers. Common culprits include SQL queries, ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) queries, or even string manipulation functions within the application logic. Carefully review these sections of the code to identify where the substring search is being implemented. For example, a SQL query might use the LIKE operator with wildcards (%) to perform a substring search instead of using the = operator for an exact match. Similarly, an ORM query might be using a contains or startsWith method instead of an equals method. Once the problematic code is identified, the next step is to modify it to use an exact match instead of a substring search.

This might involve changing the SQL query to use the = operator or updating the ORM query to use the appropriate method for exact matching. It's also important to ensure that the stock_id values are being properly sanitized and validated before being used in the query to prevent any potential security vulnerabilities. After making the necessary code changes, thorough testing is crucial to ensure that the issue is resolved and that no new problems have been introduced. This testing should include both unit tests and integration tests to verify that the seedlots are being displayed correctly on the accession detail page. By carefully identifying the root cause and implementing the appropriate fix, we can ensure that the accession detail page displays only the correct seedlots, improving the user experience and the overall reliability of the system.

Implementing the Solution

The solution revolves around replacing the substring search with an exact match using the stock_id. Here’s a step-by-step approach to implement this:

1. Locate the Code:
   • Identify the specific code segment responsible for querying seedlots based on accession details. This could be within a controller, model, or data access object.
2. Modify the Query:
   • If using SQL, replace the LIKE operator with the = operator. For example, change `WHERE stock_id LIKE '%