Weight Display Settings

Owned by Amy Blanchard
Last updated: Aug 16, 2017

Applies to: v3.1

Purpose: There is a new feature in DVMAX Research v3.1 that allows sites to choose the default weight units for each species. If the default unit is changed from kg, there are additional settings that must be changed to ensure the proper display of information in DVMAX Research. 

Editing Finding Classes

Any weight medical record codes configured by DVMAX staff has finding item with a default unit of kg setup (unless changes have been made by the facility after initial setup). There are two options from which to choose when editing this: 

Option One:

This method is the quickest option for making the change. It will require the staff entering the weight to choose in which unit of measurement the weight was recorded each time they enter a weight in the animal history.

From the DVMAX Research Setup Client Application

  • From the Admin pull-down, choose Setup
  • Click on the Findings Tab
  • Under the Finding Items area, scroll down to find the Units finding item
  • Double-click on Units
  • Remove 'kgs' as the Default Units
  • Click Add
  • Enter grams as another description option
  • Click OK
  • Click Cancel to close out of the Add new item option window
  • Click OK to save the changes


Option Two:

This method requires a lot more setup changes. If configured correctly, it will require no additional action from end users. For this option, new finding items, finding classes, medical record codes and to do item templates must be configured. The steps below use the unit of grams in the examples, but the same configuration will need to be done for each new default units that will be in use at the facility.

From the DVMAX Research Setup Client Application

  • From the Admin pull-down, choose Setup
  • Create new finding item
    • Click on the Findings Tab
    • From the Finding Items window, click Add
    • Enter an item name of Units (g), or something similar (It cannot have the same name as the existing Units finding item)
    • Enter a default note of grams
    • Click Ok to save changes
  • Create new finding class
    • Click on the Finding Classes tab
    • Click Add
    • Enter a Class Code of WeightGrams
    • Enter a Class Name of Weight - Grams
    • Click Add
    • Enter Finding Class Item of Weight
    • Click Ok
    • Click Add
    • Enter Finding Class Item of Units (g) (The finding item created in the above steps)
    • Click Ok
    • Click Ok to save the new Finding Class
  • Create new Medical Record Codes (A new medical record code will need to be created for each existing Weight MRC in the current setup that will apply to animals who will be weighed in grams).
    • Click on the MRCs/To Do Items Tab
    • From the MRCs section, filter for all weight MRCs. This will give you an idea of each new MRC that should be created.
    • Click Add
    • Enter Code, Description (Example - Annual Weight (grams), Finding Class Code (this will be the new code created above), Set Assignable to Individual, Choose appropriate category, Choose to Default to Vet or Exp (based on the use of the new MRC), check off the Special Setting of Set Weight, under the Species list make sure only the species which will be weighed in grams are selected.
    • Click Ok to save
    • Follow the same steps for each new MRC that must be added
  • Create new To Do Templates for any weight codes that should be scheduled on a recurring basis - the example below will be for Annual Weight (starting in v3.1 new To Do Items are automatically created each time a new MRC is created so it is not necessary to create the To Do Items)
    • Under the MRCs/To Do Items tab, click on the To Do Templates tab
    • Click Add
    • Enter Template Code (WeightAnnGrams) and Template Name (Weight Annual - Grams)
    • Click Add
    • Search for the To Do Item for Annual Weight
    • Choose Base Date of Date Performed
    • Interval of 365 days
    • Click Ok to save
    • Follow the same steps for each MRC that should be scheduled on a recurring basis
  • Link To Do Templates to new MRC - the example will be for the Annual Weight (grams) Medical Record Code
    • Under the MRCs/To Do Items tab, click on the MRCs tab
    • Filter to display all Weight MRCs
    • Double-click on the Annual Weight (grams) medical record code
    • In the To Do Template section add the WeightAnnGrams to do template that was created
    • Click Ok to save changes
    • Follow the same steps for each MRC that should have a To Do Template linked.

Editing Advanced Settings (dvmaxr.weightChangedString):

This setting controls how the comments are displayed when the a weight change is added to the comments section.

From DVMAX Research Setup Client Application 

  • Choose Setup from the Admin pull-down
  • Utilities Tab
  • Display Advanced Settings
  • Filter for the Advanced Setting dvmaxr.weightChangedString 

Setting Options:

The default option for the setting is - "<DATE> - Weight changed from <OLD> <OLDLABEL> to <NEW> <NEWLABEL> <WARNING>"

  • DATE - uses the date format used in the dvmaxr.dateWeightChangedDateFormat setting (see - Editing Date Display for different options)
  • OLD - previous weight
  • OLDLABEL - the label used previously
  • NEW - new weight
  • NEWLABEL - the new default label
  • WARNING - when a weight is entered that is over the value entered in the dvmaxr.weightWarning advanced setting