5 Common Custom Field Mistakes
5 Common Custom Field Mistakes in Empower™ CDS
Custom Fields are one of the most powerful features in Empower™ CDS.
They allow you to automate calculations, perform evaluations, simplify data review, and adapt Empower to your laboratory’s specific workflows.
But if you’ve worked with Custom Fields before, you’ve probably experienced this situation:
You create a formula, click OK, and either receive an error message that doesn’t make much sense—or the Custom Field calculates without errors, but the result isn’t what you expected.
And then begins the troubleshooting.
Unfortunately, Empower doesn’t always point clearly to the source of the problem. A small mistake can easily lead to hours of investigation.
Here are 5 common Custom Field mistakes I see regularly in pharmaceutical and chemical QC laboratories.
1. Mixing Up Peak and Result Field Types
One of the most common mistakes is choosing the wrong Custom Field type.
Peak Custom Fields perform calculations for individual peaks and are displayed in the Peaks table.
Example: Area/Factor
The calculation is performed separately for each peak.
Result Custom Fields operate on the entire result and are displayed in the Results window.
Example: SUM(Amount)
Here, Empower evaluates the complete result rather than individual peaks.
The Common Pitfall
Users often try to use Peak fields when they actually need Result fields—or vice versa.
If you want to reference a specific peak from a Result Custom Field, you must explicitly identify it:
Acetone[Area]/Factor
Understanding the difference between Peak and Result field types is often the first step toward solving unexpected Custom Field behavior.
2. Unnecessary Spaces in Formulas
Custom Field formulas rarely require spaces.
In most cases, spaces should only appear when they are part of a field name.
Although spaces may seem harmless, they can sometimes contribute to formula errors and make troubleshooting more difficult.
3. Typos in Formula Components
Typing errors are another frequent source of problems.
Many users manually type complete formulas instead of selecting fields from the available field list.
The result?
Small spelling mistakes that are difficult to spot.
My personal favorite is “Threshold”—a word that somehow attracts typos surprisingly often.
Best Practice
Select fields directly from the available list instead of typing them manually.
A few extra clicks can save a lot of troubleshooting time later.
4. Using "Result Set First" Search Order
This issue applies specifically to Intersample Custom Fields.
When creating an Intersample Custom Field, default setting for the Search Order is Result Set First.
The problem is that Empower may then use results outside the current Result Set for calculations.
In some situations, this is intentional.
In most situations, it is not.
Recommended Setting
For the majority of cases use Result Set Only.
This ensures that calculations use only results from the current Result Set.
5. Forgetting "Summarize Custom Fields"
This is one of the most frustrating mistakes because everything may appear to be configured correctly.
The formula looks fine.
The Custom Field compiles.
But the calculation never happens.
Why?
Because Intersample Custom Fields require a Summarize Custom Fields line at the end of the Sample Set.
Without it, Empower does not execute the Intersample calculations.
This small step is easy to overlook, especially when building a Sample Set from scratch.
Before spending time troubleshooting, always check whether the Summarize Custom Fields function has been included.
Why Small Mistakes Cause Big Problems
Custom Fields are extremely powerful because they allow laboratories to automate calculations and adapt Empower to specific analysis.
The downside is that even small configuration errors can have a significant impact.
The good news is that most Custom Field problems can be traced back to a handful of common causes.
Checking these five areas first can often save a considerable amount of troubleshooting time.
Want to Learn More About Custom Fields?
If you’re new to Custom Fields, you can start with the free webinar:
Custom Fields Basics in Empower™ CDS
If you’re looking for a Custom Fields training tailored to your team’s needs, fill out the Training Wish List form or contact us at info@labwissen.com with a short description of your requirements, and we’ll be happy to discuss suitable options with you.
If you need any further support with Empower, you can also explore our trainings, hands-on workshops, and mentoring program, designed for analytical laboratories working in GMP-environments.