Table 1.

Features of Handlebar and MetaBar

	Handlebar	MetaBar
Focus	Web-based lightweight LIMS for handling barcoded samples	Web-based tool for consistent contextual data acquisition with barcoded samples
System requirements	Operating system: Windows® or GNU Linux Apache, Perl, PostgreSQL, OpenOffice or Microsoft® Excel®	Without local MetaBar server installation: Operating system: Windows® Internet connection, web browser (e.g. Firefox), Microsoft® Excel® 2003 or higher Optional: EPL barcode printer (e.g. a Zebra® TLP 2824) With local MetaBar server installation: Operating system: Windows® or GNU Linux Apache, Java, Spring, jasig CAS, PostgreSQL, Microsoft® Excel® 2003 or higher
Coverage	Metadata that emerges during sampling events and subsequent processing step data	Contextual data that emerges during sampling events (other data optional)
Sample type templates	Various	One generic and extensible template
Input validation	Done by the server	Done by VBA® macros in the acquisition spreadsheet and on the server
Integration into data analysis tool set	GenQuery	http://www.megx.net
Export functions	-	GCDML, KML (for Google Earth)
Contextual data enriched sequence submission support	-	Export to MIGS/MIMS/MIENS and structured comment