System definitions

General guidelines

  • System definitions are used to set up the systems in a UNICORN installation. The definitions must be made for each new system that is installed.

  • In a network installation, the definitions must be performed for each local computer in the network.

Note: Access rights to a system are controlled at the user administration level, see User administration.
Important!

The UNICORN computer name

  • The computer name in the UNICORN software must be the same as the Windows computer name. The Windows computer name is therefore automatically filled in as the UNICORN computer name when you create a new system definition.

  • Subsequently, if the Windows computer name for some reason is changed after the UNICORN installation, you manually have to change the computer name in UNICORN.

How to change the computer name

The table below describes how to determine the Windows computer name and change the UNICORN computer name accordingly:

Step

Action

1

  • Open Windows Control Panel and double-click the System icon.

  • Look for an item called Computer Name.

    Note: Depending on your Windows version, you might have to click a tab to find the computer name.

  • Take a note of the computer name and click the Cancel button.

2

Start UNICORN and choose Administration:System Setup in the UNICORN Manager.

Result: The System Setup dialog box is displayed.

3

  • Select the system and click the Edit button.

  • Check that Computer name is the same as the Windows computer name. If not, change the UNICORN computer name.

4

Click OK and then the Close button.

Possible actions in the System Setup dialog box

Systems are edited in the System Setup dialog box in the UNICORN Manager.

  • Choose Administration:System setup in the UNICORN Manager to open the System Setup dialog box, see illustration below.

    Note: To use this menu command, you must have Audit trail/System setup access, see Access items.

Possible actions

The table below describes the actions you can perform in the System Setup dialog box. Each action is described further on in this section.

Note: You need the UNICORN installation CD to perform the actions New and Delete.

If you want to...

then click the button

create a new system definition

New

edit a system definition

Edit

delete a system definition

Delete

delete a strategy

Strategy

view or print a system summary

Summary

use socket communication

Socket

view installed systems as icons

Icons

view installed systems in a list

List

Note: The Socket button is described in If named pipes cannot be used.
How to create a new system definition

The table below describes how to create a new system definition:

Note: When the system definition has been created, remember to grant access to the system to the appropriate users.

Step

Action

1

  • Insert the UNICORN CD in the CD-ROM drive.

Result: The Setup wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.

  • Click the Next button.

2

The Select Components screen is displayed.

  • Make sure that the System Installation option is selected. You should deselect the other check boxes unless you want to install other components.

  • Click the Next button.

3

The Program Options screen is displayed.

  • Specify the number of System Control Windows you want to be available, normally the number of instruments that will be simultaneously connected to the PC.

    Maximum value is

    1 for CU-950/CU-960 USB

    4 for CU-950/CU-960 Advanced.

    4 for CU-900 PCI

  • Click the Next button.

4

The Start Copying Files screen is displayed.

  • Click the Next button.

5

The System installation screen is displayed.

How to edit a system definition

The table below describes how to edit the parameters of an existing system definition:

Step

Action

1

Select Administration:System setup in the UNICORN Manager.

Result: The System Setup dialog box is displayed.

2

Select the system in the System Setup dialog box and click the Edit button.

Result: The Edit System dialog box is displayed.

3

The fields of the dialog box are described below.

Note: Any other changes than Strategy, Computer name and Component... require that you run the UNICORN Setup CD. See How to install selected software components.

  • System name

    Type the system name. Names can be up to 30 characters long.

    Note: The system name can be set only when a new connection is defined. It cannot be edited later since user access rights are linked directly to the system name.

  • System type

    Select a system type, either Chromatography, Oligo or Xpress.

  • Strategy

    Select a strategy for the system from the drop-down list.

    Click the Information button to display information about the selected strategy.

    The Component button is described in step 4 below.

    Note: Available strategies are determined when UNICORN is installed (see Software installation). If there are several strategies installed, make sure that the selected strategy is appropriate for the system.

Step continued below.

3, cont.

  • Computer name

    The Computer name should be the same as the Windows name of the computer that the system is connected to. Normally this is the local computer.

  • Control unit number

    Select the control unit number (1-4). This is the connection number for the system on the local computer.

    CU-900 PCI: The control unit number is set with the DIP switch, see How to install CU-900 PCI.

    CU-950 USB/CU-960: Must be installed with the control unit number 1.

    CU-950/CU-960 Advanced: Please contact your local GE Healthcare representative.

  • Auto save interval

    UNICORN saves a copy of the result file every five minutes during a run. This minimizes loss of data in the event of a computer failure. The interval cannot be changed.

  • Component...

    See step 4 below.

4

Some system strategies allow you to define the specific system components included in the system.

  • Click the Component button to specify the system components.

  • If the Component button cannot be clicked, go to step 5.

Result: The Component dialog box is displayed.

Note: The strategy contains instructions for all possible components, but only instructions for the selected system components will be shown.

  • Select the check boxes for the components you want to add to the system and click OK.

Caution! If you make changes to a system, you may also have to change the arrangement of tubing, pumps, columns etc. on the system. An attempt to control a system using the wrong strategy may cause malfunction and ultimately damage the system.

5

Click OK and then Close.

How to delete a system definition

The table below describes how to delete a system definition:

Note: A system definition can only be deleted if the system is idle and no users are connected to the system.

Step

Action

1

  • Insert the UNICORN CD in the CD-ROM drive.

Result: The Setup wizard starts and displays the Welcome screen.

  • Click the Next button.

2

The Select Components screen is displayed.

  • Make sure that the System Installation option is selected. You should deselect the other check boxes unless you want to install other components.

  • Click the Next button.

3

The Program Options screen is displayed.

  • Specify the number of System Control Windows you want to be available, normally the number of instruments that will be simultaneously connected to the PC.

  • Click the Next button.

4

The Start Copying Files screen is displayed.

  • Click the Next button.

5

The System installation screen is displayed.

  • Select the radio button corresponding to the system you want to delete.

  • Click the Change button to display the System Setup screen.

  • Click the Clear button to clear all the fields.

  • Click OK to go back to the System Installation screen.

  • Click the Next button.

  • Click the Finish button.

Note: You can see the screen images in Step 11 - System Installation.
How to delete a strategy

The table below describes how to delete a strategy.

Note: You can only delete strategies that are not currently in use.

Step

Action

1

Select Administration:System setup in the UNICORN Manager.

Result: The System Setup dialog box is displayed.

2

Click the Strategy button.

Result: The Strategy Administration dialog box is displayed.

3

Select a strategy and click the Delete button.

How to view or print a system summary

You can view and print a total summary of a selected system from the System Table Summary dialog box.

The table below describes how to view and print an information summary of a selected system:

Step

Action

1

Choose Administration:System Setup in the UNICORN Manager.

Result: The System Setup dialog box is displayed.

2

  • Select (click the icon of) the system you want a summary of.

  • Click the Summary button.

Result: System Table Summary dialog box is displayed:

3

  • Click the Print button to print out the information.

  • Click the Close button to exit the dialog box.

2005-06-15