Manual instructions

Introduction

The chromatography system can be controlled with manual instructions issued from the Manual menu in the System Control module. The available instruction options are dependent on the strategy.

Manual instructions during a method run

Manual instructions can be issued while a method is running. A manual setting applies until the next method instruction of the same type is executed

Example: A manual Flow instruction will set the flow rate until the next Flow instruction in the method is executed. Manual instructions that you issue during a method are recorded in the logbook for the method run.

The manual instructions dialog box

The Manual menu in System Control opens a dialog box similar to the Instruction box in the Method Editor. The name of the connected system is displayed on the title bar of the dialog box. See an example in the illustration below:

Note: The parameter values will be updated continually during the run if the Auto update checkbox is selected.

Column protection

Your user attributes may include a requirement to always set pressure alarms.

Step

Action

1

When you try to execute a pump instruction the Column protect mode dialog box opens.

2

  • Click the Yes button in the dialog box to select a column and retrieve the correct maximum pressure value.

  • Click OK to close the column list.

  • Click the Insert button to add the Alarm_Pressure instruction.

3

  • If necessary, repeat step 2 to add an Alarm_SamplePressure instruction.

How to use manual instructions

Manual instructions are entered in the same way as method instructions from the dialog box in the Method Editor. The table below describes how to add a manual instruction:

Step

Action

1

  • Select an instruction group and a component in the Instructions field.

  • Select instruction parameters in the Parameters field.

2

  • Click the Insert or Execute buttons as needed. (See the descriptions of the different functions below)

The buttons of the manual instructions dialog box

The table below describes the functions of the manual instructions buttons:

Button

Function

Insert

This button places the current instruction in the list at the bottom left of the dialog box.

Delete

This button deletes the selected instruction from the current list only. One instruction can be deleted at a time.

Execute

This button

  • executes all instructions in the list at the same time

or

  • executes the currently marked instruction if the list is empty.

Note: Although all instructions are executed simultaneously, some (for example gradient and fraction instructions) may take some time to complete in the liquid handling module.

Close

If you click the Close button without first clicking the Execute button, commands in the list

  • will not be executed

  • will be deleted from the command list.

How to save manual results

When you choose to run the system manually - as opposed to a Method run - the results are automatically stored in a folder called Manual Runs. The Manual Runs folder stores the ten most recent results from your manual runs. To save a result file from the Manual Runs folder more permanently, you need to move or copy it to another location.

An alternative way to save the results from a manual run is to record the results manually in a result file. The table below shows how to do this:

Step

Action

1

  • Choose Manual:Other.

  • Select the instruction Record On at the beginning of the run.

2

  • Click the Execute button.

Result: UNICORN will prompt for a result file name.

2005-06-15