Data Acquisition Software Measurement Window User's Manual
Contents
1. 34 gt Channel 4 Measurement type EEI y Gener y Sequence Setup l2 Setup Setup Enslave lv I E Enslave Frequency Iv 3 fei E Enslave Trigger v fui Iu Frequency so y 5 00 v so Trigger Start 4 p El Trigger Stop IV In Event either feine either Timeout Stop m ta Timeout min 10 5 VA ro VA o Y Time Displacement u m El 5 glam a Extemal Events 7 Events JV Events Events Cane Help Setup amp uto amp nalys Defaults 1 An entire channel will be disabled because it is running or waiting If the master frequency chapter Chapter 5 3 allows for fewer than 4 channels to be used the additional channels will be hidden not just disabled 2 This button invokes the sequence setup dialog chapter Chapter 7 3 All possible forms of enslavement are being used for channel 2 As a result there are no controls to set up its triggers or frequency since these are derived from its owner channel channel 1 4 Press the Esc key or click the cancel button to abort any changes Press the Return key or click the OK button to confirm changes 5 Click the Setup AutoAnalysis button to set up Automatic Analysis cf chapter Chapter 7 2 6 Click the Defaults button to fill the dialog box with default values Controls are shown in greater detail below 26 1 Channel Channel 1 Sequence Enslave Enslave Frequency Enslave Trigger Frequency 5 l2 T2. Inert Time and Total Concentration Dialog Box This dialog box is displayed when the Flow Rate Inert Time Total Concentration item in a measurement data tag menu is invoked The dialog box is used to enter a flow rate The flow rate is used to calculate elution volumes in chromatography as elution volume time coordinate flow rate All flow rates for a set of enslaved channels chapter Chapter 1 1 3 are always the same because the data sets are all thought to pertain to the same separation column File S buffisesdassnp2 02082401 dal File Date Time 00 00 2000 00 00 00 Operator PP Generi y Measured 24 08 2002 15 18 05 Measurement Timing y r Unit Freq Hz fro Name Volt v Offset s pi Offset fo Inert s 0 00 4 Factor fi Flow Rate ml min e0 77 Total Concentration o 4 Cancel Dilution fo A Help If the flow rate is changed any graphics windows with Volume Axes will be re plotted Since Molecular Weights are calculated from volume data as well any graphics windows with Molecular Weight Axes will also be re plotted The dialog box is also used to enter inert times i e retention times of inert components used to calculate capacity factors The dialog box can be used to enter a total concentration for the sample The total concentration is used to calculate relative concentrations Finally the dilution of the sample can be set in this dialog box Refer to the
3. Total concentration The total component concentration in a sample can be entered here Dilution DAx displays all concentrations after correcting for sample dilution In other words the dilution factor has already been applied to any concentrations DAx lists Extra fields These fields are user definable and can contains items such as sample ID Use the File Customise gt Fields Setup menu item to enter the number of extra fields and their names Component concentrations Only calibration and control lines can contain component concentrations A calibration will use the specified concentration to set up a calibration line Controls check that concentrations for components are within the specified range Components will be identified using the current Identification Database 32 Channel Sequence List for Channel 1 A x Start Stop Reset Help 7 Single Run Endless runs W Graph Window Iv Preset Scale t max s Y range 0 001 0 Hit F2 to edit item wee 00 Besess Fie Description Description Total Cone Dilution s b c fa 1 New Calibration 1 c win winvolt lt default gt 5 1 1 1 1 1 2 Calibration 1 c win winvolt lt default 10 1 2 2 2 2 ETA gt Add Runs Insert Runs File Cut Paste Load Save To add a new component to the sequence use the Components gt gt button The button also lets you add columns for all components in the current Identification Data
4. of lines f 4 m Extra Fields gt Index numbers will be First Index 1 A appended to filename if gt 1 lines are added Type Measurement y Repeats 1 PA File WBUFFAENDAXSNPANCDEFAU Vv a Description Total Concentration o Es Cancel Help 1 Enter the number of lines to add to the sequence list here This number is limited by the fact that a sequence may not contain more than 99 lines 2 All items not discussed here have the same meaning as in the sequence dialog Values entered here will be copied to all generated lines with partial exception of filenames see below If more than one line is going to be added an index number is added to the filename unless default filenames are indicated The index of the filename for the first line may be entered in the dialog with all next lines obtaining a subsequent index number Because of GLP an extensive check is performed on all the filenames that will be generated If any of these filenames already exists as a file or is already in use in the sequence you will have to change it Chapter 8 2 2 Filenames button This button is used to set the filenames for a series of lines A series of lines must have been highlighted in the sequence list If more than one line is highlighted in the sequence setup dialog box this button invokes the following dialog 35 Number of lines E First Index po Index numbers will be appended to f
5. with d for DAx format files or w for WinVolt files e Older versions of DAx saved the data from each channel in a separate file 1 alphanumerical character denoted the enslavement order The first channel in a group of enslaved channels got an a the second a b etc If channel 2 was measuring as a slave of channel 1 it got a b If it was not a slave it got an a Current versions of DAx save all channels in a single file with an a as the second character of the file extension e 1 numerical character denotes the repeat index 1 through 9 An example filename is 960404a5 da2 This file is measured on April 4 and is the 105th file measured that day This is the second repeat of this measurement In addition to these filenames the file needs a location That is what the File Customise Measurement data directory menu option is used for Entering a directory here will cause all subsequent measurements with default path amp filename to be written to that directory Refer to chapter Chapter 4 3 for details on the File Customise gt Measurement data directory menu option It is also possible to use a default filename but a specific path This is set up in the sequence setup for each channel Refer to chapter Chapter 7 for details 4 It is possible to indicate the channel in the first character of the filename Refer to chapter Chapter 4 3 for details 6 Chapter 2 Installation Chapter 2 1 Installing the Software Re
6. 0 trigger sources 20 triggering 3 25 triggers 41 simulating 10 volume axes 11 Volts 3 9 42
7. DAx Data Acquisition Software O 2014 PP van Mierlo Measurement Window User s Manual DAx Data Acquisition amp Analysis PP 1 File Edit Config Measure Excel HPLC GC GPC CE Cal jo tals fes pr PAE A ppp tloso11702 4a1 141 0 000000 4 d Channel 2 Dnm m tloso11703 4a1 171 0 990408 ee 5 channel 4 pm e e 00 www dax nl Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 1 1 Chapter 1 1 1 Chapter 1 1 2 Chapter 1 1 3 Chapter 1 1 4 Chapter 1 1 5 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 1 Chapter 2 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 1 Chapter 3 2 Introduction Terminology Triggering GLP Enslavement Sequences Default filenames Installation Installing the Software Installing the Hardware The Measurement Window Measurement Data Tag menu The Flow Rate Inert Time and Total Concentration Dialog Box Chapter 4 The Measurement Window File Menu 13 Chapter 4 1 Appearance Chapter 4 1 1 Chapter 4 1 2 Chapter 4 1 3 Chapter 4 1 4 Chapter 4 1 5 Chapter 4 1 6 Chapter 4 1 7 Chapter 4 2 Chapter 4 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 1 Chapter 5 2 Chapter 5 3 Chapter 5 4 Chapter 5 5 Chapter 5 6 Customising the Measurement Window s 13 Display Size LED LCD Style Channel Name Style Measurement Display Style Time Style Sequence List Column Customisation Setting the temporary save period Customising Extra Input Fields Measurement data directory The Config Menu Config Acquisition menu option Con
8. DAx User s manual for details on how dilutions are used If the channel for which new settings are entered is part of a group of enslaved channels all channels will have these settings updated because the data sets are all thought to pertain to the same sample and chromatographic separation column 12 Chapter 4 The Measurement Window File Menu When the DAx Measurement window is active highlighted the DAx menu changes to the Measurement window menu The Measurement window File menu has the following menu options Open Use the Open command to load previously saved measurements DAx can load various file formats The measurements will be displayed in a graphics window Printer setup This menu lets you select a printer and set it up This is useful when measurements are being automatically analysed and printed Customise This command lets you customise a large number of aspects of DAx e Appearance of the measurement window Refer to the next section e Extra Input fields Refer to chapter Chapter 4 2 e Default File Directory The File Customise gt Directory for Default Files command asks for a directory in which measurements that have had no explicit filename entered will be stored Cf chapter Chapter 4 3 Exit This command quits DAx Chapter 4 1 Customising the Measurement Window s Appearance Invoking the File Customise menu option and selecting Measurement Window displays the following dialog box The Measur
9. able each for a certain type of data acquisition hardware The measurement window displays the acquired voltages information on timing and number of points measured and the trigger status of all channels Chapter 1 1 Terminology For a complete understanding of this manual a number of terms need to be explained Chapter 1 1 1 Triggering Triggering is used to be able to start a measurement at exactly the right moment Many data acquisition boards allow the use of a TTL compatible switch to start a channel measuring These switches are called trigger sources Typically the board will use one of three possible changes in the state of the TTL These changes are go high TTL switches from low state to high state go low and either edge Changes are called events Triggering is achieved by attaching a switch to the injection port of a separation system When the injection is performed the switch changes state and the measurement is started triggered If an autosampler is used stop triggers can be used to indicate the end of a measurement Alternatively a time out can be used to stop a measurement and start waiting for the next start trigger 1 A TTL compatible switch has a low and a high state By definition the low state has a voltage smaller than 0 6 Volts and a high state greater than 4 2 Volts Chapter 1 1 2 GLP GLP stands for Good Laboratory Practise a system of rules and regulations intended to formalise the way in
10. ation You may continue to use options in DAx even when the dialog is displayed A modal dialog has to be terminated before you can continue using DAx Some versions of DAx only have the modal dialog box 31 data lists see DAx manual are started for each sequence no new list will be started if only a partial sequence is run Measurement type This can be measurement calibration new calibration causing pre existing calibration points to be discarded control relative control comment or procedure Controls are used to ensure that the system is still working correctly A relative control line defines lower and upper limits for the relative concentrations of a number of components If the components turn out to have concentrations outside the valid interval all measurements in the sequence will be considered tainted A procedure line causes an analysis procedure file with the specified name to be loaded Comment lines are skipped Number of times the line is repeated This only applies to measurements not to calibrations controls or procedure lines When the line is either the start or the end line it is possible to run only a subset of the repeats This is indicated as last x of y and first x of y respectively Filename For measurements calibrations and controls this is the name of the file the data will be stored in For parameter lines this is the name of the parameter file to be loaded Descriptions e
11. base and allows for unused components to be removed from the sequence To change the name of a component click the mouse on the component column header and enter a new name Sequence lists can have a number of so called persistent compounds These are components that will always be present in the sequence list They will not be removed when unused components are removed no matter if they have been used or not Use the Components gt gt button s Persistent compounds menu option to enter a list of persistent compounds for each channel To add a line at the bottom of the sequence just start typing in the row marked as New The sequence setup dialog box is also used to define a preset scale for graphic windows The preset scale item must be checked A maximum time coordinate as well as lower and upper data value coordinates can be entered Leave items blank to let DAx find the optimum value Use the View Reset Scale menu option in a graphic window to stop using the preset scale If a measurement is running the line in the sequence currently being measured will be highlighted As each measurement line completes its filename will be changed to default to prevent a next run of the sequence from using the same filename 33 Chapter 8 1 Filename considerations Files will have extensions that indicate how they were generated The extension is made up of e d for DAx files w for WinVolt files e Older versions of DAx saved
12. channel DAx will continue from where it was stopped Importantly the measurement that was running when the channel was stopped will be rerun 39 Chapter 9 3 Do have to set the flow rate inert time every time No If you set the flow rate inert time using the measurement data tag the data tag displayed in the measurement window it will be saved The next time a measurement is started the flow rate inert time will get the same value as was last entered Make sure to enter the flow rate inert time in the measurement window Entering it in a graphics window will mean that the value will not be used for new measurements since DAx has no way of knowing to which measurement channel the values pertain 9 f the measurement being displayed in the graphics window is still running the flow rate inert time will be remembered 40 Chapter 10 Index adding runs to sequences 34 Automatic analysis 28 autosampler 3 28 31 board See data acquisition board See data acquisition board channel name style 13 colour selection 13 customisation 9 cutting runs from sequences 37 data acquisition 3 7 data acquisition board 7 19 data tag 11 DDE 20 decimal places selection 13 Default File Directory 16 default filenames 5 6 16 34 35 36 deleting runs from sequences 37 Detector Units 9 detectors 19 25 dilution 11 display colour selection 13 display size selection 13 dynamic data exchan
13. derived from the owner channel Refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 3 for more information frequency This determines how many points will be measured for the channel per second This also indirectly determines the maximum measurement time for the channel since a limited number of points normally 64000 can be measured start trigger If a sequence of measurements is going to be performed for the channel unattended by the user a start trigger is required Refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 1 for details on triggering stop trigger time out period If a sequence of measurements is going to be performed for the channel unattended by the user either a stop trigger or a time out period is required for the channel Refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 1 for details on triggering Refer to chapter Chapter 7 1 for details on how to set up a sequence for use with an autosampler time displacement Enter a time displacement to shift the time coordinates of the points measured for the channel The time displacement value will be subtracted from the time coordinates when the measurements take place This feature is useful if there is some dead volume between a separation column and a detector or if two detectors with some dead volume between them are being used 25 The Config Acquisition menu option invokes a dialog box that looks like this Measurement SetUp 21 xl r Channels 1 amp 2 r Channel
14. e when the sequence is next run Clicking the Default Path amp Name button will cause the measurement to be saved with an automatically generated filename in the directory set using the File Customise Measurement data directory menu option Clicking the Path Default Name button will cause the measurement to be saved with an automatically generated filename in the directory specified The specified path will be used even if the sequence is run several times There is no risk that this will overwrite existing files as a new filename is automatically generated Chapter 8 2 4 Cut Button This button removes the highlighted lines from the sequence list The lines are placed in a local clipboard not on the Windows clipboard They may be reinserted with the Paste button This button is greyed unless lines are selected in the sequence list Chapter 8 2 5 Paste Button The Paste button inserts the contents of the local clipboard filled previously using the Cut button before the currently highlighted line in the sequence list If more than one line is highlighted the line with the dotted line around it is the insertion point This button will be greyed unless there are lines on the local clipboard Chapter 8 2 6 Save Load Sequence Buttons These buttons save or load an entire sequence It is possible to load a sequence that was set up for a different channel 37 38 Chapter 9 Frequently Asked Questions Chapter 9 1 Wh
15. e being stopped should be saved When a channel is stopped in the middle of a sequence of measurements DAx asks if you want to run a priority measurement If so e the channel is set to run a single measurement e the sequence will be marked so that when it is next started it starts with the measurement that was interrupted Chapter 6 5 Measure Statistics This menu option may be used to keep track of how many measurements have been performed by a channel and how many minutes the channel has measured The menu option displays a dialog box which displays statistics The dialog box has Reset buttons which can be used to start counting measurements and minutes from zero The user can set boundary values in the dialog box for numbers of measurements and measurement minutes When a channel approaches the boundary values a warning is given This option could be used to determine when maintenance is needed A boundary value of 0 means that no warnings will be given 23 Chapter 7 Setting up a Measurement The Config Acquisition menu option is used to set up how each channel should perform measurements The option invokes a dialog box that allows for configuration of the following sequence set ups Refer to chapter Chapter 7 for full details on sequence set ups enslavement A channel can be enslaved attached connected to an owner channel This will cause certain aspects of the measurement set up for the enslaved channel to be
16. ement window can appear in two basic forms The first form is the one that was discussed in chapter Chapter 1 It can Customise DAx 7 1 Refer to chapters Chapter 4 1 1 through Chapter 4 1 7 for details 2 xl Baselines Finding Peaks Plotting Peaks Data Directory for Default Filenames Measurement AutoAnalysis Fields Setup Data Lists Report Headers Extensions StartUp and Measurement Driver Options GLP Measurement Window r Size r Labeling Big Channel Name C Small 1 Ordinate Name 3 C Bar File Name r Style r Values Windows Ordinate C Raw Data Liquid Crystals DECIDES ls rl 4 C Green LEDs C RedLEDs 7 Time C Blue LEDs Minutes Seconds 5 C Minutes Decimal Config Sequence Columns Temporary file save period min 5 A 7 Cancel Apply Help Chapter 4 1 1 Display Size have two sizes big or small The Measurement window can also be displayed as a vertical button bar In this case none of the other Customisation options have any effect The most recently measured voltage elapsed and remaining measurement time and the number of points that have been measured are displayed as LED LCD style numbers You may Chapter 4 1 2 LED LCD Style choose one of five styles 14 Windows wi ndows Liquid Crystals Green Diodes Red Diodes Blue Diodes The Windows windows style displays a classic style of windows Chapter 4 1 3 Channe
17. fer to the DAx manual for installation instructions The first time DAx is run a dialog box is displayed to select the data acquisition hardware being used The menu option File Customise gt StartUp and Measurement Driver Options can also be used to make this selection Chapter 2 2 Installing the Hardware 1 To prevent damage to either the data acquisition board or the computer hardware installations should be performed only by trained personnel 2 Carefully follow the instructions that came with the data acquisition board on how to install the board into the PC Chapter 3 The Measurement Window The Measurement window can appear in two possible forms as selected in the File Customise gt Measurement Window menu option The most common form is displayed below This form is called Big Display or Small Display in the Customisation menu The other possible form is Toolbar Display es DAx 7 1 Data Acquisition amp Analysis PP 1 File Edit Config Measure Excq4 Sequence Calibration Analysis Report Window Help nemi Efe aula m e 3 Simi 7 es DAx Measurements 2 xl 2 japa G eg 02 05 s EI a 0000005 7 E X Channel 2 A ee EN H ajozezoo dc 2 612135 le amp B t1cnannel4 if H 1 The menu bar options are explained in chapters Chapter 3 Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 2 The left side of the button bar has buttons that start and stop measurements Channe
18. fig Sequences menu options Config Frequency menu option Config Hardware setup menu option Config Reset board menu option Config Setup DDE menu option ON NN ook aww Q e 11 19 20 20 Chapter 6 The Measure Menu 21 Chapter 6 1 Measure Start menu option 21 Chapter 6 2 Measure Start 1 Start 2 Start 3 Start 4 Start All menu options 22 Chapter 6 3 Measure Stop menu option 22 Chapter 6 4 Measure Stop 1 Stop 2 Stop 3 Stop 4 Stop All menu options 22 Chapter 6 5 Measure Statistics 23 Chapter 7 Setting up a Measurement 25 Chapter 7 1 Setting up triggers for autosamplers 28 Chapter 7 2 Automatic Analysis Preferences 28 Chapter 8 Measurement Sequences 31 Chapter 8 1 Filename considerations 34 Chapter 8 2 Sequence List Command Buttons 34 Chapter 8 2 1 Add Runs Insert Runs buttons 34 Chapter 8 2 2 Filenames button 35 Chapter 8 2 3 The Sequence File Entry Dialog 36 Chapter 8 2 4 Cut Button 37 Chapter 8 2 5 Paste Button 37 Chapter 8 2 6 Save Load Sequence Buttons 37 Chapter 9 Frequently Asked Questions 39 Chapter 9 1 Why Can t I Start A Measurement 39 Chapter 9 2 Is it possible to interrupt a sequence list for a priority measurement 39 Chapter 9 3 Do I have to set the flow rate inert time every time 40 Chapter 10 Index 41 Chapter 1 Introduction The DAx Measurement window is the part of DAx that acquires voltages from a data acquisition board or system There are several drivers avail
19. ge See DDE enslavement 4 25 filenames in sequences 35 flow rate 10 11 40 frequency 4 9 22 25 GLP 4 35 Good Laboratory Practise See GLP hardware 7 inert time 11 40 input fields 16 inserting runs in sequences 34 maximum measurement time 9 maximum number of points 10 Measurement data directory 16 measurement sequences 31 measurement set up 25 measurement statistics 23 measurement value display style 13 Menu Config Acquisition 26 Config Hardware setup 19 Config Reset board 20 Config Sequences 31 Config Setup DDE 20 File 13 File Customise gt Directory for Default Files 16 File Customise gt Fields Setup 16 Measure 21 Measure Start 21 22 Measure Statistics 23 Measure Stop 22 Measurement Data Tag Menu 10 Setup Frequency 19 molecular weight axes 11 pasting runs into sequences 37 persistent compounds 33 removing runs from sequences 37 repeat count 5 sequences 5 16 31 adding runs 34 cutting runs 37 inserting runs 34 loading runs 37 pasting runs into sequences 37 saving runs 37 setting filenames 35 setting filenames in sequences 35 setting up measurements 25 simulating triggers 10 start trigger 10 21 25 starting a measurement 21 22 stop trigger 5 10 25 31 stopping a measurement 22 temporary save period 16 time displacement 25 time display style 13 time out 5 25 28 31 total concentration 11 trigger events 2
20. gger is associated with some sort of switch Running Green light is on A measurement is being performed for the channel The traffic lights also serve as input devices Click on the green light when a channel is waiting for a trigger to start the channel the trigger is simulated by clicking on the traffic light Click on the red light to simulate a stop trigger when a channel is running The difference between simulating a stop trigger and clicking the stop button is that the stop trigger only stops the current measurement whereas the stop button stops the entire sequence of measurements Chapter 3 1 Measurement Data Tag menu This popup menu is invoked when the user clicks on the data tag Info Flow Rate Inert Time Total Concentration Sequence Start Stop Delete Copy to Window 1 The Flow rate Inert time Total concentration menu option will display a dialog box see chapter Chapter 3 2 2 The Sequence menu option displays the sequence list dialog box for the channel This dialog box may then be used to enter a measurement sequence 3 Use the Copy to Window menu option to send a static copy of the data set to a window Even if the measurement is running the window will receive no further points Copying a data set can also be achieved by pressing the Ctrl key and dragging the data tag to a Data Set Graphics window or to the DAx client area to create a new window 10 Chapter 3 2 The Flow Rate
21. ilename if gt 1 lines are added File WBUFFYAENDAXSNPZA DEFAULT IM Default teen An index number is added to the filename unless default filenames are indicated The index of the filename for the first line may be entered in the dialog with all next lines obtaining a consecutive index number e Pressing the File button will display the File Entry dialog box If only one line had been highlighted in the sequence list the File Entry dialog box is displayed immediately Chapter 8 2 3 The Sequence File Entry Dialog This dialog box is used to enter a filename for one or more lines in a Sequence Setup or Set Filenames dialog box It is invoked when the File button is clicked CT NEN da Save in Cl DAxSNP2 e er EX L manuals 2102082405 da1 12102082411 dal 102082201 da1 EJO2082406 dal EJO2082412 dal 102082401 da1 EJOZ082407 dal EJO2082413 dal 102082402 da1 EJoz082408 dal EJO2082414 dal 1302082403 dai EJO2082409 da1 fEJO2082415 dal 102082404 dal EJO2082410 da1 ETest3b dal File name 0208241 4 dal Save Save as type DAs files da1 Y Cancel Help Default Path amp Name Path Default Name ddi 36 Entering a filename then clicking the OK button will set a filename in the usual way After the measurement has been saved the filename will be reset to using the default path and an automatically generated filename This is done to prevent overwriting the fil
22. ilter menu option e Baseline construction A baseline is constructed using the most recently used baseline construction parameters e Peak detection Peaks are detected using the most recently used peak detection parameters A baseline must have been constructed to detect peaks e Peak list printing A table of peaks is printed The table is created by creating a peak list window then invoking the print option If the Close Peak List Windows option is checked the peak list window will be closed when it is no longer needed The Only Named Peaks box limits the peak list to peaks that have been recognised by the Identification Database e Creating a peak list file A file with peak detection results is written The file name will be the same as the measurement s 28 data file but with the file extension changed to pks for single data sets or pat pb1 etc for series of data sets The file is created using a peak list window e Overlaying The measurement data are overlaid using the most recently used overlay parameters as set in the Data Overlay menu option e Printing The measurement is printed If a baseline has been constructed it will be included If peaks have been detected they will be marked on the print e Printing a report A measurement report is printed using the current report definition e Derive a new GPC calibration from the analysed data Molecular weight values will be taken from peak names so the Identificati
23. l Name Style Either the channel name or the ordinate name for each channel can be displayed Both of these are entered using the Config Hardware setup menu option Additionally there is the option of displaying the current filename for channels that are currently measuring waiting or measuring as opposed to idle Chapter 4 1 4 Measurement Display Style The most recent measurement that has been performed for a channel can be displayed in one of two forms as a raw value most often a voltage or as an ordinate value If you choose to display measurement values as ordinate values DAx uses the offset and conversion factors that you have entered under the Config Hardware setup menu option The most recent measurement for a channel can be displayed with from one to six decimal places The Measurement window will become smaller if fewer decimals are used Chapter 4 1 5 Time Style The elapsed and remaining measurement times can be displayed either as minutes seconds or as minutes decimal minutes Chapter 4 1 6 Sequence List Column Customisation You can hide one or more columns from sequence lists cf chapter Chapter 7 Use this option with caution Chapter 4 1 7 Setting the temporary save period Running measurements will be saved at the interval specified here Chapter 4 2 Customising Extra Input Fields The File Customise gt Fields Setup menu option invokes a dialog box that is used to set the number of extra input field
24. l start buttons turn into stop buttons as soon as a measurement starts 3 The right side of the button bar has buttons that invoke sequence setup dialog boxes These are discussed in detail in chapter Chapter 7 4 Measurement data tag displaying channel name current file name or ordinate name Use the File Customise menu option to determine which will be displayed Click on the data tag to invoke the data tag menu see to chapter Chapter 3 1 for details 5 Most recently measured voltage or ordinate value Use the Config Hardware Setup option chapter Chapter 5 4 or the File Customise gt Measurement Window option chapter Chapter 4 1 to set the number of decimal places used Use the File Customise gt Measurement Window menu option to switch between displaying Volts or Detector Units 6 Elapsed measurement time top and maximum remaining time bottom are displayed here Maximum measurement time is determined by two factors Firstly by the measurement frequency as entered using the Config Config acquisition menu option Seconaly by the maximum number of points that DAx can measure 7 The number of points that has been measured is displayed here 8 Traffic lights Each channel can have one of three statuses 8 Idle Waiting Red light is on A measurement has been started for 8 the channel but is still waiting for the start trigger Triggers are events that are used to start or stop measurements Typically a tri
25. name Example default filename for channel 3 96032004 D41 or C6032004 DA1 Number files by channel Cancel Use the mouse or cursor and tab keys to set the drive and directory that should be used to store default filename files then press the Enter key or click OK to confirm your selection The two check boxes at the bottom have the following meaning e the measurement channel can be indicated in the first letter of default file names For instance data measured on the second channel will get filenames starting with b If this option is used the measurement year will only be indicated with a single character e the first data set that is measured on a new day is numbered 00 Data sets can be numbered overall or per channel This option can only be used if the Indicate channel in first letter of filename option is also used 17 Chapter 5 The Config Menu The Config menu contains options that let you configure various aspects of measurements Most important are the measurement set up which is discussed in chapter Chapter 6 and sequence set up which is discussed in chapter Chapter 7 The other config options deal with the data acquisition board and dynamic data exchange These are discussed below Chapter 5 1 Config Acquisition menu option This option is used to set up a measurement and analysis Refer to chapter Chapter 6 for a full discussion of the option Chapter 5 2 Config Sequences menu options These o
26. on Database must contain component names that contain Mw values The calibration will be set up to have the same form as the currently present calibration which defaults to multi linear i e lines drawn between calibration points using logarithms of Molecular Weight e Derive a new Calibration from the analysed data Calibrated values will be taken from peak names so the Identification Database must contain component names that contain calibrated values The calibration will be set up to have the same form as the currently present calibration which defaults to multi linear i e lines drawn between calibration points not using logarithms NB Even though it is possible to change automatic analysis preferences while a measurement is running the preferences that were in effect when the measurement was started will be used If the Close Data Windows after Analysis option is checked data sets will be deleted after automatic analysis has been performed Data will be saved first Data sets will only be deleted when all data sets in an enslavement group have been analysed If no data sets remain in the graphics window the window will be closed 29 Chapter 8 Measurement Sequences DAx can perform sequences of measurements unattended In the sequence set up a number of measurements are defined that will be performed consecutively Since for sequences of measurements that run unattended there is no user to start and stop individual meas
27. period 20 Chapter 6 The Measure Menu The measurement menu has options that start and stop channels measuring and an option that displays measurement statistics for channels Chapter 6 1 Measure Start menu option This option invokes a dialog that you can use to indicate which channels should start measuring These channels will have their status changed from idle to either waiting or running Start Select Channel x IV Channel 1 1 The check mark in front of a channel name will make this channel start as soon as the OK button is clicked 2 Channel 2 has been enslaved to channel 1 so it will always share its check mark with channel 1 it cannot be started separately Refer to chapter Chapter 6 for information on setting up a channel as enslaved 3 Channel 3 does not have a check mark so it will not be started if the OK button is clicked 4 Channel 4 cannot be started because it is already measuring or is not available Press the enter key or click the OK button to start the checked measurements 7 if a start trigger has been defined for the channel Refer to chapter Chapter 1 for information on how to set up channels with a start trigger 21 Chapter 6 2 Measure Start 1 Start 2 Start 3 Start 4 Start All menu options These options start the indicated channel or all channels that can be started The effect is identical to pressing one of the start buttons in the button bar The buttons and
28. ptions invoke the sequence set up dialog boxes Refer to chapter Chapter 7 for full details on these dialog boxes Chapter 5 3 Config Frequency menu option DAx allows a frequency to be selected for each individual channel Some data acquisition boards require that before the frequency is set for an individual channel a master frequency is selected The Config Frequency menu option is used to do this Use the Config Acquisition menu option to set frequencies for individual channels If the menu option Config Frequency is not present the data acquisition board being used does not require a master frequency selection Chapter 5 4 Config Hardware setup menu option This option is used to enter data on the signals or detectors that are being measured with the data acquisition board In addition to the names of the channels trigger sources and trigger events you can set up a conversion from the voltage that is measured to detector units The following formula is used detector units factor offset voltage Chapter 5 5 Config Reset board menu option This menu option initialises the data acquisition hardware This option is not normally needed Chapter 5 6 Config Setup DDE menu option This menu option invokes a dialog box that lets you set the update period for the dynamic data exchange conversations DAx can have for instance with Excel Newly measured points are sent to these applications once in every update
29. rformed consecutively Each measurement has e arepeat count defining the number of times this measurement will be repeated e a file name where the data will be stored The data are always stored in a file A default filename may be generated by DAx refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 5 for details e two measurement description lines Since for sequences of measurements that run unattended there is no user to start and stop individual measurements triggers need to be defined to start measurements To stop individual measurements either a stop trigger or a time out period needs to be defined Refer to chapter Chapter 6 for details on how to set up a measurement with start and stop triggers and time out periods Refer to chapter Chapter 7 for a detailed discussion of sequence set ups Chapter 1 1 5 Default filenames DAx has extensive sequencing capability3 which lets you measure large numbers of measurements automatically In order not to have to enter filenames for each of these measurements DAx offers the possibility of using default filenames These default filenames are generated as follows 3 For full details on sequences refer to chapter Chapter 7 For the file name e 6 alphanumerical characters denote the year month and day e 2numerical characters denote the index of the file The first 99 files are numbered 01 99 the next 10 are numbered a0 a9 the next 26 aa az and so on For the file extension e extensions start
30. rigger Start X 3 Input 0 Event a al Trigger Stop X Input o Event go high 4 Timeout Stop E 5 Timeout min 5 0 _ Time Displacement x Sf A Channel name This control is read only To change the channel name use the Config Hardware setup menu option or the Config Driver option Start Trigger If this box is checked a start trigger will be used Since a start trigger is required to run a sequence selecting sequence run mode will disable this check box to prevent it from being unchecked Sequence run mode can only be selected if the box is checked Trigger Source and Event These controls display a list of possible sources and events These controls are enabled only if triggering is being used The names in the list can be set using the Config Hardware setup menu option or the Config Driver option Below 0 some limitations on the choice of source and event are discussed Stop Trigger Timeout Stop If these boxes are checked either a stop trigger or a time out stop or both will be used Since either a stop trigger or time out stop is required to run a sequence deselecting both these boxes while sequence run mode is enabled will cause an error message when you try to confirm these settings Time out period Entered as minutes decimal not minutes seconds If you specify a timeout period that at the current frequency setting would generate more than the maximum number of point
31. s that will be used as well as their names Values for the extra fields are entered in the sequence list chapter Chapter 7 Chapter 4 3 Measurement data directory DAx has extensive sequencing capability which lets you measure large numbers of measurements automatically In order not to have to enter filenames for each of these measurements DAx offers the possibility of using default filenames For information on how these filenames are generated refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 5 In addition to filenames the file needs a location That is what the File Customise Measurement data directory menu option is used for Entering a directory here will cause all subsequent measurements with default path amp filename to be written to that directory 6 gt For full details on sequences refer to chapter Chapter 1 6 It is also possible to use a default filename with a specified path This allows you to store all measurements of a certain type in the same folder Use the sequence setup dialog box to do this 16 The option displays a dialog box 2x Baselines Finding Peaks Plotting Peaks Data Fields Setup Data Lists Report Headers Extensions StartUp and Measurement Driver Options GLP Measurement Window Directory for Default Filenames Measurement AutoAnalysis Directories Bon amp win F win volt e e fm outputfiles Drives c een v Indicate channel in first letter of file
32. s you will receive a warning Time displacement is used when there is a known delay between a component leaving the analytical equipment and reaching the detector and causing a signal It is especially useful when two enslaved channels are used with two different detectors 27 Chapter 7 1 Setting up triggers for autosamplers To run a sequence of measurements using an autosampler that can generate start and stop pulses attach the start and stop pulse to a trigger source each and enter these trigger sources into the measurement set up To run a sequence of measurements using an autosampler that can generate only start pulses attach the start pulse to a trigger source and enter the trigger source into the measurement set up Then indicate the measurement should use a time out period Set the time out period slightly lower than the sample interchange period for the autosampler this will give DAx some time to finish and store the measurement before the next measurement is started by the autosampler Chapter 7 2 Automatic Analysis Preferences Automatic Analysis Preferences indicate to DAx which actions should be taken when a measurement is complete They are set up using the dialog box that is displayed when the Setup AutoAnalysis button is clicked in the Config Acquisition dialog box Possible actions are e Filtering The measurement data are filtered using the most recently used filter parameters as set in the Data F
33. the data from each channel in a separate file 1 alohanumerical character denoted the enslavement order The first channel in a group of enslaved channels got an a the second a b etc If channel 2 was measuring as a slave of channel 1 it got a b If it was not a slave it got an a Current versions of DAx save all channels in a single file with an a as the second character of the file extension e the final character in the extension is a numeral 1 9 indicating the repeat index of the measurement each measurement in a sequence can be repeated from 1 to 9 times A filename does not have to be entered for measurements in a sequence There is the option of using default filenames For full details on how default filenames are generated refer to chapter Chapter 1 1 5 The default file can either be stored in the default file directory use the Default Path amp File button in the file entry dialog box or in a specified directory go to the required directory then use the Path Default File button in the file entry dialog box Use the File Customise gt Measurement data directory menu option to set up the default file directory Chapter 8 2 Sequence List Command Buttons Chapter 8 2 1 Add Runs Insert Runs buttons These buttons are used to add measurement lines at the bottom of the list Add Runs or to insert runs before the current highlighted line Insert Runs These buttons invoke another dialog 34 GLP Number
34. the menu options are not always enabled There are four possible reasons why they may be greyed e the channel is measuring in the case of the button bar the button will change to a stop button 1 e the channel is enslaved to an earlier channel In this case the channel will start and stop along with its owner channel Refer to chapter Chapter 6 for details on how to enslave channels e the current frequency set up does not allow for the channel to be used Use the Config Frequency menu option to set up the frequency e the channel is set up to run a sequence but no sequence has been defined Chapter 6 3 Measure Stop menu option This option invokes a dialog that you can use to indicate which channels should stop measuring These channels will have their status changed from either waiting or running to stopped Chapter 6 4 Measure Stop 1 Stop 2 Stop 3 Stop 4 Stop All menu options These options stop the indicated channel or all channels that are currently measuring The effect is identical to pressing one of the stop buttons in the button bar 22 The buttons and the menu options are enabled only if the channel is measuring data Pressing one of the stop buttons or using one of the Measure Stop menu options is not considered a normal measurement termination Depending on the File Customise gt GLP settings DAx will either still save the measurement or prompt the user to decide if the measurements that ar
35. urements triggers need to be defined to start measurements To stop individual measurements either a stop trigger or a time out period needs to be defined Refer to chapter Chapter 1 for details on how to set up a measurement with start and stop triggers and time out periods Refer to chapter Chapter 7 1 for details on how to set up sequences and triggers for use with an autosampler Actual set up of sequences is done in a dialog box This dialog box can be invoked either from the measurement set up dialog box invoked by the Config Acquisition menu option or from a modeless dialog box8 invoked by the Config Sequences menu option or one of the sequence set up buttons in the pi Measurement window see chapter Chapter 1 The dialog boxes invoked in these ways are not identical the modeless version has buttons to start stop and reset measurements Also the modeless version does not have a cancel button so any changes are always permanent Since these are the only differences only the modeless version will be discussed in detail below Measurements are entered in a spreadsheet The spreadsheet contains the following columns e Line number This can be changed to Start to run only part of the sequence list Once a start line has been marked an End line can also be marked To remove the Start and End markers simply change the start marker back to a line number NB f new 8 A dialog box that stays on the screen as a separate applic
36. which measurements are performed in a laboratory Unless otherwise indicated using the File Customise gt GLP menu option DAx will not overwrite an existing data file with a new data file DAx will also always save a measurement as soon as it stops Finally measurement data are saved every five minutes to prevent data loss due to power outages Chapter 1 1 3 Enslavement DAx has the option of enslaving channels to other channels Enslaved channels share certain attributes with their owner channels e basic enslavement the enslaved channel is always started and stopped along with the owner channel It shares the same sequence set up Refer to chapter Chapter 5 for information on starting and stopping channels and to chapter Chapter 7 for details on sequence set ups e frequency enslavement in addition to basic enslavement the enslaved channel shares the same measurement frequency with the owner channel e trigger enslavement in addition to basic enslavement the enslaved channel shares its triggers with the owner channel Enslavement will typically be used for multi detector measurements Refer to chapter Chapter 6 for details on how to enslave channels 2 The automatic save period can also be adjusted using the File Customise Measurement Window menu option 4 Chapter 1 1 4 Sequences DAx can perform sequences of measurements unattended In the sequence set up a number of measurements are defined that will be pe
37. y Can t Start A Measurement You cannot start a measurement on a channel if e the data acquisition hardware has not been properly installed e the channel is already measuring Stop the channel e the channel is enslaved to another channel the channel will be started as soon as the master channel is started e the channel index is higher than the number of active channels Some data acquisition boards only support a limited number of active channels for high frequency measurements If such a high frequency has been selected some channels will be disabled Cf chapter Chapter 5 3 e the channel has been configured to run a sequence but no triggers have been defined cf chapter Chapter 1 or the sequence list is empty cf chapter Chapter 7 In the version with Prince Control e a Prince control window is open and the Prince is not ready to start This will make it impossible to start measuring channel 1 the channel associated with the Prince Chapter 9 2 Is it possible to interrupt a sequence list for a priority measurement Yes Simply use the stop menu command or click on the stop sign DAx will ask if you want to set a start marker in the sequence list so that you can finish the sequence later Choose Yes DAx will also automatically switch the channel to single run Now perform the priority measurement When it is finished open the sequence list setup dialog box and uncheck the single run item Now when you start the
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