Autosampler Probe Window

This program is a user window that resides in the Aria™ OS main program. It is used to perform basic autosampler operations, set instrument default settings and key positions, and view detailed status information during sample execution.

Created using LabVIEW 8.20
In continuous contact with autosampler instrument to provide real-time status information
Allows user to set default settings and instrument object positions to avoid direct instrument interaction
Dynamic template VI with call by reference sub-modules, thus instantiated as many times as required by the primary software and nearly completely independent of the logical operations sub-modules for greater code flexibility

Purpose and Features

The Autosampler Probe Window was specified to provide an interface for the lab scientist to view the autosampler instrument status and to set instrument default settings and key positions. The primary functions required were to:

Display realtime instrument status information
Provide an interface to perform basic instrument operations

The following features were programmed in addition to the basic requirements to aid the user in controlling the instrument:

Quick buttons for Clean Syringe, Clean Injector, Change Tray, and Change Syringe commands on the standby screen, which are the most commonly used operations
Toolbar containing Pause, Abort, and instrument reset buttons
Default Settings screen that uploads the desired default behavior to the instrument itself
Object Positions screen with push-button controls to maneuver the autosampler instrument to set key positions
System clocks in the Execution screen to help optimize methods

Screenshot of Autosampler Probe Window's Standby screen (Image provided by permission of Cohesive Technologies®)

Program Details

The following sections contain some more detailed information about the features of the Autosampler Probe Window.

Toolbar

The toolbar is used to provide basic operations that must be visible at all times in the Autosampler Probe Window. The toolbar provides the following features:

A pause button that pauses instrument operations to allow the user to access the instrument sampling area
An abort button that stops current instrument operations in case of an error
A reset system button to recalibrate the instrument's XYZ coordinate positions
Window positioning buttons allow the user to select whether the window floats above all applications in Windows, floats above the main application, or behaves like a standard window

Quick Buttons

The quick buttons provide immediate access to the most commonly used instrument applications, including Clean Syringe, Clean Injector, Change Tray, and Change Syringe.

Default Settings

The Default Settings screen is used to change system default settings on the instrument. It is accessed by clicking the Default Settings button on the Standby screen.

This display adapts to the instrument setting as selected by the user, and provides access to all the system settings as are available by using the console on the actual instrument. However, this screen is more easily accessed and provides the following features:

Direct entry of numeric values that are automatically coerced into a valid range if the user selects an invalid value
Right-click menu options that give the user standard options for quick selection
A cancel option that reverts the settings to their previous value

Object Positions

The Object Positions screen is used to change key positions of object on the autosampler instrument.

This display adapts to the instrument setting as selected by the user, and is used to set the object positions as is available by using the console on the actual instrument. However, this screen is more easily accessed and provides the following features:

Direct entry of numeric values that are automatically coerced into a valid range if the user selects an invalid value
Push-buttons for analog instrument movement
A cancel option that reverts the settings to their previous value