Commands and Tips for Third-Party Devices
Agilent 1100/1200 HPLC System: Program Tips

• Flow ramps (Flow and %B, %C, %D commands) cannot be executed at negative program times (t < 0) or in Programs without an Inject command. (The pumps of the 1100/1200 HPLC System do not support this.)

• The Inject command and all sample preparation commands are only accepted at the time t = 0. The Autosampler of the 1100/1200 HPLC System executes these commands as a block during the transition from Prerun to Run following a possibly specified UV.Autozero command.

• Interpretation of the Inject command with explicit sample preparation: If sample preparation commands are specified the position of the required inject command among these commands is irrelevant. The actual injection occurs either explicitly via the Valve ValvePosition=MainpassOnStart command or automatically at the end of the sample preparation if the command is not issued. (See the example below.)

• Changes to the 3D field parameter may result in an automatic Autozero for the PDA. During the execution of the autozero (see UV.NotReadyCauses(Prepare) property), no further command must be issued that would result in another autozero. If necessary, use the Wait UV.Ready command to achieve this. During the execution of the autozero, no Run must be started. Therefore, the Program Wizard adds a Wait UV.Ready command before the Inject command.

Hints for manual program creation

Programs for the 1100/1200 HPLC System that were developed manually should include a Wait command before the Inject command for each module:

0.000 UV.Autozero

 Wait UV.Ready and ColumnComp.Ready and Sampler.Ready and Pump.Ready

 Inject

 3DFIELD.AcqOn

 UV_VIS_1.AcqOn

 UV_VIS_2.AcqOn

 UV_VIS_3.AcqOn

 UV_VIS_4.AcqOn

 UV_VIS_5.AcqOn

(These commands are automatically inserted if the Program Wizard is used.)

 Note:

Generally, a time should appear at the beginning of a program (pump and detector settings, such as at the time "-1.000") thus defining a time for each command.

Example for a user-defined wash and injection program

0.000 Valve ValvePosition=Bypass
; Washes from vial 91 to vial 92
Draw Volume=Maximum, Source=Vial, Vial=91
Dispense Volume=Maximum, Source=Vial, Vial=92
; Draws the sample
Draw Volume=InjectVolume, Source=SampleVial
Needle Function=Seat
Valve ValvePosition=MainpassOnStart
; Injection performed 
; Option: further steps after the injection, e.g., for washing:
; Valve ValvePosition=Bypass
; Washes from vial 91 to vial 92
; Draw Volume=Maximum, Source=Vial, Vial=91
; Dispense Volume=Maximum, Source=Vial, Vial=92
; Valve ValvePosition=Mainpass
UV.Autozero
Wait UV.Ready and ColumnComp.Ready and Sampler.Ready and Pump.Ready
Inject

Also, see  Agilent 1100/1200 HPLC System: Program Example for Derivatization.

Data acquisition

The detectors of the 1100/1200 HPLC System do not always record data until the program end. Thus, it may happen that data acquisition ends approximately 0.3 min before the AcqOff command so that raw data are not available in Chromeleon until the end of the program. (Note: This corresponds to the ChemStation behavior.) To avoid this, perform the End command 0.5 (or more) minutes after the AcqOff command:

0.000 Inject

Wait UV.Ready and ColumnComp.Ready and Sampler.Ready and Pump.Ready

UV_VIS_1.AcqOn

(...)

7.500 UV_VIS_1.AcqOff

8.000 End

Example for a shutdown program

To shut down the 1100/1200 HPLC System, use a shutdown program. For example:

0.000  Flow = 0

Wait UV.Ready and ColumnComp.Ready and Sampler.Ready and
Pump.Ready

%B = 100

UV_Lamp = Off

UV.Disconnect

End

At the end of each Chromeleon sample, the program must make sure (for technical reasons) that all connected modules of the 1100/1200 HPLC System are ready. If you turn off the detector lamp, the unit is no longer ready for operation. Therefore, the UV_Lamp.Off command can be performed only after the readiness for operation has been ensured. However, if you add a UV.Disconnect command to the program, the sample will be finished as expected.

 Notes:  

• Select Blank as sample type to process the PGM File without an Inject command.

• After disconnecting the Instrument using the UV.Disconnect command, you will have to wait for about 20 seconds before you can reconnect the Instrument again.

The Administrator Help section provides installation instructions for the 1100 and 1200 HPLC systems; refer to Hardware Installation:

 Agilent 1100 HPLC System: Installation

 Agilent 1200 HPLC System: Installation