Agilent LC/GC System Control (ICF)
Creating, Modifying, Resolving and Printing Methods

This topic describes how to create, modify, resolve and print instrument methods for Agilent LC/GC systems that are controlled by the Instrument Control Framework (ICF).

To create a new method

1. Verify that the server is running. If the server is not yet running, start the server in the Server Monitor Program.

2. Start the PGM Wizard: click New on the File menu, and then double-click Program File.

3. Select the timebase in which you want to use the PGM File.

4. On the Acquisition Options page, specify the run time of the method and the channels required for data acquisition, click Next.

5. On the Agilent LC/GC System Options page, click Launch Agilent ICF IME. This opens the Agilent Instrument Settings window. Go to the tab page for each module to select the options for the program.

6. After you have defined the method settings click OK to return to the Chromeleon PGM Wizard.

7. Finish the PGM wizard and save the program.

   Important:

   Chromeleon does not check whether the settings in the Agilent method are useful or correct. If you specify method conditions that cannot be met by the instrument, run start will time out.

   Therefore, always make sure that the method settings in the Agilent method editor comply with the actual device status; for example, verify that the lamps are on if option "Lamp on required for acquisition" is selected for the detector, or the oven temperature is within the specified range when option "Enable analysis when temperature is within..." is selected.

To modify a method

1. In the Agilent ICF Method Editor:

1. On the Chromeleon File menu, click Open…, and then select an existing PGM File from the Open dialog box. (Verify that the server is running, see step 1 under "To create a new method".)

2. In the PGM Editor, click the Agilent LC/GC System icon on the icon bar on the left. On the Agilent LC/GC System page, click Launch Agilent ICF IME to access the Agilent ICF Instrument Method Editor.

3. Go to the tab page of the appropriate module to edit its program options.

   Tip:

   It may take a while until the Agilent ICF Instrument Method Editor window is displayed.

• In the Commands view:

  You can also modify the Chromeleon-specific parts of the program in the Commands view of the PGM Editor. For details see Manually Editing a PGM File in the Commands View.

To resolve a method (Manual Method Resolution)

When opening a method in the Agilent ICF method editor, a consistency check is performed to verify whether the method matches the current system configuration. If a configuration mismatch exists, for example, after replacing a binary by a quaternary pump, it may be required to adapt the method manually. This process is called manual method resolution.

Basically, method resolution is required after adding, removing or exchanging a module in the configuration. In these cases, the Method Resolution Required window is displayed which lists the inconsistent modules. To resolve a method:

1. Click OK to exit the Method Resolution Required window.

2. Click the tab page of the inconsistent module and adapt program settings.

3. If you exit the method editor without adapting the method, the default settings may be applied.

A configuration mismatch may also occur if software versions mismatch, such as the XML schema version. This may lead to different warning messages with regard to the required resolution:

• In case the inconsistency is automatically resolvable (Automatically resolvable), click the OK button of the respective warning message.

• In case the inconsistency recommends manual resolution (Manual Resolution recommended), click the OK button of the respective warning message and review the results to check the automatically resolved inconsistencies. If necessary, resolve inconsistencies manually.

• In case the inconsistency requires manual resolution (Manual Resolution required), click the OK button of the respective warning message and review all settings. Resolve the inconsistencies manually as described above.

To define an error method

The Agilent ICF user interface provides an option for creating emergency programs ("Error Method"). You can access the user interface via Chromeleon:

1. In Chromeleon, open the Agilent_ICF.pan control panel (for details on how to launch a panel, refer to Opening a Control Panel).

2. On the panel, click Launch Agilent ICF Status Window. The Agilent Instrument Status window with panels for each individual module is displayed.

3. Right-click on a panel and select Method. A dialog showing the current method setup of the module is displayed. Define the appropriate shutdown settings for the module.

4. Select Set Error Method to transfer the settings to the module. For help, click the help icon in the lower right corner of the window.

5. Repeat step 3 and 4 for each module installed in your system.

If an error occurs in the system, the error method is loaded and the modules are set into the defined conditions.

To start an error method in case of an Abort error

In some cases, for example, when a non-Agilent module is used, the Agilent LC/GC system may not be able to detect that an Abort error has occurred. In this case, the Agilent error method must be started using a Chromeleon emergency program. When, for example, using a Dionex UlitMate WPS-3000 autosampler, proceed as follows:

1. Connect an Agilent general purpose remote cable to the input port of the Agilent system.

2. Connect one end of a 6-pin Mini-DIN signal cable to the digital I/O port of the autosampler.

3. Connect the other end of the signal cable with the contacts on the free end of the Agilent general purpose remote cable: connect the brown wire of the signal cable to wire 1 (white, ground), and the white wire to wire 4 (blue, shut down) of the Agilent remote cable.

4. Create a Chromeleon emergency program. For details, refer to Specifying an Emergency Program.

5. In the Chromeleon emergency program, add a relay command, for example, Relay_1.On, to close the relay associated with the digital I/O port of the autosampler. Closing the relay will then start the Agilent error method.

Required cable types:

• 6-pin Mini-DIN signal cable provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific (5m; part no. 6000.1004)

• Connector 01046-60201 (general purpose cable) provided by Agilent. (Also, refer to Agilent Remote Cable (LC System)).

To print a method

You can include an Agilent method that is stored in a Chromeleon PGM in the printout of the PGM.

1. Double-click the PGM file to open it in the PGM Editor.

2. On the Chromeleon toolbar, click the Print button.

3. On the Select sheets to print dialog, select the Agilent ICF Method check box.

4. In the Print dialog box, specify the print settings. Click OK to print the Chromeleon PGM/Agilent method sheet.

   Tip:

   If the method is printed to a file, a separate print job is generated for each sheet that is selected in the Select sheets to print dialog box. Depending on the selected output device (e.g.,Microsoft XPS Document Writer) you will therefore be asked multiple times to specify a file to which the result of the respective print job will be written.

To add a method in the Chromeleon Printer Layout

You can include an Agilent method in a report template of the Printer Layout in order to prepare it for printing.

1. Click the icon on the Method toolbar to open the Printer Layout from your currently selected view. Chromeleon automatically opens the report template of the current sequence. Select the Load Report Definition command on the context menu to open a specific report template, if necessary.

2. Add a new sheet to the report template or select an existing sheet. For details, refer to Creating Templates and Worksheets.

3. Right-click in the sheet, point to Insert and click Chromeleon Report Table....

4. Click PGM Tables and select Agilent ICF Method from the list. The Agilent method is inserted in the sheet (may take a few seconds).

Further Information

Agilent LC System Commands (ICF)

Agilent GC System Commands (ICF)

Setting the Run Time

Monitoring the Instrument Status

Miscellaneous Hints

Troubleshooting