On the Settings screen of the Director software are many runtime parameters. Changes to any of these parameters are applied to the system either immediately or within a few seconds.
The Settings button is accessed from the Service tab. There are seven settings tabs; Management, Sample Registration, Transport, Email, Clients, Database and Simulation.
6.3.1 Management
The Management section includes the following functionality:
- The 'System Availability' controls enable you to disable specific Director functions e.g. if you disable Senders, scientists will not be able to introduce new vials into the system. Disabling Transport will stop all lab2lab activity (though instruments will continue to analyze loaded samples) which may be needed if you have to recover a stuck vial from a Pipe.
- Check the 'Sample Handling' options to enable your lab2lab system to process vials more efficiently. Sending vials directly to waste without waiting for analyses to finish frees up space in the Buffer (though if there is a problem with a vial's analysis, it is easier to repeat it if the vial is in the Buffer).
- The 'Sample Data Retention', 'Sample Vial Retention' and 'Overnight' settings will need to be tailored to your laboratory's working practices and the volume of vials submitted to lab2lab.
You will need to use your operational experience in deciding what values to use for some of these settings e.g. the vial retention settings. If a higher than expected number of vials is retained in the Buffer post-analysis then a lower physical retention time may be required in order to prevent the Buffer from becoming full, as this would greatly reduce system efficiency.
6.3.2 Sample Registration
The Sample Registration settings are as follows:
- All lab2lab systems require a list of valid user IDs, but strict enforcement is optional. If this parameter is set to false then the user ID list is used to prompt scientists when registering vials, but they are able to enter a different ID if necessary.
- Check the 'Waters Acquity Methods' option to require scientists to provide method parameters for analyses run on Waters HPLCs when registering vials with lab2lab Client. Leaving this unchecked will leave the parameters as optional.
- Use 'Refresh Available Method details' to immediately implement changes to the lab2lab ini file, e.g. adding new analytical methods. This is optional; all method changes will automatically be applied at midnight each night, if there is no urgency.
6.3.3 Using a csv vial to register multiple vials
This is an additional lab2lab function which is not available on standard systems. If you wish to use this option, contact SPT Labtech to include this in your system license.
As well as registering vials individually, either through the client software or by clicking the New Vial button in the Vials table screen, you can register multiple vials with a single text file. The text file must be in comma separated variable (CSV) format.
The required fields and possible values are explained in this table:
|
Barcode |
Vial's 2D barcode |
|
Priority |
Possible Values: Normal Low RunOvernight |
|
Sample Reference |
Typically an ELN reference but not necessarily. |
|
OnCompletion |
Possible Values: SendToWaste RetainInBuffer (though “Waste”, “waste”, “Retain” or “retain” would also work) |
|
Process Name |
A valid process name. Only one Process per vial. |
Example of a typical CSV submission file:
1047306438,Normal,BALAKA1-001-EXP070-t0,SendToWaste,2minLowpH,
1047336205,Normal,ADCOCCL1-002-EXP004-A,SendToWaste,2minLowpH,
1047308120,Normal,NEEFJA1-001-EXP085-PRD,SendToWaste,2minLowpH,
1047308121,Normal,NEEFJA1-001-EXP086-PRD,SendToWaste,2minLowpH,
1047308122,Normal,NEEFJA1-001-EXP087-PRD,SendToWaste,2minLowpH,
To submit the file, save it to the specified folder. If Director is set up to monitor the folder ('Registration and Editing by CSV file' is checked on the Sample Registration tab), it will process the file and add the submitted vials' details.
The fastest way to submit multiple files is to eject the rack in the Buffer and load a new rack of vials, or to insert the vials into the existing rack. The vials can be put anywhere in the rack as when the rack is retracted the contents will be identified and each vial will be processed as required. Alternatively, multiple vials could be submitted via Senders.
6.3.4 Transport
The Transport Settings will be configured by SPT Labtech staff during commissioning. Only edit these settings in consultation with reliance.
6.3.5 Email
SPT Labtech recommends that you set up and use the automated emailing facility as this will speed up response time to any problems that may occur. If you have a support contract with reliance you should ensure that the lab2lab Support email is included in the external recipients list.
The Daily Summary emails are sent at midnight, local time. They are only sent following days when there has been some activity on the system. The information they contain has proved very useful in monitoring system reliability and utilization.
6.3.6 Clients
The settings here enable you to configure the information which is shown to users in lab2lab Client software.
- Displaying the 'Average time to analysis' gives system users an indication of how busy the system is.
- Displaying the system administrator's contact details enables users to seek advice easily.
6.3.7 Database
This tab shows the settings for archiving and data deletion which are set up on your lab2lab system. These values are displayed for information only and cannot be altered through Director.
See the 'lab2lab System Administrator's Manual' for more information about these topics.
6.3.8 Simulation
For test purposes, Director can simulate a lab2lab system's activities, showing vials progressing through the system on the Overview tab as they would in a working system. Use the controls on this tab to configure the simulation.
- Enable Submissions Simulation - check this to simulate vials being submitted from Senders, and the frequency.
- Waters Method Duration - set this time to be representative of the methods you use, if you are running a simulation to test system loading.
