Setting protocol options

When you create a protocol, you need to specify which device file to use with the protocol. Optionally, you can specify additional information to associate with your protocol.

This topic explains the following:

•	Specifying the device file for a protocol

•	Adding information about the protocol

•	Specifying protocol rules

Specifying the device file for a protocol

To specify the device file:

1	In the Protocol area, click Protocol Options to view the properties.

 

2	Click the field adjacent to Device file path, and then click the button that appears. The Open dialog box opens.

3	Locate and select the correct device (.dev) file, and then click Open. The path of the device file appears in the Device file path box.

Adding information about the protocol

You can add information about your protocol. For example, you can provide a description and some notes about the protocol.

To add information about the protocol:

In the Protocol Options area, type the following information:

 

 

Optional protocol information	Description
Form to use	The option that specifies a VWorks form for operators to use as the graphical interface to run a protocol. For details on how to create forms and specify which form to use, see Creating protocol forms for operators.
Automatically load form file	The option that opens the form that is specified in the Form to use field anytime the corresponding protocol is opened.
Protocol alias	Another name for the protocol. The alias is displayed in the software, but the protocol file name is not changed.
Description	A brief description of the protocol.
Notes	Special notes about the protocol.
Display user task descriptions	The option to display the task description (or task label) that you provide instead of the default task label. The label is displayed under the task icon in the protocol.
Bar code file directory	The location of the files that contain the barcodes you want to track in the software. The list of files in this folder will be available in the Plate Properties area. For details, see Setting plate parameters and Tracking barcodes.
Use global context for this protocol	The option that permits variables to be available across all protocols that also use the global context for variables. CAUTION Variables with the same name in other protocols, which also use the global context, will interfere with each other. Always make sure the variable values you want to use globally are applicable to the other protocols that use the global context.
Startup script	The JavaScript code you want to run before the Startup or Main Protocol begins.
Finish script	The JavaScript code you want to run after the Main or Cleanup Protocol finishes.
Delete hit pick output files	The option to delete hit-pick output files after the protocol run finishes.
Auto-export Gantt Chart	The option to automatically export the Gantt Chart after the protocol run is finished. The exported file is stored in C:\VWorks Workspace\VWorks\Logs\.
Clear inventory	The option to automatically clear the labware information from the inventory database at the start of the protocol run. Note: Plate and location group information are retained.
Import inventory	The option to automatically import and use the specified inventory file when starting the protocol run. You specify the inventory file to import in the Inventory file box.
Inventory file	The inventory file you want to import and use when starting the protocol run. 1 Click the Inventory file box, and then click the browse button that appears. 2 Locate and select the desired inventory (SQL) file. Note: This box is only active if you selected Import inventory. IMPORTANT Make sure you import the most current inventory file. Importing an out-of-date inventory file can cause protocol runs to abort.

Specifying protocol rules

You can specify certain actions to occur before or after the protocol run.

To specify the protocol rules:

In the Protocol Options area, specify the following rules:

•	Allow this protocol to execute while other protocols are running

•	Automatically load stacker racks

•	Automatically release stacker racks

•	Dynamically assign empty slot to load to storage device

•	Handle plate in instance order

•	Pipette plates in instance order

 

Allow this protocol to execute while other protocols are running

This rule allows you to specify the following:

•	Select the check box (default). Enables the Runset Manager to run the protocol simultaneously with another protocol.

IMPORTANT Simultaneously running protocols must specify the same static or configured labware.

•	Clear the check box. Prevents the protocol from running simultaneously with another protocol.

Automatically load stacker racks

Select the Automatically load stacker racks rule to require that all racks on stacking devices (such as the BenchCel Microplate Handler and the Labware Stacker) be automatically loaded before either one of the following starts:

•	Startup Protocol

•	Main Protocol

Automatically release stacker racks

Select the Automatically release stacker racks rule to require that all racks on stacking devices (such as the BenchCel Microplate Handler and the Labware Stacker) be automatically released after the protocol finishes.

Dynamically assign empty slot to load to storage device

Select the rule to have the software assign slots in the storage device according to what is available at that moment. Under this rule, labware can be placed in different locations (not grouped together).

Clear the check box if you want to store labware consecutively in the same carousel or stacker.

Handle plate in instance order

Select the Handle plate in instance order rule to require that microplates be processed in the order as they enter the system.

For example:

Two PlateLoc Sealers are used in a system to seal microplates. One of the PlateLoc Sealers runs out of seal material and stops on a microplate.

If this rule is selected, the second sealer would also stop until you load a new roll of seal, start the first sealer, and the microplate at the first sealer is upstacked to its position in the expected order.

If this rule is not selected, the second sealer would continue sealing and upstacking microplates. The microplate at the stopped sealer would be omitted, thus the sequence of microplates will be out of order.

Pipette plates in instance order

Select the Pipette plate in instance order rule to require that microplates be processed at pipetting devices in the order as they enter the system.

Select the check box if time-sensitive assays require that each microplate be processed the same way within the same length of time. Doing so ensures the data are comparable across the microplates.

Clear the check box if:

•	The protocol has more than one pipette process that uses the same liquid-handling device.

•	The duration of one of the pipetting operations is much longer than another.

For example:

A protocol has two processes and both have a pipetting operation that uses the same Vertical Pipetting Station.

If the rule is selected, the pipetting operations for one process are completed before the pipetting operations begin for the other process. The first pipetting operation takes significantly longer to complete than the second operation, and the protocol is run several times in succession. The overall time taken for the protocol to complete is much greater than it needs to be because during each cycle the system had to wait for the slower pipetting operations to complete for all the microplates in the process before it could continue.

If the rule is not selected, a microplate from the fast pipetting process can be delivered to the Vertical Pipetting Station after a microplate from the slow pipetting process, followed by another microplate from the slow pipette process, and so on. This reduces the bottleneck at the Vertical Pipetting Station because it allows the faster process to continue, and its second cycle in the series to start before the first cycle is complete.

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Specifying a device file for the protocol	Specifying the device file for a protocol
Adding other information about the protocol	Adding information about the protocol
Adding an alarm	Adding an alarm