SpectrAA Version 5.10 Build 26 Readme

Copyright (c) Varian Australia Pty Ltd 1997-2008:
Date of Release July 2008

This software can be used to operate Varian instrument models: 50/55; 110/140/220/240; 880/280 and /880/220/280 Zeeman spectrometers
This file contains important last minute information. Please read it in its entirety. All information here supersedes information in the SpectrAA manuals.

The late breaking news also details information not yet incorporated in this file

These notes are applicable to SpectrAA Versions

Base
PRO

CFR

# TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important_Notes

Installed File List

Known_Problems

Contacting Varian

# Important Notes

1. If you are reinstalling the software you must also delete the NI-488.2 drivers using the add remove programs system in the control panel. You should also delete all *.INI and *.CFG files in the RUN and WORKGRP.& folders

2. Errors occurring on one instrument will be reported in both instruments in the Information line.

3. Users of SpectrAA OLE control from third party programs such as Excel should be alerted to the change of the "spectraadatatransfer" object name to "spectraa" and an extended object library.

4. The Tube Clearance height setting on the labels page sampler setup for the SPS 3 samplers does not currently work correctly and should be left at maximum default.

5. If you are running a LIMS from the RS232 port you need to ensure that the SPS 3 sampler connections are not causing a conflict. If you are NOT using any flame samplers it is preferable to set the sampler type in the configuration menu to SPS-5 which uses IEEE communications and then does not capture the RS232 port during startup of SpectrAA.

6. In simulator mode on startup a number of error messages will be displayed, press OK and these can be ignored, the software cannot contact an instrument so it does not receive the correct acknowledgement. As results are not being collected in this mode is does not affect current settings or results being reviewed.

7. In simulator mode if an autorun is being simulated then all timings are set for maximum and may need resetting if you are to use it in this mode continually. Particularly Smart rinse time currently set at 30 seconds, in simulator it is best if this is set to 1 sec.

Table of Contents

# List of Installed Files

To compare file listings with that installed on your instrument open a command prompt window, change to the c:\varian\sp100\run folder and run the following command "dir /c/s/4" or you can send it to a printer or file with the correct Windows pipe command ie "dir /c/s/4 >lpt1" to print or "dir /c/s/4 >filelist.txt" to create a file in the run directory.

Please refer to the Late breaking news document for the latest file listing.

# Known Problems

List below are the the known limitations of the SpectrAA software. Please see the Late Breaking News document supplied with the software for an updated list of known software limitations.

Problem

On the Labels page, click Setup Sampler Racks, then Speed Parameters to display the SPS sampler settings dialog box. The Tube Clearance

height setting on this page does not currently work correctly for the Varian SPS3 autosamplers and should be left at maximum default.

Workaround

There is currently no solution to this the problem. If tube height clearance setting is required, it must be completely as mentioned previously in the LBN

Problem

SPS Sampler tube cannot set number of dilution tubes.

Workaround

When using an SPS3 and diluter, if a rack is assigned to dilution only, it may be difficult to set the number of tubes as expected. i.e., type 24 must have a full set of tubes.

Problem
Custom racks does not display correctly. Custom rack for the Varian Type 10 Rack type custom with individual locations specified may not correctly display in the Custom Rack editor when stepping backwards and forwards through the rack design window.

Workaround
Do not step back. If a problem occurs, do not save the display. The problem is in the on-screen display and not the actual rack.

Problem
Version 2 & 3 worksheets with some characters in them cannot be imported.

If a user tries to import version 3 worksheets with "/" as a separator, the import fails as Windows® does not support names that contain this character.

Workaround
The user should review and rename the files using the previous version of the SpectrAA software to remove any characters that are not allowed in Windows® file names. This includes the following set: " ' / \ !@&* ( ) . ; :

Problem
An incorrect message “F8509 instrument offline” is displayed in DUO operation. When using DUO setup with 240FS on IEEE9 and set as first instrument, and AA240Z IEEE8 as second instrument, if only the AA240Z is turned on and a Zeeman method is started, an error message may

be displayed

Workaround

This error can be ignored, however, to avoid this problem always have the Flame instrument turned on or reverse the IEEE addresses.

Problem
Probe height does not work in Microsampling.

If the user selects Microsampling, the probe height that is set in the method is not used.

Workaround

There is currently no solution to this problem

Problem
SPS rinse is incorrect for non-diluter worksheets.

When a diluter is fitted to the SPS and the worksheet does NOT use the diluter it should not do any priming or use the diluter rinse cycle. However if an autorun is started then stopped immediately, the sampler may try to emulate a diluter prime when the Start Autorun button is clicked.

Workaround

Allow this to continue, it will time out and normal operation will commence.

Problem
Counters are not being saved if the software shut downs unexpectedly.

If there is a power off or Windows® is shut down unexpectedly or CONTROL+ALT+DELETE is used to stop the SpectrAA software, the counters for lamp life tube lifetime and sample numbers etc. are all lost or report back an unusual number (i.e., 11679) for number of firings.

Workaround
The counters must be manually reset to zero.

Problem
When running an ETC vapor method, before each replicate the reading is delayed by an ETC60 collection data message, then the normal reading continues.

Workaround

This does not affect any operation or results but adds a few seconds into the time taken for the analysis.

Problem
The lamp turns off and on briefly before the CCB sample when a combination of CVV and CCB are being used in an FS method.

Workaround

There is currently no solution to this problem. This behaviour does not effect results collected.

Problem
The SpectrAA datalog (both the copy and the original file) are lost when “Save as” is used to change file location.

Workaround

Do not use Save as to make a copy of a datalog file. Manually copy and paste the log file using Windows® Explorer.

Problem
Using a label driven QC Spike, a weight/volume/dilution calculations are applied to the solution before the software calculates the percentage recovery.

Workaround

Avoid using weight volume corrections in QC Spikes.

Problem
The “Sampler Racks” button does not work during the SIPS accessory test within the Validate module.

Workaround

The method loaded uses a Type 11 Standards rack and a Type 21 sample rack. If you do not have these rack types, the SIPS accessory test must be run in manual mode. This is completed by deselecting the option to run with autosampler.

Problem

The software feature “newpeakarea” does not work. When turned on and the measurement mode of Peak Area is selection in the method editor, the method will not calibrate.

Workaround

Normal Peak area will work.

“newpeakarea” must be set to ‘N’ in the preferences section of the SpectrAA configuration.

Problem

The following occurs when a worksheet is configured to run manually with a SIPS control unit and contains both Air Acetylene and Nitrous Oxide Acetylene methods in Fast Sequential mode. If only the Nitrous Oxide Acetylene methods are run, when stopping the sequence before completion and switching to the Air Acetylene methods, incorrect behaviour is observed.

The observed behaviour is that the SpectrAA software will not prompt the user for the standard to be presented or sample 1. When the SpectrAA software reaches sample ‘#2”, the operator will be then prompted to present sample ‘#2’

Workaround

If the first Nitrous Oxide method is run to completion then the above is not observed. It is recommended to run the first Nitrous Oxide method to completion.

Problem

Emission and Absorption elements in the same FS mode

Run a fast sequential run with 2 methods in emission mode (eg Na and K) and 1 method in absorption mode (eg Mg). In the Mg method set the background correction to ON.
After the emission setup for Na and K the error message "F 9528: error D2 lamp. Automatic run stopped" occurred on the screen and the autorun stops.
Workaround

There is currently no software solution to this issue. Varian recommends users do not run Emission and Absorption elements in the same FS mode.

Problem

In a hard copy multielement report, no overrange dilution factors are shown for solutions that have been diluted.

Workaround

There is currently no software solution to this issue. The report results have the dilution factor applied and are correct.

# Contacting Varian, Inc.

Varian has offices in most countries. Our major offices are;

Varian Australia Pt Ltd (Manufacturing)

679 Springvale Road

Mulgrave, Victoria 3170

Australia

Telephone: +61 3 9560 7133

Fax: +61 3 9560 7950

Varian Instruments

2700 Mitchell Drive

Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Telephone: 1 800 926 3000

International Telephone: +1 925 939 2400

International Fax: +1 925 945 2360

For further information or queries regarding Varian and our products, please contact your local representative/office or e-mail: customercare@varianinc.com

Specific Varian, Inc. locations and contact information can be found on our website: www.varianinc.com