Information letter The information in this letter is valid for the following software versions and systems UNICORN™ version 3.21 UNICORN Analysis Module version 3.10 ÄKTA™ design systems: ÄKTAexplorer™ 100 ÄKTAexplorer 100Air ÄKTAexplorer 10 ÄKTAexplorer 10S ÄKTAexplorer 10 XT ÄKTApurifier™ 10 ÄKTApurifier 10 XT ÄKTApurifier 100 ÄKTAFPLC™ ÄKTAbasic™ 10 ÄKTAbasic 10 XT ÄKTAbasic 100 ÄKTA™ oligopilot™ BioProcess™ BioPilot™ FPLC™ OligoPilot™ OligoProcess™ Introduction UNICORN 3.
Installation UNICORN is supplied on CD-ROM together with standard ÄKTAdesign system strategies. BioProcess and customized system strategies are supplied separately according to user specification. Installation software allows an interrupt to be set during installation and default settings are not assumed. Strategy information is shown during the strategy selection procedure. UNICORN 3.21 new features Some of these features were also included in UNICORN 3.1.
Software requirements for UNICORN 3.21 Windows NT Workstation 4.0 + Service Pack 5 or later Network requirements Supported network cards: 3COM Etherlink III Compaq™ Netelligent 10/100 TX Embedded UTP Controller Compaq Integrated NetFlex-3 Controller AMD PCNET PCI Ethernet Adapter (Integrated) Novell™ NetWare™ version 4.50.819 or later or Windows NT Server 4.
Installation of new templates The 16-bit unpacking programme used during installation of new templates cannot open folders with long names or names which contain symbols. Action: Change any folder names on drive c: where necessary before beginning installation. MethodQueue If you choose to start a MethodQueue at a certain time point (Start at:) and the methods are to be run at different dates, the methods to be run at the later date will not be run at all. Action: No action possible.
Using a method for another system In the Method Editor, it is possible to save a method for a system other than the one for which it was originally created. Certain checks are made on the method during this process e.g. instructions that cannot be used in the new system are marked as red. However, variables are not checked and there is a possibility that a variable value will be outside of the parameter limits.
Creating methods using block programming To ensure that the End_block is automatically updated when a gradient length is programmed or changed the gradient length should be programmed in two steps. Action: Select 0 for gradient length, press Insert Select required gradient length, press Change Programming Watch functions The variable parameter Action: Ready does not function when programming Watch events within the Method Editor.
Printing chromatograms When several chromatograms have been imported into a single window the order in which they appear on a print out may not be as required e.g. a comparison of several different runs at different pH may not be displayed in a consecutive numerical order of pH values. Action: This is a function of Windows operating system. The problem can be resolved by importing the curves in the same order as is required for printing and highlighting the first curve in the series.
ÄKTAdesign systems Access to improvements in UNICORN 3.21: The items listed below are dependent upon the system strategy and cannot be utilized if an earlier system strategy is used. New features • When adding new components to a system, instructions are shown only for the specific component selected • Interactive flow scheme • Interactive run data • Hold_ Until instruction Action: New standard ÄKTAdesign system strategies are being updated and supplied on UNICORN CD-ROM as soon as they are fully tested.
BufferPrep mode If a method compilation error appears when trying to run a BufferPrep mode method, the method does not start but the BufferPrep recipe is still downloaded to the Pump instrument module. An error will then occur as soon as another BufferPrep recipe is downloaded, e.g. if you try to run a BufferPrep method again. This error will also occur when a BufferPrep recipe is selected manually before a method running in BufferPrep mode is started and when running a method which includes BufferPrep.
FractionCollector instruction When a previous FractionCollector command with FracSize > 0 ml has been executed and the Outlet valve has been switched manually the FractionCollector instruction will not always set the Outlet valve to position F2 to redirect the flow path to the fraction collector. Action: Insert a FractionationStop instruction or a FractionCollector instruction with FracSize = 0 ml immediately before the FractionCollector instruction set to FracSize > 0 ml.
Programming Frac-950 on Start protocol For rack 30 mm tubes, default position, A1, for the alternative Tube number in the variable Start_Frac_at, found on the Variables page of Start protocol, is incorrect. Action: Choose any other tube number. ÄKTAexplorer systems SystemWash If a Gradient instruction is executed during SystemWash, the system is washed with the selected gradient composition.
BioPilot, FPLC Fraction marks Some fraction marks are occasionally omitted when the fraction collector has been started with the instruction Frac:Start. Action: For version 2.0 of a standard strategy, use the instruction Collect instead. Pressure limit When the pressure limit set in UNICORN is exceeded, it may take about one second before a run is paused. Action: For a faster response to pressure changes set the pressure limit on the pumps also.
BioProcess Missing parameter names When you select an instruction in the instruction box of the System control module, the names for the parameters may not be displayed immediately. Action: The missing names are displayed as soon as a parameter value is selected or the scroll bar is used. Changing column If you choose a column for a method made for a BioProcess system, there will not be a question about Column Value Update as with ÄKTAdesign systems. Action: No action possible.
Important Information ÄKTA, UNICORN, FPLC, BioPilot, Superloop, OligoPilot, OligoProcess, Bioprocess, ÄKTAexplorer, ÄKTApurifier, ÄKTAFPLC, ÄKTAbasic and Drop Design are trademarks of Amersham Biosciences Limited. Amersham and Amersham Biosciences are trademarks of Amersham plc. Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell Inc.
