A-1
BioOptix™ 10
Appendix A Method Templates
When creating a new method, the BioOptix 10 software con-
figures the blocks of the method file according to a template file.
This template file can be modified, allowing it to be customized
for many applications.
A method can have as few as one block or as many as ten. A block
can be created to pump an isocratic mix of buffers, pump a gra-
dient mix of buffers, or load a sample. These differing types of
blocks can occur in any desired order.
The BioOptix 10 software installation creates one template file
—Standard.tpl. Additional template files can be created to tailor a
method to the application.
When creating template files, please note that the BioOptix 10
software only reads the file named Standard.tpl that appears in
the same folder as the biooptix.exe program file. Therefore when
maintaining multiple templates, consider:
• keeping template files with different names in the same
folder as the biooptix.exe file. Rename the desired
template file as Standard.tpl when needed.
• keeping multiple files, each named as Standard.tpl in
separate, uniquely named subfolders. Copy the desired
template file to the same folder as the biooptix.exe file as
needed.
A combination of these file maintenance techniques may also be
practical. However with any file maintenance technique, care
should be taken to prevent overwriting the content of a template
file that may be required for future use.
A.1 Opening the Template The Standard.tpl file is an ASCII text file that can be opened with
a simple text editor such as Notepad. (Notepad is typically
installed as part of the Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating system.)
Note
Word-processing programs such as Microsoft Word
®
are not
recommended for viewing and editing the template file. Pro-
grams such as these may embed other elements (formatting
commands, for example) in the file. This may cause errors in
method files created by the template.
The steps below refer to Microsoft Windows 2000. Other versions
of Windows will be similar. To open the template file:
1. Start the text editor. From the Windows Start button,
select Programs>Accessories>Notepad.