ChemStation HPLC - Logging time?

[Trishia]

Hi there,

I'm trying to find a way where I can log the time users have the pump on when using the HPLC so we can charge them for uptime (Agilent ChemStation, 1100 HPLC). I thought of using a macro but couldn't find a way to have a macro automatically start when the pump/system was turned on and when it was turned off. I know they are 'hooks', but none of them seemed to be able to do what I wanted.

Any suggestions/ideas? Ideally, I would like them to input a username, a group and have that logged into a tab-delimited file along with the date and uptime so that I can then open it in an Excel spreadsheet and charge accordingly.


Thanks,

Trishia.

[lmh]

I'm looking into similar situations, so I'd be grateful for any ideas you come up with.

What I'm currently considering is whether it's possible to look, in an automated way, at the time stamp on the data files (outside Chemstation). The difference between the latest and earliest in any sequence directory ought to be run-time minus one run (and I'm happy to give my clients one free run for equilibration anyway).

[LabChick]

Agilent offers a piece of software that operates over top of ChemStation called Easy Access. It is meant to provide easy walk-up access to the LC for users. On the front end, a user can just walk up, log in, enter samples, choose from a list of predetermined methods, and walk away to retrieve their data later (or it can be emailed to them). Behind the scenes, it tracks each user log in with all the pertinent data -- sample names, methods used, data file path, etc. This log can be output to an Excel file where the data can then be manipulated as necessary.

There are also several other functions built into the software that make my life, at least, a little easier.

Good luck!

[Trishia]

I had heard of Easy Access - not sure it would work with out version of ChemStation and the price tag is also an issue (we are an educational facility).

Really was looking for a no-frills solution.

Thanks for the reply, though!