chromeleon 7.0

[VEBA]

Currently using version 6.8 and it works nice .I have seen marketing info
about this new version and it looks interesting.I want to hear your comments if you have upgraded to this newest version.Especially, what have changed comparing to 6.8

Regards,
Veba

[unmgvar]

Well VEBA,
I was one of those non Dionex Beta tester for CM7.

one major thing in Cm 7 is the different look.
it is like moving from office 2003 to 2007. first it looks different and you need to learn where some of the functions you are used to are
it brings in many ways a lot more of ease of use thanks to more and bigger buttons but you need to relearn.

another thing is that they made some changes in terminology, it sounds like empower suddenly with instrument method and process method and all, but you get use to it
they changed the terminology for the CM server and data base and things like that and as well the CM user has a new and better look and a lot more functionality if you are GLP. here again they added a galaxy and empower feature so that you can now log-in with the same user but different functions

over all there are plenty of improvements and really it can take a while to talk about all of them,
one of the best is the fact that unlike most other CDS you now have undo redo every where (yes also in the RDFs),and if they missed a spot do tell dionex because they always want to make it perfect on that feature
they have the small plot of the chrom in the sequence and you would not believe how it actually helps to have this when you wish to save even more time
you can insert PDFs and excels and Docs inside the sequences and so now you really always have your method with you when you work.

the print preview is a PDF converter motor inside CM now so preview and report manipulation is even faster and better

in the process method there are more and better integration tools, the algorithm for peak recognition is like the empower using 2nd derivative functions, and also there is a special cobra wizard to help you get those really harder to deal peaks.

UDC has improved to an all new level, if you used them then you will love what they did with that. it was the best before for creating your own fields and now it is greater.

the History mode has now improved to be like empower in a certain way that you can reload all changes and entire process and method files and also compare between them to see the actual changes and additions and deletions and such.

the help file has been improved yet again, and includes even more helpful note, here again it was always better then the other CDS and they managed to outdo themselves.

to me as a very experienced CM 6 user the first hours were hard and the more you know CM 6.8 the harder the switch is because it is a different look, also the panels are completely new in design and functionality
there might be also a few features missing yet because they are recoding everything and we are talking of several millions lines
but trust me functionality has increased and the more you know office 2007 and the easier it is to use CM7

and no I do not work or am directly affiliated in any way to dionex

[VEBA]

Thanks unmgvar for your feedback.

A couple of things came to my mind:
-Is it possible to use 6.8 version control panels with 7.0?
-Panel Tabsets,are they supported yet?
-Can I use data ,which have been measured with 6.8?
-Report Publisher option, is it supported yet?

Regards,
Weba

[unmgvar]

Dear Veba

as I said, there are differences
the instruments have now a specific tab in the software with pre-defined new panel/tabsets.
they can be changed and adapted, but panels from 6.8 cannot be exported to my knowledge

CM 7 right away can see all your CM6.8 data bases and info, but it is read only,
you can transfer all your info into CM7 and it is converted and then can be used again.

the report publisher extension for excel like features works , but in some cases the CM variables have new and actually more logic definitions, but it means that you need to recreate existing custom made formulas,
annoying at first but when you know the new prefixes then you can many times copy paste instead of the old ones

one of the new many advantages of the report publisher is that you can now do like excel and lock specific cells and areas in the report
design is a easier, there is more in the right click button and the office 2007 look gives you better and easier functionality

another great feature is that the show report part of the RDF is now a new file, so all your graphic Cm display is not connected to the RDF anymore, less confusing

[Alex Buske]

Hi,

I had the possibilty to play with CM7 for a few hours, so my experience is limited.
From what I've seen I would suggest a bigger monitor (screen?), especially if you are working with longer sequences. As areas for menus and icon and ribbons get larger there is less space for data. Scrollbars can't be avoided, but scroll-bar areas with scroll-bar areas (nested scrollbar areas?) should be an absolute no-go.
Additionally, interface designers for CDS tend to squeeze to much in small dialog boxes (experienced on totalchrom, empower and chromeleon).

[jschibler]

(Full disclosure: I do work for Dionex, specializing in Chromeleon.)

Thanks for all the posts. Our goal in developing Chromeleon 7 was to preserve what people like best about Chromeleon 6 (dynamic processing, data management tools, built-in spreadsheet, customizable panels, etc.) while improving aspects they thought could be better (some usability issues, time required to get the integration the way you want it, overall workflow management). We're certainly doing all we can to make sure that Chromeleon 7 lives up to the marketing , so please keep the inputs coming.

To VEBA's 11 Aug post:
- 6.8 panels cannot be used directly with 7.0. We rebuilt the panel infrastructure to make panels more flexible and easier to design. This made it difficult to provide direct compatibility, and even automatic conversion isn't easy. In the future, we might be able to offer a conversion assistant that automates most of the translation, but manual touch-up would still be needed. If you have a lot of panels, please contact us to discuss the best approach.
- Panel Tabsets in 6 had some significant limitations. 7 has something similar, but the design works much better. In 7, a set of tabbed panels is automatically generated for each instrument, and if you want, you can directly modify those.
- Any existing 6.8 data sources on the local machine are automatically connected when 7 is installed (others can be also connected later). The 6.8 data are treated as read-only, and can be simultaneously read by 6 and 7 without conflict. 6 data can be copied to 7 Data Vaults; from there, they can be modified without restriction.
- Chromeleon 7's Report Designer adds the same extra capabilities as Chromeleon 6's Report Publisher: ability to enter Excel fomulas ("=") in report worksheets, and general-purpose charting.

To Alex Buske's 11 Aug post:
A large monitor is definitely a good idea, but that's an industry trend that's happening in general. There's a trend away from 4:3 aspect ratios to widescreen formats (16:9 and others), largely driven by the home video market. We still specify a minimum 1024 x 768 (mainly because of limitations when projecting or printing screens), but for routine use, you'll be much happier with a large, high-resolution monitor -- you simply can do more with it. (Many customers are hooking up secondary monitors to get even more screen space.) Chromeleon 7 does provide ways to collapse or hide things you aren't using at the moment (ribbon, navigation panes, detail listings, etc.), which are useful regardless of your available screen area -- they help you keep focused on your immediate task. [If see specific areas for improvement (I'm not sure where you're seeing nested scrollbars), please provide details so that we can discuss possible alternate designs that might work better for you.]

To unmgvar:
I've following your various postings for several years, and I have always found them to be fair and objective, telling the good and the not-so-good in a straightforward way -- in short, a model of good forum behavior. I hope you will continue to participate in our beta testing (more is coming up soon) -- it's always good to get feedback early so that we have the best opportunity to incorporate it into the design process.

[cjm]

I am having trouble locating a user manual for 7.0. Does anyone have it or now if it even exists? Thanks! We're also trying to figure out how to program the software to shut down the instrument after a run....

[unmgvar]

what is the type of HPLC you are using?
this is something that trully should not be a problem

what exactely do you want to "shutdown"?

[JMM]

currently using Dionex ultimate 3000 UHPLC with chromeleon 7.0. I have not been able to locate a manual for this version, which maybe because it doesn't exist.
Also trying to create a shutdown method to run after testing sequence is done. I would like this shutdown method to turn off my pump, column oven, column cooler, and UV lamp. I have had some help in trying to do this with a technical support trainer but still no luck. The Chrom 6.8 I believe had this capability and the 7.1 version should as well but the 7.0 version I'm running with may not.

[unmgvar]

JMM

if you want you can you send to me by mail
a XCMB file of a sequence or part of a sequence of that run you tried to it with

please send as well another XCMB with the daily auditrail of that run.

it will allow to see how things were set up and performed

[JMM]

thank you unmgvar for your reply:

i recently learned that there is another free update to the 7.0 software that we are running on and i am hoping that this will help me with my shutdown method. If this doesn't then I will try to send you more information about the method i created and perhaps you might be able to help. I'll post an update on this matter. Thank you again for your help.

jmm

[unmgvar]

I hope it works for you
yet I know that shutdown was possible on the beta stage itself of 7.0
I did during that stage and after that as well
maybe a firmware issue

BTW, the software always installs with a help file that is very helpful and contains a lot of information
the main page of the help right now for 7.1 and I seem to remember for 7.0 also a quick start guide and a how to do things
in the search you can look for the shutdown and it should take you to the smart shutdown setting instrument method.