Diablo Analytical

A Technology and Development Company

Contact Us: (925) 755-1005

Product Support

EZReporter 4.0.12.10 Released

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Diablo Analytical has released Version 4.0.12.10 of the  EZReporter Software.  This is a minor release that is recommended if one of the fixes addresses an issue you have been experiencing.  A complete list of fixes is provided in the release notes.

Installing this Release

If you are running version 4.0.4.1 or later, you can download and install the correct version of the software using the “Check for Updates” option of the “Help” menu.

Otherwise, simply download and run the installation program from the download page.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you download the installer that includes support for the chromatography data system you are using.

NOTE: The “web” version of the installer can be used to upgrade an existing installation even if the computer doesn’t have Internet access.

Your current version of EZReporter will be uninstalled and the new version installed automatically.  Your license status will be preserved.

Software Support/Maintenance Subscription

This is a free upgrade if your software support subscription has not expired.  You can view the status of software support in the License Status window (click “Help > License Status”).  If software support has expired then you will either need to extend your support subscription or upgrade depending on when your support subscription expired.  Contact Diablo Analytical for information on extending software support, or upgrading your license.

About Diablo EZReporter Software

The Diablo EZReporter software is a flexible, advanced, post-run data analysis and reporting solution for any instrument that can be controlled by a supported chromatography data system. The EZReporter Natural Gas Analysis and Natural Gas Liquids Editions are state-of-art solutions for natural gas analysis and natural gas liquids/extended reporting.

For more information:  Diablo EZReporter Software

Upgrading

The price to upgrade to EZReporter 4.0 from earlier versions of EZReporter and BTU Calculator will depend on 1) the number of licenses, 2) the edition you are upgrading from and upgrading to, and 3) the number of instruments you want to license.

For Additional Information:

Contact Diablo Analytical if you have any questions about EZReporter 4.0.

Why are there no GC/MS/MS Mass Spectral Libraries?

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The full NIST Mass Spectral Library consists of the NIST\EPA\NIH Electron Ionization (EI) mass spectral library (mainlib and replib), the NIST 17 Tandem Library (nist_mms and nist_msms), the NIST Mass Spectral Search Program v.2.3, Mass Spect Interpreter, AMDIS, and Lib2NIST.

The Tandem Library is compose of product-ion mass spectra which are produced by the collisional activated dissociation of precursor-ions produced  primarily by electrospray ionization. A handful of these precursor-ions were produced by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The reason product-ion spectra are measured from LC generated precursor-ions is because the precursor-ions are very stable. This means that there is almost no fragmentation to product-ions that can be used to determine the structure of an unknown. All LC/MS techniques are called “soft-ionization” methods. The ion representing the intact molecule is formed by the addition of a hydrogen ion (a protonated molecule), the abstraction of a hydrogen nucleus  to produce a deportended molecule (a negative ion), or the extraction of a hydride to produce an [M – H]+ ion.

The only way to get structural information is to cause these precursor-ions to fragment. This is done by isolating ions of a single m/z  value using MS1 in a tandem mass spectrometer. The isolated ions are then subjected to collisions with an inert substance in the gas phase such as Ar atoms or N2 molecules. The resulting product-ions are then analysed by the second mass spectrometer. The resulting mass spectrum is then evaluated in the same way that an EI mass spectrum is evaluated using interpretation rules and libraries of like mass spectra.

In EI mass spectrometry, which is what most GC/MS is, the ion representing the intact molecule is the molecular ion, an ion formed by the removal of a single electron from a gas-phase molecule. This process is called “hard-ionization”. This molecular ions will under go extensive fragmentation. If you wanted to get structural information using MS/MS, you would isolate the molecular ion. Have it under go fragmentation in the collision area of an instrument and then obtain a mass spectrum using the second mass spectrometer. This spectrum would have little difference from the mass spectrum obtained by the standard EI process and would be far less sensitive.

With GC/MS/MS  you are typically doing selected reaction monitoring (SRM a.k.a. MRM). This is a process where you isolate a fragment ion from the decomposition of a molecular ion using the first  mass spectrometer; cause this ion to fragment in the collision area; and, then used the second mass spectrometer to measure the ion current of a specific product-ion. These data are then used for quantitation, not structure determination.

Libraries like the NIST\EPA\NIH EI Library and the NIST 17 Tandem Library are used to determine the structure of unknown analytes,

There are no GC/MS/MS libraries, because they would not contain any additional information to that found in a library of EI spectra of the same compounds.

For more information on the NIST Mass Spectral Libraries, see:

NIST Mass Spectral Library

EZReporter 4.0.12.9 Released

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Diablo Analytical has released Version 4.0.12.9 of the  EZReporter Software.  This is release recommended if you are using either the INFICON Micro GC Fusion Connector or ABB TotalFlow PCCU7 Connector, or if one one of the enhancements or fixes applies to your application.  The significant enhancements are listed below.  A complete list of fixes and enhancements is provided in the release notes.

Enhancements

[+] [ALL] If EZReporter opens and there is no entry in ezreporter.xml for the last configuration file loaded, a prompt is displayed allowing the user to either create a new configuration file from a list of templates, or open an existing configuration file.

[+] [ALL] Enhanced the new configuration file wizard so that all configuration templates can be browsed via different categories (GPA 2172/2261, GPA 2186/2286, Refinery Gas Analysis, Standard Edition, etc.). The table displays both the template file name and a description of the template.

[+] [NGA] Added an option to the sample comparison window to round the component amounts and limits to a specified number of decimal places prior to doing the comparison.

[+] [ALL] Added new Instrument Sequence State and Instrument Run State Parameters that can be displayed in the parameter table. Currently, the only instrument that uses these parameters is the INFICON Micro GC Fusion.

Installing this Release

If you are running version 4.0.4.1 or later, you can download and install the correct version of the software using the “Check for Updates” option of the “Help” menu.

Otherwise, simply download and run the installation program from the download page.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you download the installer that includes support for the chromatography data system you are using.

NOTE: The “web” version of the installer can be used to upgrade an existing installation even if the computer doesn’t have Internet access.

Your current version of EZReporter will be uninstalled and the new version installed automatically.  Your license status will be preserved.

Software Support/Maintenance Subscription

This is a free upgrade if your software support subscription has not expired.  You can view the status of software support in the License Status window (click “Help > License Status”).  If software support has expired then you will either need to extend your support subscription or upgrade depending on when your support subscription expired.  Contact Diablo Analytical for information on extending software support, or upgrading your license.

About Diablo EZReporter Software

The Diablo EZReporter software is a flexible, advanced, post-run data analysis and reporting solution for any instrument that can be controlled by a supported chromatography data system. The EZReporter Natural Gas Analysis and Natural Gas Liquids Editions are state-of-art solutions for natural gas analysis and natural gas liquids/extended reporting.

For more information:  Diablo EZReporter Software

Upgrading

The price to upgrade to EZReporter 4.0 from earlier versions of EZReporter and BTU Calculator will depend on 1) the number of licenses, 2) the edition you are upgrading from and upgrading to, and 3) the number of instruments you want to license.

For Additional Information:

Contact Diablo Analytical if you have any questions about EZReporter 4.0.

EZReporter 4.0.12.5 Released

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Diablo Analytical has released Version 4.0.12.5 of the  EZReporter Software.  This is a minor release that is primarily recommended if you are using either the INFICON Micro GC Fusion Connector or ABB TotalFlow PCCU7 Connector.  The significant enhancements are listed below.  A complete list of fixes and enhancements is provided in the release notes.

Enhancements

[+] [ALL] Added an InstrumentStatus parameter that can be displayed in the monitored parameter table. You specify the desired instrument and can create a text alarm to notify you when the status has changed to a particular state. Using the new Reverse Comparison option you can also trigger an alarm when the status has changed to something other than a particular state (for example, trigger an alarm when the instrument status changes to something other than “Connected”).

[+] [ALL] The INFICON Micro GC Fusion Connector has been enhanced to attempt to re-connect to the GC automatically when the connection has been lost for some reason. There is a new “Connect Retries” option in the connector settings that allows you to set the number of retries that should be attempted. The retries are attempted in conjunction with “Check for Results”. So the re-connection attempts will take place at the Result Polling Interval (every 2 seconds by default). Consequently, the length of time retries will be attempted is approximately the number of retries multiplied by the result polling interval. The default number of retries is 30 (which is 1 minute with the default 2-second result polling interval). The retries are displayed in the “Status Message” column of the Fusion instrument in the instruments table ((Connect Retry [1 of 30]”).

[+] [ALL] Updated the ABB PCCU Connector manual to clarify issues associated with the PCCU installation folder location. If the installer finds PCCU7 installed, it will assign read/write permissions to the “spreadsh” folder.

Installing this Release

If you are running version 4.0.4.1 or later, you can download and install the correct version of the software using the “Check for Updates” option of the “Help” menu.

Otherwise, simply download and run the installation program from the download page.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you download the installer that includes support for the chromatography data system you are using.

NOTE: The “web” version of the installer can be used to upgrade an existing installation even if the computer doesn’t have Internet access.

Your current version of EZReporter will be uninstalled and the new version installed automatically.  Your license status will be preserved.

Software Support/Maintenance Subscription

This is a free upgrade if your software support subscription has not expired.  You can view the status of software support in the License Status window (click “Help > License Status”).  If software support has expired then you will either need to extend your support subscription or upgrade depending on when your support subscription expired.  Contact Diablo Analytical for information on extending software support, or upgrading your license.

About Diablo EZReporter Software

The Diablo EZReporter software is a flexible, advanced, post-run data analysis and reporting solution for any instrument that can be controlled by a supported chromatography data system. The EZReporter Natural Gas Analysis and Natural Gas Liquids Editions are state-of-art solutions for natural gas analysis and natural gas liquids/extended reporting.

For more information:  Diablo EZReporter Software

Upgrading

The price to upgrade to EZReporter 4.0 from earlier versions of EZReporter and BTU Calculator will depend on 1) the number of licenses, 2) the edition you are upgrading from and upgrading to, and 3) the number of instruments you want to license.

For Additional Information:

Contact Diablo Analytical if you have any questions about EZReporter 4.0.

EZReporter 4.0.12.3 Released

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Diablo Analytical has released Version 4.0.12.3 of the  EZReporter Software.  This is a major release that includes a number of fixes and enhancements.  The significant enhancements are listed below.  A complete list of fixes and enhancements is provided in the release notes.

Enhancements

Enhancements to All Editions:

[+] [ALL] Added options to the Report Control configuration panel allowing the Sample Information, Component Results, and Summary Results to be included/excluded from the printed report.

[+] [ALL] Added a new Automatic Processing Control section to the Export Control configuration panel. These settings allow you to choose whether to export all results, export only results with no failed parameter alarms, or display a confirmation window allowing you to accept/reject/cancel export. For the “display confirmation window” option, you can choose to only have it displayed if there are failed alarms, and to require a result comment if there are failed alarms. If the confirmation window option is selected for both Export and Results Database, then it will not be shown for export unless there is additional information required that wasn’t collected by the results database window (result comment).

[+] [ALL] You can now edit the order of results displayed in the Sample Information, Component Results, and Summary Results tables. You must first check “Allow results to be re-ordered by dragging rows or columns” option in the “Report Format” section of the Report Settings and then save the configuration file. Then right-click the desired table and choose the “Change Result Order” option. Finally, left-click either the column header (component table) or result caption (sample information or summary results table) and drag it to the new desired location in the table. The custom result order is saved with the currently loaded configuration file. Make sure to disable this option in each table when you are finished by right-clicking “Change Result Order” again. This option is also automatically disabled when you restart EZReporter, process results, or load a configuration file.

[+] [ALL] The Overall Alarm Status is now set after evaluating all of the individual parameter alarms: Pass = no parameter alarms failed, Fail = at least one parameter alarm failed. This result can be included in the Sample Information table on the report, exported as a variable ({OverallAlarmStatus}), and defined as a Modbus input discrete. You can define whether a failed alarm generates a True (1) or False (0) Modbus register state.

Enhancements to the NGA and NGL Editions:

[+] [NGA] Updated the “GPA2145-16” versions of the configuration templates with the new GPA 2166-19 reproducibility formulas for CO2 and Ethane.

[+] [NGA] Updated the GPA 2261 Reproducibility limits in the Standard Components database for the GPA 2145-16 (FPS), GPA 2145-16 (SI), and GPA 2145-09 (FPS) data sources to the GPA 2261-19 formulas (only CO2 and Ethane changed from GPA 2261-13). The repeatability and reproducibility property labels in the component and standard component tables were also updated to reflect GPA 2261-19.

Enhancements to the Results Database Module:

[+] [RDB] Added a new Automatic Processing Control section to the Results Database processing configuration panel. These settings allow you to choose whether to save all results to the database, save only results with no failed parameter alarms, or display a confirmation window allowing you to accept/reject/cancel saving to the database. For the “save all results” option you can also choose to automatically set the result status to accept/reject based on the parameter alarm status (if one or more alarms have failed, reject status is set). For the “display confirmation window” option, you can choose to only have it displayed if there are failed alarms, and to require a result comment if there are failed alarms.

Enhancements to the Modbus Module:

[+] [MOD] Selected results are now defined as Modbus output coils/holding (read/write) registers. The following results are currently supported: Modbus Data Ready (the master can force a reset the Data Ready flag), Modbus Refresh Registers (forces a refresh of the EZReporter Modbus Register Table), and Sample Name, Operator, and Sample Notes (the master can set the Sample Name, etc., prior to a run and have that sample name applied to subsequent results when they are processed by EZReporter).

[+] [MOD] Modbus string registers are now supported for selected sample information/text results. The strings can either be encoded as ASCII/UTF8 characters with 2 8-bit characters packed into each INT16 register, or they can be encoded as UNICODE/UTF16 characters with 1 16-bit character per INT16 register. You set the length of the string (and thus the number of registers required) when configuring the register. If the actual length of the string result is longer than the specified string length, the string will be truncated.

[+] [MOD] Individual Modbus registers can now be setup so they will update with results from any configuration file (the default is to only update with results from the original configuration file). For Component results, Sample Information results, Calculated Results, etc. the configuration file must contain a corresponding result with the same index or ID. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure compatibility between configuration files and the Modbus register.

[+] [MOD] Parameter alarm status can now be defined as a Modbus input discrete. You can define whether a failed alarm generates a True (1) or False (0) state. The failed alarm status will be reset automatically when the next sample is processed. Alternatively, you can configure the alarm status to be reset when the Data Ready flag is reset.

Installing this Release

If you are running version 4.0.4.1 or later, you can download and install the correct version of the software using the “Check for Updates” option of the “Help” menu.

Otherwise, simply download and run the installation program from the download page.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you download the installer that includes support for the chromatography data system you are using.

NOTE: The “web” version of the installer can be used to upgrade an existing installation even if the computer doesn’t have Internet access.

Your current version of EZReporter will be uninstalled and the new version installed automatically.  Your license status will be preserved.

Software Support/Maintenance Subscription

This is a free upgrade if your software support subscription has not expired.  You can view the status of software support in the License Status window (click “Help > License Status”).  If software support has expired then you will either need to extend your support subscription or upgrade depending on when your support subscription expired.  Contact Diablo Analytical for information on extending software support, or upgrading your license.

About Diablo EZReporter Software

The Diablo EZReporter software is a flexible, advanced, post-run data analysis and reporting solution for any instrument that can be controlled by a supported chromatography data system. The EZReporter Natural Gas Analysis and Natural Gas Liquids Editions are state-of-art solutions for natural gas analysis and natural gas liquids/extended reporting.

For more information:  Diablo EZReporter Software

Upgrading

The price to upgrade to EZReporter 4.0 from earlier versions of EZReporter and BTU Calculator will depend on 1) the number of licenses, 2) the edition you are upgrading from and upgrading to, and 3) the number of instruments you want to license.

For Additional Information:

Contact Diablo Analytical if you have any questions about EZReporter 4.0.

June 2019 Pyrolysis and GC/MS Course

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Lecture and Lab Training on Frontier Lab Pyrolysis Products

June 11-14, 2019 in the San Francisco Bay Area

Day 1: GC/MS Fundamentals

Join world renowned professor, author, and mass spectrometry expert, Dr. O. David Sparkman, for an information packed day all about GC/MS and the use of the NIST 17 Mass Spectral Library and AMDIS spectral deconvolution software, which is critical for most pyrolysis GC/MS use.

Day 2-4: Pyrolysis GC/MS

Join Dr. Terry Ramus, application scientist, Rojin Belganeh, Technical Director, and Itsuko Iwai, Research Chemist, for 3 full days of lectures and labs. You’ll learn how to quickly characterize materials, optimize parameters, perform precise quantitation, and maintain your Frontier pyrolyzer for quality results in your lab. Topics include:
  •  Materials Characterization & Method Map
  •  Pyrolysis Demystified
  •  Hardware Overview
  •  Run real samples
  •  Data review tools
  •  Sample Preparation
  •  Method Development
  •  Routine Maintenance
  •  Common Questions
  •  Universal Applications
  •  Advanced Techniques

Class Size*: 3-10

*We require a minimum of 3 attendees or we reserve the right to reschedule the class.  10 is the maximum enrollment.

Course Flyer

frontier_training_course_flyer_2019.1

Course Logistics

frontier_training_course_logistics_6_2019.2

Details and Registration

Pyrolysis User’s Training Course – June, 2019