
Acquisition Software Chapter 2 – Short Step-by-Step Guide 7
show the settings directory of the user currently logged onto the system. Navigate to the respective
screen directory and open the file
experiment_descriptor.xml
.
The
experiment_descriptor.xml
of a previous scan will use the filter and objective positions
specified there. If a different hardware configuration is used for the new scan, the settings
might have to be adapted accordingly (see following chapters).
Load the Well Plates
In case of a scan^R system without autoloader robot (or if the robot is not to be used) place the plate
on the stage.
A system with autoloader robot allows screening several well plates within a single run. Up to four
stackers are available on the right of the robot. One of the stackers has to be empty at the start of the
scan and will serve as swap stacker. Note, that there is an additional position in front of stacker 1,
which is used for fine positioning of the plates. Keep this position empty. You can remove the stackers
from their positions to make loading and transportation easier.
When loading the stackers take care of the following:
– Make sure that the transportation covers are removed from the stackers.
– Orientate the plates with the first column pointing towards the microscope.
– Make sure that each stacked plate fits accurately on the plate below.
– Stack the plates as well aligned as possible.
– Leave a minimum gap of at least 10 mm from the last plate to the top of the stacker to allow
the robot to lift the uppermost plate from the stack.
Specify and label the wells and the sample
Click the Scan: Edit button (or execute the FileEdit command) to open the Edit Scan window.
Click the Plate Manager tab: the Plate Manager window will open.
Enter a name in the Plate name box. If the plate name remains unchanged in the course of consecutive
scans, the scan directories will be stored with an incremented numeration appended to the name.
Select the well plate format from the Format shortlist.