iQ5 Optical System Software 2.0 Bio-Rad Laboratories Current Version : 2.0.148.060623 Date : 6/23/2006 RELEASE NOTES ================================================================================================================ - The current version 2.0 is an upgrade to versions 1.0 and 1.1; the installation will automatically remove pre-existing versions prior to installing the new version. - For new installations, the iQ5 directory has write access to all. For upgrades, few folders may not get write access. In this case, follow instructions on the next item. - If the iQ5 2.0 application is already installed, do not try to repair the installation. This applies to Security Edition. Uninstall from Add/Remove programs and then re-install. - Non-administrator users must have write access to the iQ5 directory (usually C:\Program Files\Bio-Rad\iQ5) in order to access and run the software. This needs to be done by the system administrator when installing up the iQ5 software. - The following computer settings are needed for an un-interrupted operation: 1. Do not set to Hibernate. 2. DO not set to stand by. 3. Power save settings are not recommended. 4. Do not set to turn off the hard disk. - The User will be instructed on where to find the drivers when installing a new camera. The Add Hardware dialog from Windows will appear when an iQ5 camera is connected to a system that does not have the iQ5 USB driver installed. To find the drivers, the user should navigate to the iQ5 drivers directory, this is usually: C:\Program Files\Bio-Rad\iQ5\Drivers - USB 2.0 is required for communication with the iQ5 instrument. If the instrument is connected to a USB 1.1 port, it will appear in the Windows device manager but the iQ5 software will not be able to communicate with it. If the instrument is connected to a USB 1.1 port, iQ5 software will show the following message at startup: "Could not connect to the camera and the thermal cycler. Please ensure the device(s) are powered on and properly connected, then re-start the application" - The iQ5 software generates log files in the C:\Program Files\Bio-Rad\iQ5\Logs directory. The log files BioRadiQ5HistoryLog.xml and BioRadDAServerHistoryLog.xml record events while no run is in progress as well as any errors generated whether a run is in progress or not. Each data collection run also generates a log file in this same directory that gets merged into the data file at the end of the run. The log file is deleted at the end of the run. - The Dynamic Well Factors cannot be used as Alternate Well Factors. The following message is displayed: "Failed to apply Alternate WellFactors. Error - There is an error in XML document (2,2).." Select Continue button to continue. - The Dynamic Well Factors file cannot be viewed from the View - Calibration Data menu option. The following message is displayed: "Not a valid file to display. Cannot start process because a file name has not been provided. Select OK button to continue." - In user preferences, it is recommended to choose the local hard drive folders. Choosing CD folders may cause issues. - Correct operation of the iQ5 software in the Arabic Windows XP operating system requires that the system calendar be changed from the default Hijri (Muslim) calendar to the Miladi (Western) calendar. This is done in the Control Panel - Regional and Language Options dialog. SECURITY EDITION SPECIFIC NOTES ================================================================================================================ - The Security Edition is designed for Windows XP operating system only. Windows 2000 is no supported. - Do not insert the USB Key before software installation. Plug in the USB key after software is successfully installed. The drivers will automatically be found and the USB key will be ready to use. - Do not remove USB key while software is running. - It is recommended that only Network\Domain users defined as iQ5 Administrator manage users for iQ5 system. Security edition allows network or local windows users to be added to iQ5 system. When such mixed users exist, logging in as local user will not display domain users. When save is attempted in this case, the iQ5 system would loose all domain/network users. - In an event network is down, the application will still work if the application was used by the current logged on user at least once while on the network. - When running workstations on a Microsoft Active Directory domain, users' full names listed in the User Management window may appear blank when the network connection to the domain controller is lost even though their usernames appear. Situations where this can happen include when there is a network failure, the domain controllers are down, or when the computer is started when not connected to the network such as a laptop computer in the field. Full names cannot be resolved without a connection to the domain controller nor can new domain accounts be added to the user list. Full names will reappear once the computer is reconnected, and new domain accounts can be added as well. - The User Management page may seem to refresh slowly when not connected to the domain controller. NOTES ON COMMUNICATION WITH THE iCYCLER BASE UNIT. ================================================================================================================ - The user should never pause the run from the iCycler base unit front panel. - When power to the iCycler base unit is turned off during a run, the base unit will remain in Host Control mode even after clearing the error state by viewing the validation report and restarting the software. The iCycler base unit must be powered off and back on again, after viewing the validation report, to put the base unit back in local mode. - To view validation and run reports or clear errors from the iCycler base unit, use the front panel of the base unit: 1) Login on the base unit, if needed. 2) Press Shift-F2 to access the Run Screen. 3) End the run and/or clear the errors. 4) Press F5-Done to go back to the Home screen. 5) Reboot the base unit and then re-start the application. - Note that the iCycler base unit has its own internal clock and this is clock must be set properly by the user using the front panel of the iCycler base unit. This can lead to time stamps that are not consistent if the computer and base unit do not have the same time set in their respective clocks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2006 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.