223-

60601B
May 2017

GC Getting Started Guide 1

2

6
 NOTICES
• All rights reserved, including those to reproduce this
manual or parts thereof in any form without permission
from Shimadzu Corporation.

• The information in this manual is subject to change without notice

and does not represent a commitment on the part of the vendor.

• Any errors or omissions which may have occurred in this

manual despite the utmost care taken in its production will be
corrected as soon as possible, although not necessarily
immediately after detection.

• Maintenance parts for this product are provided for seven years
after production has stopped. Please note that we may not be
able to provide maintenance parts after this period. However, for
parts that are not genuine Shimadzu parts, the period of provision
is determined by the manufacturer.

• The contents of the hard disk in a PC can be lost due to an

accident. Backup your hard disk to protect your important
data from accidents.

• If the user or usage location changes, ensure that this Instruction

Manual is always kept together with the product.

©2013-2017 Shimadzu Corporation. All rights reserved.

Original version is approved in English.

2
Types of Manuals
Five Instruction Manuals are provided with
LabSolutions. You can also display the [Help] menu
to confirm the meanings and setting ranges of
parameters.
The following shows how to make full use of the manuals.

🞍 Getting Started Guide

This manual is for first-time users.
Follow the sequence of procedures in this guide to gain an understanding of basic LabSolutions operations

🞍 Operators Guide 🞍 System Users Guide

This manual gives comprehensive information aboutThis overall
manual is for system administrators.
data acquisition operations in LabSolutions, such as system
This manual
configuration,
describesdata
system
analysis,
administration
batch processing,
and data

🞍 Data Acquisition & Processing Theory Guide

🞍 Installation & Maintenance Guide
This manual describes peak detection and quantitation
Thisofmanual
sampledescribes
components
installation
(for advanced
and maintenance
users). of

The meanings of symbols used in this

manual are as follows.
🞍 Help
Refer to [Help] to learn more about the displayed sub-window. Useful advice for
b
Click the on-screen [Help] button or the [F1] key on the keyboard to display [Help].instrument
convenient
operation
Shows where to refer to in the
B Operators Guide

3
 What LabSolutions Can Do
LabSolutions software is very easy to use, while incorporating high-grade
functions. It provides powerful support for automating and improving the
efficiency of sequential data acquisition and analysis operations.
Use LabSolutions to perform the following functions.

• Control of analytical instruments and data acquisition

• Data analysis and viewing of data
• Creation and printing of various customizable reports

System Structure
This Getting Started Guide describes data acquisition operations with the
assumption that the system includes the following instruments.

Gas Chromatograph GC-2010 Pro

AutosamplerAOC-20i
Injection unit (SPL)

Capillary
Flame columnStabilwax
ionization 30 m x 0.32 mm I.D, 0.5 μm-thick film
detector (FID)

4
File Types

Data file (.gcd)

This file contains all analysis results and acquisition information from the following files.

Method file (.gcm)

Batch file (.gcb) Report format file (.lsr)
Acquisition conditions,
This file is used for This file is used to print
analysis conditions,
continuous data data acquisition results.
calibration curve
acquisition of
information, and etc.
sequential samples.

5
 -Checks Before Operation-

Data Acquisition Flow

STEP STEP

1 2
Set Up Data
the Acquisitio
Conditio n
ns

Set up the data acquisition When you have finished setting up the data
conditions to suit the acquisition conditions,
component to be measured. start off by acquiring the data.
Before starting data acquisition, set up
On LabSolutions, the operation of analysis
the data acquisition conditions on
LabSolutions. samples one at a time is called "single
For the data analysis operations described run".
in this manual, set as follows:
To evaluate the data acquisition conditions,
Column 50 °C (3 min retention) change the data acquisition conditions,
oven → 150 °C (2 min retention) measure standard samples and unknown
temperatur (temperature rise speed 10 °C/min) samples, and check the separation state of
e the target component.
Injection 250 °C
unit Perform data acquisition on other samples
temperatu
6 re
using the data acquisition
conditions that provided the
optimum separation state.

B 3 single run P.25

7
 Setting up the data acquisition conditions and
optimizing the data processing parameters are
important for obtaining better data acquisition results.
This section describes the basic flow of data analysis.

STEP STEP

3 4
Analysi Realtim
e Batch
s

Process the acquired data, and standard samples. This calibration curve is used to
calculate the concentration of the unknown sample.
apply the analysis conditions.
Normally, multiple data is analyzed to
B 4 Data Analysis P.27
determine peak integration conditions so that
consistent results (e.g. repeatability of
retention time and peak area, detection limits
of target components, and linearity) can be
acquired.

When the data analysis conditions have been

fixed, quantitative calculation (i.e.
investigation as to how much of the target
component is contained in the sample) is
performed on the unknown sample based on
the data analysis results of the acquired
standard sample.

To perform quantitation, a calibration curve

must be made from the known
concentrations and peak area values of the
8
Perform data acquisition on
sequential samples together.
Realtime batch is performed to
measure sequential samples
continuously when the data
acquisition conditions have been fixed
by performing a single run.

B 5 Realtime Batch P.33

9
 LabSolutions Main Window
[Instruments]
The analytical instruments connected to the PC are displayed as icons. Double-clickto start the [Realtime
acquisition settings are set and data is acquired.

[Postrun]
Displays the icons for the [Postrun Analysis] program (data analysis).

[Administration]
Displays the icons of the system administration programs for setting security p

[Manual]
Displays the icons for the various PDF manuals and Help menu provided with L

LabSolutions Main Programs and Main Windows

[Realtime Analysis] program [Postrun Analysis] program

[Data Acquisition] window [Realtime Batch] window [Data Analysis] window

for acquiring data for realtime batch processing
for analyzing data

1
 1

LabSolutions Windows 3
2
The following example describes the
[Realtime Analysis] program window.

4
1
Title Bar
This bar displays the names of the current program, window, loaded file, and other information.

Menu Bar
This bar displays the current window and menus.

Toolbar
This bar displays icons of frequently used menu items and icons for operating analytical instruments.

2 3
Assistant Bar Data Explorer Window
This bar displays This sub-window In the [Realtime Analysis] program, [Data
icons for displays the Acquisition], [Realtime Batch] and other windows
frequently used names of files in are displayed as icons on the assistant bar.
data acquisition the selected In the [Postrun Analysis] program, [Data Analysis],
operations. folder. [Calibration Curve], [Report Format] and other
windows are displayed. Switch the windows by
clicking the icons on the assistant bar. Instrument
Monitor (right side of the window) check the
acquisition conditions and connections.

4
Output Window
This window displays an operation history and error messages that occur.

1
 How to Open Windows

Set the Data Acquisition Parameters and Execute a Single Run:

Open the [Data Acquisition] window from the main window.
B
B P.25
▼[Realtime Analysis] program
2
1

▼[Data Acquisition] window

▲Main Window

Continuous Data Acquisition of Sequential Samples:

Open the [Realtime Batch] window from the main window.

B P.33

2 ▼[Realtime Analysis] program

1

▼[Realtime Batch] window

▲Main Window

1
Data Analysis and Quantitative Calculations:
Open the [Data Analysis] window from the main window.

B
2
1 ▼[Postrun Analysis] program

▼[Data Analysis] window

3

▲Main Window

1
 Chapter
Start Up

1 This chapter describes how to start up LabSolutions.

B Refer to "GC Data Acquisition" in Operators Guide for details on the "Data
Acquisition" window.

1 Supply gas to the GC.

Open the main valve of the carrier gas and other gases to supply gas to the GC.

2 Turn the GC and peripheral devices on.

3 Turn the PC and printer on.

Verify that the [LabSolutions Service] icon in the systray on the taskbar is
green after the PC starts up.

If the icon is yellow, this means that LabSolutions is in the process of

starting up. Wait a while.
If the icon is red, this means that an error has occurred. Restart the PC.

1
 1 Start

4 Double-click on the desktop.

The [Login] sub-window opens.

5 Log in.

1
Enter "Admin".

6 Open the [Realtime Analysis] program.

1
2

Continued on the following page

1
 7 Open the [Data Acquisition] window.
D Click here if the [Main] assistant bar is not displayed.

8 Check the status.

In a normal state, [Not Ready] or [Ready] is displayed for the status.

Follow the recommendations below if [Not Connected] is displayed.
Ensure that the power is ON.
Ensure that instruments are connected correctly.
Ensure that the system configuration settings are correct.
B

1
 1 Start

9 Start the GC.

This message sometimes is not displayed.

Make sure that [Ready] is displayed for the status after

1
 LabSolutions

S
"I want to connect to the system."
UPPLEMENT "I want to change the system configuration."
In such cases

Re-Set the System Configuration.

1 Open the [System Configuration] sub-window.

D
Click here if the [Main] assistant bar is not displayed.

The [System Configuration] sub-window opens.

2 Set up communications.
There are 3 types of connection, RS-232C cable, USB cable and LAN cable,
between the system controller and the PC.

The [Instrument] sub-window opens.

Select the GC to use. Click

2 3

1
 1 Start

Select the communication mode between the instrument and the

PC from the [Communication] list.

RS-232C USB Select [USB].

For an [USB] connection, select [Serial Number].

Select [RS-232C] and [COM Port].

4 4

5 5

Ethernet Click here to display each instrument currently connected t

Select [Ethernet].
For an [Ethernet] connection, enter [IP Address].

3 Check that the system configuration is correct.

1
Double-click the unit, and set the prope

Click here to send the settings to the GC.

1
 Chapter

2
Set the Instrument
Parameters
The data acquisition method (instrument parameters) are saved to the method file
after
they have been set in [Control Panel] in the [Data Acquisition]
window. This chapter explains how to set the instrument
parameters.

1 Open the [Data Acquisition] window.

This part is called control panel. The instrument status can be checked and the instrument parameters can be edite

Switching Display Settings

D In the [Display Settings of Instrument Parameter View] sub-window, you can select displaying either the co

1
 2 Set the Instrument

2 Click [Column] image on the [Control Panel].

Click here to open the [Column] tab of [Method Editor] window.

3 Edit the time table for the column temperature

program.

Rate Temperatur Hold

e time
0 - 50.0 3.00
1 10.0 150.0 2.00
0

1
 Continued on the following page

2
 4 Click other unit image and edit parameters.

SPL
Temperature : 250 ºC AOC-20i
Injection Volume: 1.0 μL

FID
Temperature : 250 ºC

1 2

D You can select unit by clicking tab on the [Method editor]window.

2
 2 Set the Instrument

5 Save the data acquisition conditions.

The folder initially displayed here is the default folder.
To change the default folder,
B P.24

Enter "Tutorial_Method".

2 3

Click here to download the data acquisition conditions to the instrument.

2
 LabSolutions

S UPPLEMENT Baseline Check

By the baseline check, you can check whether or not noise and drift values on the b
Baseline check parameters are saved in the method file.

1 Set [Baseline Check Parameters].

1 2
3
4

Set both [Noise] and [Drift] to, and enter [Start], [End] a

In the [Baseline Check] sub-window, the noise calculation method can be changed, and the maximum delay
D time when the result of the baseline check is [Fail] within the preset time. B Help for details.

2 Perform the baseline check.

After measurement ends, the check results are displayed in [Baseline Check Results] sub-
window and [Output Window].
[Output Window]

Baseline Check Results

2
 2 Set the Instrument

LabSolutions

S UPPLEMENT
Slope Test
By performing the Slope Test, the peak detection sensitivity (Slope value) of peak
The slope value obtained by the slope test is effective when performing
isothermal analysis. This section describes the Slope Test.

Slope values refer to the numerical values for determining the peak start and end points. To be more pr
D Optimum Slope values can be obtained from the data by the Slope Test.

This menu is displayed by right-clicking on [Chromatogram View].

The measurement result is displayed when t
1

To apply the measurement result to the peak integration parameters, click

To make preset values clearer, set a value rounded up to the near

D For example, set "200" for "195.218".

2
 LabSolutions

S UPPLEMENT Default Folder and

Change the Default Folder

This folder is the default folder.

Set this sub-window when changing the folder or creating

2
 3 Single

Chapter

3
Single Run
This chapter describes the operation of measuring a standard sample once only
(single
run) using a saved method file "Tutorial_Method.gcm".
First, perform single run using a standard sample.

1 Open the [Data Acquisition] window.

2 Open the [Single Run] sub-window.

The [Single Run] sub-window

opens.

Continued on the following page

2
 3 Set the conditions for a single run.
In this example, set the conditions for pouring 100 ppm of alcohol mixed
sample into vial No. 1 on the auto-sampler, and injecting that sample.

1
Enter "Test".

2
Vial# : 1

3
Click here to start the acquisition.

D Data acquisition automatically The status

changes to when
ends when the [Stop Time] (15.00
min) set in data acquisition
the method file is exceeded. ends.

D Click here to cancel data

acquisition midway.

2
 4 Data

Chapter

4
Data Analysis
After single run ends, check the data to see if the peaks have been detected
correctly.
This chapter describes how to change the peak integration conditions
of the data file "Test.gcd" obtained by performing single run to
optimize the peak integration parameters.

1 Open the [Postrun Analysis] program.

2 Open the [Data Analysis] window.

D Click here if the [Main] assistant bar is not displayed.

The [Data Analysis] window opens. Continued on the following page

2
 3 Display "Test.gcd".

Clickon the [Data Explorer] sub-window, and double-click "Test".

B Refer to "Data Analysis" chapter in Operators Guide for details on the "Data Analysis" window.

2
 4 Data

4 Enter the peak integration parameters.

Click to edit each

parameter value.
Clickto perform processing on the data,

2 5 1
3
4
Width : 3 sec
Slope : 1000 uV/min

Width values refer to the minimum half-width value (height 1/2 width) of the peak to detect. Noise peaks a
D Determine the start and end points of the peak by the Slope value.
The positions where the absolute values of the baseline slope become these values are the start and end

B Refer to "Peak Integration Parameters" of the "Data Analysis" chapter in Operators Guide for details on t

Continued on the following page

2
 5 Enter the quantitative parameters.

ZOOM UP

1
2
3
Quantitative Method : External Standard

# of Calib. Levels : 3
5
X Axis of Calib. Curve : Conc.

The [External Standard] method involves calculating concentrations from the peak area (height) of un
D At [# of Calib. Levels], set the number of concentration points for the standard sample required for cr
When creating calibration curves with the least squares method, set
[X Axis of Calib. Curve] to [Conc.].

3
 4 Data

6 Fill in the Compound Table.

ZOOM UP

3
1
2

Click to
change the cell background color to
Nam Type Ret. Conc. Conc. Conc.(3)
e Time (1) (2)
1-Propylalcohol Target 5.754 100.000 500.00 1000.000
0
Isobutylalcohol Target 6.674 100.000 500.00 1000.000
0
Isoamylalcohol Target 8.705 100.000 500.00 1000.000
0

The result obtained by performing data acquisition is used for [Ret. Time].
D Selecting the [Ret. Time] cell, and clicking the peak in [Chromatogram View] automatically enters the rete
The retention time can be set by simply clicking the mouse.

B Refer to "Compound Table Retention Times Using the Mouse" of the "Data Analysis" chapter
in Operators Guide for details on setting retention times.

Continued on the following page

3
 7 Save the processing results to a data file.
Click here to save the processing results to "test.gcd".

8 Save the method file.

Click here to open the [Save Method As] sub-window. Click here to save the new data processing

4
6
2 5

Select "Tutorial_Method".

3
Set to

To use saved data processing parameters for other data, perform either of the following operations to save the
D new data processing parameters to the method file (in this example, "Tutorial_Method.gcm").
Click [Save Data and Method File] on the [File] menu.

Click(Apply to Method) on the [Data Analysis] assistant bar (operation in step 8 above).

3
 5 Realtime

Chapter
Realtime Batch

5 To perform data acquisition continuously on multiple samples (realtime

batch), a Batch Table must first be created. Batch Tables can be easily
created by using the table easy setting feature of LabSolutions.

5. Create a Batch Table

In the following example, create a Batch Table with standard samples set to
1st to 9th rows, and unknown samples set to the 10th and 11th rows.

1 Open the [Realtime Analysis] program.

1 2

2 Open the [Realtime Batch] window.

D Click here if the [Main] assistant bar is not displayed.

The [Realtime Batch] window opens. Continued on the following page

3
 3 Edit the Batch Table.
Set [Standard] to.
Vial#: 1 to 3
Injection Volume : 1 µL

Repetitions Data: 3
File
Select [New]. : Tutorial_Std

3
1
4

5
Set [Unknown] to. Click here to create a Batch Table made u
Vial# : 4 to 5
Injection Volume : 1 µL
Data File: Tutorial_Unk

In Batch Tables, you can set the sample information of each sample and output of reports.
D
B Refer to "Edit Batch Tables" of the "Realtime Batch" chapter, "Edit Batch Tables" of the
"Calibration Curves" chapter in Operators Guide for details on the editing batch tables.

When performing cleanup, enter "-1" in [Vial#] if the autosampler is used.

3
 5 Realtime

4 Copy a cell.
1
2
Select here.

3
4

5 Enter a numbered series.

Select here.
1
2

3
4

Continued on the following page

3
 6 Directly enter remaining items to the Batch
Table to create the Batch Table shown
below.

7 Save the batch file.

1

Enter "Tutorial_Batch".

2 3

3
 5 Realtime

LabSolutions

S UPPLEMENT Create Batch Table Using Quick Bat

You can also create a Batch Table using quick batch.

Enter the sample information. Select a sample type and vials.

2 3

4 Click here to add settings to a Batch Table. In this figu

Start realtime batch.

B Refer to Helb for details on operations ando the applicable mobile.

When [(Auto Filename)] is displayed in the [Data File Name] field, you cannot directly enter a data file
D On the [Data File Name] tab page in the displayed
[Settings] sub-window, clear the [Create filenames automatically with] checkbox.

3
 5.2 Realtime Batch Processing
Execute realtime batch using the Batch Table you created.

1 Place the samples in the autosampler.

Vial 1 (level 1) Alcohol mixed sample 100 ppm solution (standard solution)

Vial 2 (level 2) Alcohol mixed sample 500 ppm solution (standard solution)

Vial 3 (level 3) Alcohol mixed sample 1000 ppm solution (standard

solution)
Vial 4 Liquor (unknown sample)

Vial 5 Whiskey (unknown sample)

2 Start realtime batch processing.

1 Click here to open the [Realtime Batch] and [Data Acquisition] windows simultaneously, and sta

Click here to cancel data acquisition midway.

To edit the content of the Batch Table during realtime batch, clickto pause realtime batch.

3
 5 Realtime

LabSolutions

S UPPLEMENT
Print a Summary Report

1 Add items to display in the Batch Table.

1
2
3

4
Click here to add [Summary
Type] and [Summary Report D The order of display items in
Format File] to the items to the Batch Table can be changed
by
display in the Batch Table.
clicking [Up] or [Down].

2 Set up the summary report.

2 Row Number : 1 to 3

3
6

Select "SummaryReport_4".

1 4
5

After setting the summary report at Row Number: 1 to 3

D Repeat step 2 onwards in the same order.

Continued on the following page

3
 3 Check the output configuration of the summary

report.

When you have finished the output configuration of the summary report, execute realtime batch to
print the summary report.

B Refer to "5.2 Realtime Batch Processing" P.38 for details on executing realtime batch.

[Printout Example]
Standard samples

4
 5 Realtime

Unknown samples

4
 Chapter

6
ShutDown
Last of all, this chapter describes how to exit LabSolutions.

1 Stop the GC.

4
7 ShutDown

2 Select [Exit] when the oven has cooled down.

3 Click [Yes].

When there is a file that has not yet been saved, a window to confirm whether or not to save the file wh
D Analysis] program opens.

Continued on the following page

4
 4 Exit LabSolutions.
If the [Postrun Analysis] program or [Browser] program is open, click [Exit] on
the [File] menu of each program to exit the respective program.

5 Shutdown Windows, and turn the PC and printer off.

6 Turn the GC and peripheral devices off.

7 Close the main valve of the carrier gas and other

gases.