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The new CAMAG Derivatizer – A unique spraying device for the automated derivatization of TLC plates

CAMAG has devised an instrumental solution for the derivatization of TLC plates! This patent pending technology offers a cost-efficient alternative to the dipping of TLC plates, as it uses much less reagent (2–4 mL per plate). It also significantly reduces the relative standard deviation of manual spraying from typically up to 12% to a maximum of 4.5%. Be among the first laboratories to integrate this instrument into your existing CAMAG portfolio and enjoy its ease of use and improved results!

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

Muttenz, Switzerland – 24 October 2016 – CAMAG, the world’s leading manufacturer of HPTLC equipment, today announced the worldwide availability of the new CAMAG Derivatizer, a spraying device for the automated derivatization of TLC plates.

With the CAMAG Derivatizer, the Swiss company sets a new standard of reproducibility in the reagent transfer onto TLC plates by employing an innovative “micro droplet” spraying technology (patent pending). As a closed system, the environmentally friendly and safe to handle device enables homogeneous and reproducible application of all common reagents ensuring user-independent results. To meet the diverging physicochemical properties of the reagents, four different color-coded spray nozzles are employed. The innovative technology offers a cost-efficient alternative to the dipping of TLC plates, as it uses much less reagent (2–4 mL per plate) while significantly reducing the relative standard deviation of manual spraying from typically up to 12% to a maximum of 4.5%.

Release Number: 2.3.16286.1 (2.3)
Release Date: 2016-10-12

Customer Support: For more information or support, please email us at support@camag.com

Introduction

This document contains the release notes for visionCATS version 2.3. The following sections describe the release in detail and provide late-breaking or other information that supplements the main documentation.

Installation and Upgrade Notes

Installation

See the installation instructions for full details.

IMPORTANT: You must completely uninstall any previous “developer release” or “early access” version of this product before installing this release.

Manifest

This release consists of the following items:

Release notes (this file)
Drivers
Instrument Firmware
visionCATS installer
Example Files and Template Files (you may import them after installation)

Minimum System Requirements

System Memory: 4000 MB
Free Disk Space: 100 GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (or ultimate) 64-bit, Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise) 64-bit, or Windows Server 2012 R2 (visionCATS server only)
Networking:    Internet access (only required to access the online documentation and the Method Library items)

This version has been tested and released on Win7 64bit and Win10 64bit (see “Known issues” for detailed information).

For “server only” installation: This version has been tested and released on Windows Server 2012 R2 (domain controller excluded)

What’s new in visionCATS 2.3?

• TLC Visualizer 2 support
• Derivatizer support (documentation)
• SST is now display track profiles, SST is also possible with TLC Scanner 3/4 data
• Instrument could have a nickname (for easier selection), and unconnected could be hidden

Known Problems and Workarounds

Issue: After reinstalling with different server and instrument service ports, no instrument service are available.
WORKAROUND: Restart the service visionCATS Server.

Issue: The camera is not recognized anymore after the PC was in sleep or hibernate mode.
WORKAROUND: Some USB3 controllers have some issues with the camera, like the Intel® USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller. Restart the machine to resolve the problem, and disable sleep mode to prevent the problem from occurring again.

Issue: Blue screen when capture image with TLC Visualizer on a Windows 10
WORKAROUND: Go to Power Options/Choose what the power button does/Change settings that are currently available/Shutdown settings and disable the option “Turn on fast startup”

Issue: A click on the OK button of the message box appearing when an error occurs during a step execution, while the instrument is already executing a step of another analysis, causes an error to occur in the step currently in progress.
WORKAROUND: When the error message appears, click on the OK button before starting the execution of the other step.

Issue: Profiles viewer stops responding when two or more viewers are visible at the same time (docking or multi windows)
WORKAROUND: Close the corresponding analysis of the blocked viewer, and reopen it without another profiles viewer being visible.

Issue: The import of winCATS methods won’t import steps of instruments not supported in visionCATS, and some winCATS specific parameters will be ignored
REASON: winCATS and visionCATS don’t exactly support the same set of instruments, and for each instrument, the exact same set of parameters
WORKAROUND: After having imported some winCATS methods, visionCATS will inform the user when some steps are ignored. In all cases, please review the imported methods.

Issue: After changing of the Visualizer, a Visualizer cannot be executed in an analysis already having images
REASON: Only one Visualizer can be used in an analysis
WORKAROUND: Redo the analysis

Issue: After changing of the camera for a Visualizer, an already opened analysis with a Visualizer step waiting for execution, or Visualizer Manual control or OQ may behave strangely (using the old camera, bad image corrections…)
WORKAROUND: Before changing of a camera, close all analyses with the next step as Visualizer and Visualizer views

Issue: After changing of the camera for a Visualizer, the Visualizer icon in the toolbox isn’t marked as having a bad Diagnostic
WORKAROUND: Restart the client

Issue: While using two Visualizers on a single PC, one or both cameras aren’t detected, or the camera of one Visualizer seems to be connected to the other.
WORKAROUND: We strongly suggest using only one Visualizer per Instrument Service (PC)

Issue: No image appears in Data or in Comparison after the initial installation of visionCATS on the PC
WORKAROUND: Restart Windows

Issue: Sequence table doesn’t allow to drag and drop a multi-selection
WORKAROUND: Before clicking for drag and during the drag, hold SHIFT key for dragging a multi-selection

Issue: Application crashes after clicking on an image or opening a comparison
WORKAROUND: Update your graphic driver to the latest version

Issue: After installation, no visionCATS is installed. Also, the SQL Server service may not want to start.
WORKAROUND: Change the name of the user which installs the application, so that the username is different from PC and domain name

Issue: Instruments aren’t responding correctly
WORKAROUND: Check if you have an Intel(R) Active Management Technology – SOL COM port on your machine, and disable the corresponding COM port in visionCATS/General Settings

Issue: visionCATS displays “Out of memory” with only around 1.2 GB of 4 GB memory used by visionCATS, on a 32-bit system
WORKAROUND: use a 64-bit system

Issue: When using offline help, the display of some pages is very slow
REASON: the page requests an online resource that is not accessible, causing the slow down
WORKAROUND: use the online help when possible. If not possible, try using Chrome or Firefox (instead of Internet Explorer), where the slow down occurs less often.

Issue: visionCATS fails in Scanner/Scanner 3 Diagnostics if the Positioning-Test is started in the same session. 
REASON: Scanner data of the new test cannot be stored for later processing. This does not invalidate the test results of the previous run.
WORKAROUND: Close the current Scanner Instrument Tab and reopen it. Attention: just switching between the Tabs inside the Instrument Tab will not prevent the failure. You need to close the Instrument Tab.

visionCATS version 2.2  – visionCATS now supports automated multiple  development (AMD) and fully covers the functionalities of winCATS, and goes far beyond!

We are very pleased to introduce our new version of visionCATS. This version not only replaces winCATS, it even exceeds its functionalities.

All current CAMAG instruments for TLC/HPTLC can now be controlled with visionCATS, including the AMD 2 system. Automated multiple development offers unique opportunities for the  growing field of Lipidomics, as well as for the petrochemical industry, and for water monitoring. Furthermore, new evaluation options have been added to visionCATS, such as the profile comparison. In addition to spectrum and image comparison, users may now compare densitograms from different analysis files by overlay or stack view. Together with the modern software architecture, its intuitive and guided usability facilitates even beginners to immediately work with visionCATS.

For a 60-day free trial, visit www.camag.com/visionCATS.

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

Release Number: 2.2.16187.4 (2.2)
Release Date: 7/07/2016

Customer Support: For more information or support, please email us at support@camag.com

Introduction

This document contains the release notes for visionCATS version 2.2. The following sections describe the release in detail and provide late-breaking or other information that supplements the main documentation.

Installation and Upgrade Notes

Installation

See the installation instructions for full details.

IMPORTANT: You must completely uninstall any previous “developer release” or “early access” version of this product before installing this release..

Manifest

This release consists of the following items:

Release notes (this file)
Drivers
Instrument Firmware
visionCATS installer
Example Files and Template Files (you may import them after installation)

Minimum System Requirements

System Memory: 4000 MB
Free Disk Space: 100 GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional (or ultimate) 64-bit, Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise) 64-bit, or Windows Server 2012 R2 (visionCATS server only)
Networking: Internet access (only required to access the online documentation and the Method Library items)

This version has been tested and released on Win7 64bit and Win10 64bit (see “Known issues” for detailed information).

For “server only” installation: This version has been tested and released on Windows Server 2012 R2 (domain controller excluded)

What’s new in visionCATS 2.2?

• Full AMD 2 Integration (step definition and execution, manual control, diagnostics)
• Manual peak integration in evaluations (add, update bounds, delete and assign peaks individually)
• Profile comparison between plates (with overlay view, flat view, flip mode and integration parameters)
• Spectrum comparison between plates (with overlay view, individual/multiple spectrum display for a substance, maximums computation and display)
• Related substances support in evaluations, in 3 modes
• Internal standard correction support in evaluations
• Many other functionalities, like:
  Enhanced export to comparison feature (for images, profiles and spectrums)
  Enhanced comparison handling (display/hide elements, Overview section, undo/redo support, color configuration)
  Profile normalization
  Maximums in spectrum measurements
  PDF map in report export and navigation links for samples in report
  Enhanced image export functions
  New user options
  New global options and management of global lists
  Contextual help button
• Many GUI related improvements, like:
  In the 3D Viewer (toolbar, zoom function, selection style)
  Structure of the user interface in comparison files
  Evaluation integration display modes

Known Problems and Workarounds

Issue: The camera is not recognized anymore after the PC was in sleep or hibernate mode.
WORKAROUND: Some USB3 controllers have some issues with the camera, like the Intel® USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller. Restart the machine to resolve the problem, and disable sleep mode to prevent the problem from occurring again.

Issue: Blue screen when capture image with TLC Visualizer on a Windows 10
WORKAROUND: Go to Power Options/Choose what the power button does/Change settings that are currently available/Shutdown settings and disable the option “Turn on fast startup”

Issue: A click on the OK button of the message box appearing when an error occurs during a step execution, while the instrument is already executing a step of another analysis, causes an error to occurr in the step currently in progress.
WORKAROUND: When the error message appears, click on the OK button before starting the execution of the other step.

Issue: Profiles viewer stops responding when two or more viewers are visible at the same time (docking or multi windows)
WORKAROUND: Close the corresponding analysis of the blocked viewer, and reopen it without another profiles viewer being visible.

Issue: The import of winCATS methods won’t import steps of instruments not supported in visionCATS, and some winCATS specific parameters will be ignored
REASON: winCATS and visionCATS don’t exactly support the same set of instruments, and for each instrument, the exact same set of parameters
WORKAROUND: After having imported some winCATS methods, visionCATS will inform the user when some steps are ignored. In all cases, please review the imported methods.

Issue: After changing of the Visualizer, a Visualizer cannot be executed in an analysis already having images
REASON: Only one Visualizer can be used in an analysis
WORKAROUND: Redo the analysis

Issue: After changing of the camera for a Visualizer, an already opened analysis with a Visualizer step waiting for execution, or Visualizer Manual control or OQ may behave strangely (using the old camera, bad image corrections…)
WORKAROUND: Before changing of a camera, close all analyses with the next step as Visualizer and Visualizer views

Issue: After changing of the camera for a Visualizer, the Visualizer icon in the toolbox isn’t marked as having a bad Diagnostic
WORKAROUND: Restart the client

Issue: While using two Visualizers on a single PC, one or both cameras aren’t detected, or the camera of one Visualizer seems to be connected to the other.
WORKAROUND: We strongly suggest to use only one Visualizer per InstrumentService (PC)

Issue: No image appears in Data or in Comparison after the initial installation of visionCATS on the PC
WORKAROUND: Restart Windows

Issue: Sequence table doesn’t allow to drag and drop a multi-selection
WORKAROUND: Before clicking for drag and during the drag, hold SHIFT key for dragging a multi-selection

Issue: Application crashes after clicking on an image or opening a comparison
WORKAROUND: Update your graphic driver to the latest version

Issue: After installation, no visionCATS is installed. Also, the SQLServer service may not want to start.
WORKAROUND: Change the name of the user which installs the application, so that the username is different from PC and domain name

Issue: Instruments aren’t responding correctly
WORKAROUND: Check if you have an Intel(R) Active Management Technology – SOL COM port on your machine, and disable the corresponding COM port in visionCATS/General Settings

Issue: visionCATS displays “Out of memory” with only around 1.2GB of 4GB memory used by visionCATS, on a 32-bit system
WORKAROUND: use a 64-bit system

Issue: When using offline help, the display of some pages is very slow
REASON: the page requests an online resource that is not accessible, causing the slow down
WORKAROUND: use the online help when possible. If not possible, try using Chrome or Firefox (instead of Internet Explorer), where the slow down occurs less often.

Issue: visionCATS  fails in Scanner/Scanner 3 Diagnostics if the Positioning-Test is started  in the same session. 
REASON: Scanner data of the new test can not be stored for later processing. This does not invalidate the test results of the previous run.
WORKAROUND: Close the current Scanner Instrument Tab and reopen it. Attention: just switching between the Tabs inside the Instrument Tab will not prevent the failure. You need to close the Instrument Tab.

New Application Note: In-process control of ergoline psychedelics during chemical synthesis

CAMAG is your solution provider for Planar Chromatography. We constantly develop new methods for various analytical tasks, which are added to our visionCATS Method Library, freely available on our website.

We are always searching for new applications and appreciate all suggestions on interesting topics. Please send your suggestions to request@camag.com.

If you want training in developing your own methods or if you just want to know more about the versatility of HPTLC, we highly recommend your participation in one of our HPTLC training courses. Our course program is available at www.camag.com/courses.

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

New CAMAG UV Lamp 4 and CAMAG UV Cabinet 4

CAMAG has had a long experience with UV lamps for TLC ever since developing the first model in the 1960s. After several generations of successful models, we are now launching our new UV Lamp 4, combined with the UV Cabinet 4.

The two main objectives for the new UV Lamp 4 are: keeping the safety of the user as our highest priority and striving for a state-of the- art new product. As a result, the UV Lamp 4 has been newly equipped with tilt detection to protect the user from any direct UV exposure. Furthermore, the focus on quality, reliability and durability was set from the very beginning of the development process so as to increase your satisfaction.

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

New CAMAG TLC-MS Interface 2: Identification and confirmation of substances in research and routine analysis by hyphenation of HPTLC with MS

Since its introduction in 2009, our groundbreaking concept of hyphenating planar chromatography with mass spectrometry has been used worldwide by hundreds of analytical groups. With the versatile TLC-MS Interface mass spectra from eluted zones can be recorded in minute cycles with any MS-brand.

Prof. Dr. Goetz Schlotterbeck and his team from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) have performed intensive testing on the newly launched TLC-MS Interface 2 for several weeks and are thrilled by its performance. Other clients who have had the chance to extensively test the second instrument generation are also highly satisfied with the results achieved. Try and see how fast and easy you can elute substance zones from TLC/HPTLC plates for MS detection using the new TLC-MS Interface 2!

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

Use of standardized HPTLC

What is HPTLC? Most people differentiate TLC from HPTLC only by the use of different layers, but the distinctive feature of HPTLC is defined by the level of quality and reproducibility of results achieved through rigorous standardization of all parameters. Whereas TLC, by definition, is done manually or only with simple instruments, HPTLC utilizes high-end instrumentation, sophisticated software, a standardized methodology, and validated methods. HPTLC is a reliable analytical technique and meets all requirements for working in a cGMP-regulated environment.

To read the complete CAMAGflash, please download the PDF below.

Muttenz, Switzerland – 6 October 2015 – CAMAG, the world’s leading manufacturer of HPTLC equipment, today announced the worldwide availability of the new CAMAG TLC-MS Interface 2, the second generation of its module for the pioneering concept of hyphenating HPTLC with mass spectrometry

While the visual appearance remains virtually unchanged, the CAMAG TLC-MS Interface 2 features a modified elution head and an easily accessible, exchangeable filter, arranged in front of the valve. Cleaning is facilitated as compared to the previous version, making it highly efficient. By pushing a button, the elution path is cleaned of matrix particles with compressed air, increasing the lifetime of the filter and preventing the system from becoming blocked. These filters can be easily replaced without any modification to the elution head.

With the new CAMAG TLC-MS Interface 2, plate positioning is significantly simplified: together with the positioning scale and the adjustable plate-stopper, the integrated crosshair laser enables accurate and reproducible positioning of the plate. Alternatively the coordinates determined by the CAMAG TLC Visualizer or the CAMAG TLC Scanner can be used to precisely position the HPTLC plate.

The CAMAG TLC-MS Interface 2 can be installed plug & play with any LC-MS system without adjustments or mass spectrometer modifications. Depending on the MS system, a substance can be identified within a minute via its mass spectrum, or for an unknown substance zone, the respective sum formula can be obtained. Furthermore, interesting zones can be eluted into vials for further investigations with, e.g., NMR, (ATR-)FTIR, ESI-MS, and MALDI-MS.
 

About CAMAG

CAMAG provides high-end instruments, tools and concepts for TLC/HPTLC, and supports clients with training, technical and contract laboratory services. Wherever complex substance mixtures are analyzed, TLC/HPTLC often is an excellent alternative to GC and HPLC or provides complementary information.

Moreover, TLC/HPTLC has proven value as a solid quantitative analysis technique in quality assurance of food, pharmaceuticals and other industrial products. Since 1961, CAMAG has been dedicated to the development and manufacturing of instruments, software and consumables for all steps of TLC/HPTLC.

CAMAG products are truly Swiss made and have an excellent reputation throughout the world.