FAQs – MagIC Net

All kinds of user groups (e.g., administrators, laboratory managers, laboratory technicians, etc.) can be defined in the user administration of MagIC Net.

Each of these groups can be individually assigned access permissions, signature permissions, and other options. Thus every group can be assigned access to precisely those functions that they really need.

The "User administration" has three predefined user groups ("Administrators", "Users", and "Removed users").

The only predefined user under "Administrators" is "Admin1". The first-time login as "Admin1" does not require a password. Assignment of a password is then prompted automatically afterwards. Administrators have full access permissions for all functions of MagIC Net, particularly for the exclusive editing of user management. The creation of a second administrator access is recommended so that, if one administrator is unintentionally deleted, the user management can still be edited.

Additional "Groups" can be created in addition to the existing group of "Users". The access permissions, signature permissions, and display standards can be freely assigned to these "Groups". Users created within these groups have the permissions assigned to the group. When a user is created, a start password must be assigned. This is a single-use password so that the user can log in once. The user is then prompted to change his or her password.

The "Audit Trail" is started automatically only if either "Settings according to 21 CFR Part11" or "Audit Trail active" are selected under "Security settings".

In case of an active "Audit Trail", a large amount of information is stored, which thus requires a lot of storage space on the computer. "Audit Trail" entries can be deleted after they have been archived. Deletion requires two "Signatures".

Select the determinations of these standards in the "Database" as well as all determinations of samples that are to be recalculated.

In the "Determinations" menu, select "Reprocessing…" or click the corresponding icon.

Select one of the standards in the "Reprocessing table" and correct the entries in the component table. Clicking "Update" applies the changed parameters to the selected determination. The peaks in the chromatogram are now correctly labeled.

Select "Reprocessing" and then the option "From the standards of the reprocessing table". All the determinations are recalculated using the parameters of the selected line.

If the result of the reprocessing is satisfactory, save the reprocessed determinations by closing the reprocessing window with "OK".

Select the determinations of these standards in the database.

In the "Determinations" menu, select "Reprocessing…" or click the corresponding icon.

Select the standard with the required calibration; this is generally the last determination.

To reprocess, select the option "Of the marked determination".

If the result of the reprocessing is satisfactory, save the reprocessed determinations by closing the reprocessing window with "OK".

The procedure for further problems during "Reprocessing" is described in the online help under "How to proceed?".

The determinations (raw data, evaluation, method, calibration, etc.) are stored in a database. If a determination is reprocessed and saved again, a new version is created that retains all of the original data.

The original version can be reactivated at any time. Irrespective of the MagIC Net settings, the current and the original versions or all saved versions are available. In the latter case, each of the older versions is updated.

There are two options "Of the marked determination" and "From the standards of the reprocessing table".

The preselected option "Of the marked determination" is used when the adjustments to be made do not affect the calibration of the determination. It must be ensured that the calibration of the selected determination is correct because this is applied to all other determinations in the reprocessing table.

The second option is to be selected if the changes do affect the standards and sample determinations (e.g., optimized integration). It must be taken into account that the recalculation is carried out in the order of the determinations in the reprocessing table. The determinations of the calibration standards generally have to be at the top of the table.

The procedure for further problems during "Reprocessing" is described in the online help under "How to proceed?".

Determinations are not stored as individual files, but in a database. They can, however, be exported from the database and stored as *.idet files. The *.idet files can be imported into other MagIC Net databases. The version of the receiving MagIC Net must be the same or higher.

The peak type of each component peak is determined with a result variable (type). The peak type can be displayed using a user-defined result. The peak type is written as a combination of two or more letters. The first two letters describe the start and end of the peak. A two-letter output shows that the peak was integrated automatically. In case of manual integration, the next letter is an M (e.g. BBM, DBHM, etc.).

Databases can be manually backed up under "Database manager". This can also be used to restore a backup copy of a database.

Every database can also be backed up automatically. This setting is in "Database manager" under "Properties" of the respective database.

A "batch" is a collection of different "Determinations" within a database.

The assignment of determinations to a "batch" can be carried out when entering the sample data at the workplace. An existing or a new batch name can be chosen. In the first case, the determinations are added to the selected "batch", and in the second case, a new "batch" is created. In the database, it is also possible to create or delete a "batch" or to add existing determinations to a "batch".

These determinations can be simply filtered out of the whole set of determinations using the batch names. The batch assignment is used for fast viewing of data that belong together. There are also further options, such as filters, etc., to find data.

The maximum batch size is 500 determinations. If an attempt is made to add more determinations, these will be ignored. New determinations are normally stored in the "Database". No data is lost.

If a "Batch" is deleted, only the links of the determinations to the "Batch" are deleted, but no data.

There are time program commands available with which drift, noise, and the current measured value of a detector can be determined.

These commands can be inserted at the appropriate place in the "Time program". You need to create a new line in the "Time program" for this. The corresponding commands are given under the respective detector. A comment can be entered for a measured detector value. Drift and noise also require definition of a certain measuring period. To obtain correct values for drift and noise, it must be ensured that no changes to the baseline occur during the respective measuring period.

There are three types of subprograms:

1. "Sequence": The commands of the "Subprogram" are processed first before proceeding with the next line in the "Main program".
2. "Loop": Analogous to Sequence, but the commands of the "Subprogram" are executed consecutively n times. The number of runs can be fixed or defined at the start of the loop by means of a formula.
3. "Parallel": This "Subprogram" runs parallel to the "Main program" or to the respective "Subprogram".

Once a "Method" has been loaded, its plausibility can be checked with the "Method check" (green check mark or under the "File" menu).

Conditions enable MagIC Net to make decisions automatically. They can be used to decide, e.g., whether a subprogram is executed or skipped.

Variables can also be compared and, depending on the result, different processes can be triggered. This allows a decision, e.g., on the basis of a comparison of the peak areas of the sample and a standard whether a sample has to be diluted further and then analyzed again.

"Common variables" are variables (number, texts, date/time) for determinations that must be stored externally (outside the determination), e.g., a counter that has to be applied to the next determination.

"Common variables" have an initial value. This is read out by a determination and can thus be used. The content of a "Common variable" can be changed and then stored again in a determination. The new value is then available for the next determination.

The recovery rate can be calculated if a determination of the sample type "Spiking" is carried out after the "Sample".

The concentrations of the spiking solution are defined in the method. More than one spiking solution can be defined.

The example methods are saved as *.imet files during installation in a subdirectory of the program directory.

If such an example method is to be used, it must be imported using "Method manager" into a "Method group". If this method is to be used directly with the existing IC system, the same devices and module names must be used. If "Common variables" are used in the method, they must be created first under "Configuration".

A Method is used to define what, how, and when something is carried out and determined.

In MagIC Net, the method is composed of four windows.

"Devices" shows all instruments and modules used in the method along with their parameters. Clicking on the corresponding icon opens the parameters of this component so they can be adjusted.The "Analysis" is also created in this window. "Hardware assignment", "Data acquisition", and "Accessories" are defined here. The window "Evaluation – Components" has the sections Integration, Analysis Components, Standards, Calibration, and Results. Under "Results", it is possible to define "User-defined results", "Statistics", "Monitoring", etc. The third method window, "Time program", defines the exact analysis run. This defines all steps that the IC system or MagIC Net must execute. A time program can comprise a few consecutive steps or complex interleaving of subprograms. The fourth window shows the last chromatogram with the current calibration.

It is possible to count the sample injections in MagIC Net. As soon as the corresponding number is reached, you can use the "Time program command">"Insert new line" in the "Sample table" to insert a sample line with the data of the sample for a check standard.

Statistics functions are available in the method for multiple injections. They can be used to calculate the mean value, the absolute and relative standard deviation as well as the minimum and maximum value of a "Result".

The "Time program" in the "Method" consists of at least one "Main program". This defines the chronological sequence of the analysis run (sampler commands, injection, start of data acquisition, etc.). Subprograms can be inserted to prevent the "Time program" becoming too complex or to allow functions that are independent of the sample.

The subprograms can be linked to "Conditions" that are used to decide whether they are to be started or skipped. For example, a subprogram can be created that is only executed for determinations used for calibrating the method.

A check box ("Stop hardware when sample table has finished") is located at the bottom right of the run window of the sample series.

If this check box is checked, the device is stopped automatically. This setting is stored for each workplace. Different systems running at different workplaces on one computer can thus be set up differently.

A "Timer" is available in MagIC Net. This can be used to define single or recurrent "Tasks" that are to be started at a certain time or date/time.

The available "Actions" are: "Start equilibration", "Start sample table", and "Stop devices". This can be used, e.g., to start the IC system early enough in the morning so that the system is already equilibrated when work is started.

Adjustments and changes made in "Reprocessing" for a series of determinations are only valid for these determinations after closing with "OK".

If these changes are to be applied to the current method, they must be saved in the "Reprocessing" window.

Yes. In this case, the sample needle must be connected to the two systems via T-piece or both injectors must be installed in series.

First case: If a determination is started on the first system, the sampler is reserved for this system and the other system cannot access it. As soon as the sampler has completed its tasks, it can be released via the "Time program command" "Release". It can now be accessed by the second system. In this case too, the sampler is released after it has completed all its steps and is now available for the next request from one of the two systems. In cases of two injectors connected in series, each of the sample loops can be filled simultaneously or independently of one another.

Current sample data under "Single determination" and "Determination series" can be checked with the "Run test for determination(s)" (green check mark or under the "Tools" menu). This checks whether the sample data are complete, whether the required devices and components are available, and whether the method is plausible.