Besides time, the most basic sample identification is the inlet port number (selector valve position). If the imported ChemStation or CRDS data include the port number, this will be included in the run name. Besides port number, the run name may also include the run type and sample_id:
yymmdd.hhmm yymmdd.hhmm.port yymmdd.hhmm.sample_id yymmdd.hhmm.type.port yymmdd.hhmm.type.port.sample_id
When the port number is not imported, the sample.log must be used to assign a port number to each run for ChemStation or to each time the selector valve rotates for CRDS. The run type, port number and sampld_id are used from the first place it is found in the order below:
- sample.log
- run name
- ports.log
The ports.log
The ports log is used to identify samples plumbed to each inlet port (air, standard, tank) during each time period. This is useful for automated runs where the sample plumbed to each inlet port is fixed for long periods. This is normally the case for CRDS or GCs operating in the field.
#date time port sample regulator type comment 090101 0000 3 10m - air 090101 0000 5 50m - air 090101 0000 1 J-101 AP-12345 std 100615 1230 1 J-102 AP-12345 std
The format of the ports.log is fixed and the header is a comment.
The sample.log
When the port number is not part of the imported data, the sample.log can be used to set the port number for each GC run. For CRDS data, the sample.log only need contain an entry each the selector valve changes position.
date time port 130101 1200 1 130101 1210 3
For GC data which are not identified by the ports.log, for example for a lab GC making flask runs, then the sample identification must be included in the sample.log. See Run types and calibration for definition of run types.
date time port type sample 130101 1200 1 tank T-123 130101 1210 3 std S-101
Additional information, such as sample volume, pressure and temperature may also be included:
date time port type sample volume psamp tsamp pamb tamb 130101 1200 1 tank T-123 130101 1210 3 std S-101
The format of the sample.log is defined by the header. (Field names which may be used are defined in the config/gcwerks-results.key file.)
File locations
A separate file must be created for each month of sample.log data. The sample.log header may be different in each file, but within each file the columns must be the same.
GCDIR/ logs/ sample.log/ 1301 1302 1303
The ports.log may be contained in a single file (if not too long), or may be organized in monthly or yearly files:
GCDIR/ logs/ ports.log/ 2013 2014