HEKA POTMASTER Software User Manual

HEKA POTMASTER Software

Product Information

www.elproscan.com
Email| eimeaorderscmt@harvardbioscience.com / support@heka.com

Product Usage Instructions

1. Introduction

   • Disclaimer: Provides a disclaimer related to the use of the program.
   • Scope of the Program: Describes the scope of the program.
   • Supported System Software: Specifies the supported system software.
   • Naming Conventions: Explains the naming conventions used.
   • Windows and Mac Key Conventions: Provides key conventions for both Windows and Mac platforms.

2. User Interface

   • Dialog Controls: Explains the dialog controls used in the user interface.
   • Modifying Dialogs and Controls: Describes how to modify dialogs and controls.
   • Saving Dialogs and Controls: Provides instructions on saving dialogs and controls.
   • Toggling between Windows: Explains how to toggle between different windows.
   • Copy and Paste Functions: Provides instructions on using the copy and paste functions.

POTMASTER
USER MANUAL
Version 2×92

Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH Aspenhaustrasse 21 D-72770 Reutlingen Germany

Phone Fax Website Email

+49 7121 90925 26 +49 7121 90925 11 www.heka.com / www.elproscan.com eimeaorderscmt@harvardbioscience.com support@heka.com

Harvard Bioscience, Inc. 84 October Hill Road 01746 Holliston Massachusetts United States

Phone Fax Website Email

+1 800 597 0580 +1 508 429 5732 www.heka.com / www.elproscan.com us-sales @smart-ephys.com support@heka.com

POTMASTER · June 2023 · www.heka.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

x

List of Figures

xi

List of Tables

xiii

1 Introduction

1

1.1 Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.2 Scope of the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.3 Supported System Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.4 Naming Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.4.1 Windows Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.4.2 Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.5 Windows and Mac Key Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.6 Installing POTMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.7 Starting POTMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.8 Get Online Help on Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.9 Get Online Help Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.10 Closing POTMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.11 Support Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 User Interface

5

2.1 Dialog Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2.1.1 Numerical Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.2 Modifying Dialogs and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.2.1 Dialog Control Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.2.2 Hiding Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.2.3 Deleting Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.3 Saving Dialogs and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.4 Toggling between Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.5 Copy and Paste Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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3 Keys

13

3.1 The Key Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.2 The POTMASTER.key File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4 Menus

17

4.1 File Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4.2 Edit Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4.3 Windows Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4.4 Replay Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4.5 Display Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

4.5.1 3D-Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

4.5.2 Trace Properties Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

4.6 Buffer Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

4.6.1 Handling of Parameters by the Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

4.7 Notebook Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

4.8 Protocols Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

4.9 PG 300 / PG 600 Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

4.10 Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

5 Configuration Window

41

5.1 Individualize POTMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

5.2 Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

5.3 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

5.3.1 Max Shown Traces and Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

5.3.2 Memory Allocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

5.3.3 Minimum Wait Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

5.3.4 Batch Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

5.3.5 User Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

5.4 Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

5.4.1 Amplifier and Digitizer Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

5.4.2 Output and Input Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

5.4.3 LockIn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

5.4.4 Spectroscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

5.4.5 SmartLUX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

5.4.6 DocuLUX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

5.4.7 Photometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

5.4.8 ElProScan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

5.4.9 Serial Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

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5.5 Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 5.5.1 General Advice on Naming Folders and Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 5.5.2 Miscellaneous Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5.6 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 5.6.1 Fonts and Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 5.6.2 Notebook, Display, and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 5.6.3 Show Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5.7 I/O Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 5.7.1 AD/DA Input/Output Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 5.7.2 List of I/O Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 5.7.3 Show Digital In / Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
5.8 Trace Assign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 5.9 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

6 Oscilloscope Window

67

6.1 Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

6.2 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

6.3 Measurements on Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

6.4 Display Refreshing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

6.5 Overlay Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

6.6 Display Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

7 Potentiostat Window

71

7.1 Controlling the PG 310/390 USB – Main Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

7.1.1 Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

7.1.2 Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

7.1.3 Filter Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

7.1.4 Show All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

7.1.5 Charge Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

7.1.6 Current Density Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

7.2 Controlling the PG 610/690 USB – Main Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

7.2.1 Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

7.2.2 Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

7.2.3 Filter Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

7.2.4 Show All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

7.2.5 Charge Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

7.2.6 Current Density Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

7.3 Controlling the PG 340 USB – Special Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

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7.3.1 Electrode Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 7.3.2 Potential/Current Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 7.3.3 Additional Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 7.3.4 Electrode Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 7.4 Controlling the PG 618 USB – Special Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 7.4.1 Electrode Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 7.4.2 Settings of Amplifier-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 7.4.3 Settings of Amplifier-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 7.4.4 Filter Settings of Amplifier-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 7.4.5 Additional Features of Amplifier-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

8 Control Window

91

8.1 Information about the Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

8.2 Controlling Data Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

8.3 Starting Pulse Generator Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

8.4 Starting a Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

8.5 Fixed Control Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

9 Replay Window

95

9.1 Main window functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

9.1.1 Tree Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

10 Pulse Generator Window

99

10.1 Different Views of the Pulse Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

10.2 Sequence Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

10.3 Sequence Pool Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

10.4 Acquisition Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

10.5 Auto Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

10.6 Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

10.7 Check and Execute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

10.8 Sweep and Channel Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

10.9 Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

10.9.1 Sine Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

10.9.1.1 Use as Simple Sinewave: Common Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

10.9.1.2 Use as Simple Sinewave: Separate Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

10.9.1.3 Use as LockIn Sinewave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

10.9.2 Square Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

10.9.2.1 Use as Simple Squarewave: Common Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

10.9.2.2 Use as Simple Squarewave: Separate Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

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10.9.2.3 Use as LockIn Squarewave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 10.9.3 Chirp Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
10.9.3.1 Linear Chirp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 10.9.3.2 Exponential Chirp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 10.9.3.3 Spectroscopy Chirp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 10.9.4 Photometry Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 10.9.5 Imaging Wave Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 10.10Channel Settings for DA Output and AD Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 10.10.1 DA output channel settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 10.10.2 AD input channel settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 10.11Segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 10.11.1 Segment Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 10.11.2 Scan Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 10.11.3 Increment Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 10.11.3.1 Logarithmic increment modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 10.12Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 10.13Stimulus Template Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 10.14E-initial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 10.15P/n Leak Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 10.16PGF Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 10.17Error Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

11 Protocol Editor Window

131

11.1 Protocol Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

11.2 Event Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

11.3 Recurring Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

11.4 Events – Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

11.4.1 Protocol Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

11.4.1.1 BREAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

11.4.1.2 Chain Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

11.4.1.3 Clear Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

11.4.1.4 GOTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

11.4.1.5 GOTO_MARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

11.4.1.6 IF. . . THEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

11.4.1.7 ELSEIF. . . THEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

11.4.1.8 ELSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

11.4.1.9 Launch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

11.4.1.10 Macro Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

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11.4.1.11 REPEAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 11.4.1.12 Switch Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 11.4.1.13 WAIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 11.4.2 Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 11.4.2.1 Acquire Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 11.4.2.2 Acquire Each Sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 11.4.2.3 Acquire Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 11.4.2.4 Set Sweep Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 11.4.3 Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 11.4.3.1 Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 11.4.3.2 Serial Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 11.4.3.3 Set DAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 11.4.3.4 Set Digital Bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 11.4.3.5 Set Digital Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 11.4.3.6 Set Solution Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 11.4.4 Data/Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 11.4.4.1 Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 11.4.4.2 Digital Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 11.4.4.3 Display Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 11.4.4.4 Export . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 11.4.4.5 File Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 11.4.4.6 Replay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 11.4.4.7 Trace Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 11.4.5 Value/Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 11.4.5.1 PGF Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 11.4.5.2 Set Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 11.4.5.3 Set Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 11.4.6 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 11.4.6.1 Annotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 11.4.6.2 Beep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 11.4.6.3 Write Icon Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 11.4.7 Extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 11.4.7.1 ElProScan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 11.4.7.2 Photometry/Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 11.4.8 Echem-Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

12 Protocol Editor Window – Electrochemical Methods

157

12.1 Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

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12.1.1 CV Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 12.1.2 Acquiring a Cyclic Voltammogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 12.1.3 Customizing the Analysis Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 12.1.4 Customizing the CV Acquisition Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 12.2 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 12.2.1 Parameters for EIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 12.2.2 Acquiring an Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 12.2.3 Customizing the Analysis Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 12.3 Open Circuit Potential (OCP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 12.3.1 OCP Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 12.3.2 Acquiring the OCP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 12.4 Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 12.4.1 SWV Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 12.4.2 Acquiring a Square Wave Voltammogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 12.5 Optical Spectroscopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

13 Analysis Window

179

13.1 Stimulus Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

13.2 Analysis Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

13.3 Analysis Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

13.3.1 Analysis Function Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

13.3.2 Analysis Function Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

13.3.2.1 Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

13.3.2.2 Stim. Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

13.3.2.3 Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

13.3.2.4 Lock-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

13.3.2.5 Trace Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

13.3.2.6 Sweep Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

13.3.2.7 Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

13.3.2.8 Trace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

13.3.2.9 Power Spectra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

13.3.2.10 Histogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

13.3.2.11 ElProScan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

13.4 Analysis Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

13.4.1 Scale Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

13.4.2 Graph Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

13.5 Graph Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

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14 Parameters Window

197

14.1 Parameter Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

14.1.1 Root Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

14.1.2 Group Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

14.1.3 Series Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

14.1.4 Sweep Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

14.1.5 Trace Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

14.1.6 Amplifier Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

14.1.7 ElProScan Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

14.1.8 Marked Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

14.2 Flagging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

15 Notebook Window

211

16 I/O Control Window

213

16.1 Dig-In / Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

16.2 DA / AD-Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

16.3 Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

16.4 Serial Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

16.5 Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

16.6 Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

17 Zero Potential (E-zero)

217

18 Solution Base

221

18.1 Activating the Solution Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

18.2 Using Solution Indices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

18.3 Solution Data Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

19 Solution Changer

225

20 Markers

227

20.1 New Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

20.2 Edit Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

21 Calculator Window and Equations

231

21.1 Equation Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

21.2 Equations – Where to Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

21.2.1 Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

21.2.2 Trace Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

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21.2.3 DA Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 21.2.4 Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236

22 Photometry Extension

237

22.1 Photometry Configuration TILL Photonics/Cairn OptoScan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

22.1.1 Wavelength Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

22.1.1.1 Calibrating the different TILL monochrometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

22.2 Photometry Configuration DG-4/DG-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

22.2.0.1 PGF Setting of DG-4/DG-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

22.3 Photometry Configuration Lambda-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242

22.3.0.1 PGF Setting of Lambda-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242

22.3.1 Lambda 10-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

22.4 Photometry Configuration pti DeltaRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

23 SmartLUX (Imaging Extension)

247

24 Software LockIn Extension

249

24.1 LockIn Configuration Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

24.2 The LockIn Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250

24.3 Capacitance Measurements – Step by Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

24.3.1 Activating the LockIn Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

24.3.2 LockIn Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252

24.3.3 Creating a PGF sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253

24.3.4 Amplifier Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

24.3.5 Running the PGF sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

24.3.6 Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

25 Spectroscopy Extension

261

25.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

25.1.1 Chirp Wave Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

25.1.2 Transfer Function Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

25.2 Activating the Spectroscopy Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

25.2.1 The Spectroscopy Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

25.3 Setting up a Spectroscopy Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

25.3.1 The Chirp Wave Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

25.3.2 Parametrization of the Chirp Stimuli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

25.3.3 Adding Chirp Analysis Traces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

25.3.4 Minimizing Swing-In Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

25.4 Display of Spectra in the Oscilloscope Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

26 Appendix I: File Overview

271

26.1 File Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

27 Appendix II: Data Format

273

27.1 Data Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

27.1.1 Raw Data File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273

27.1.2 Markers File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

27.1.3 Protocol Methods File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

27.1.4 Analysis Methods File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

27.1.5 Stimulation Template File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

27.1.6 Acquistion Parameters File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

27.1.7 Solutions File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

27.1.8 Notebook File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

27.2 The Tree Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

27.3 File Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

27.3.1 Filename . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

27.3.2 Data Format of the File Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

27.3.2.1 Potentiostatic Stimulation or plain DA output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277

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LIST OF FIGURES
List of Figures
2.1 Icon Configuration Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4.1 3D Mode of the Oscilloscope Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 4.2 Pseudo Color Data Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 4.3 Trace Properties Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 26.1 The different file types of PATCHMASTER, POTMASTER AND CHARTMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271

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LIST OF FIGURES

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LIST OF TABLES
List of Tables
2.1 Numerical Input Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2.2 Icon Configuration Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 17.1 pH dependence of the potential of the Relative Hydrogen Electrode at 298 K (1013 hPa) . . . . . . . 219 27.1 Markers File Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 27.2 Analysis Methods File Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 27.3 Stimulus Template File Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 27.4 Acquisition Parameters File Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 27.5 Solutions File Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

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1 Introduction

1.1 Disclaimer
This Product relies on the tools of Microsoft Windows OS (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10) or Mac OS (10.6 – 10.14). HEKA is not responsible for: i) the contents of these third party products, ii) any links contained in these third party products, iii) changes or upgrades to these third party products and iv) for any consequential damages resulting from the use of these products.
This Product may not be reverse engineered, decompiled or disassembled without the express written consent of HEKA.
In no event shall HEKA be responsible for any incidental, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever, (including but not limited to loss of data, privacy of data or other pecuniary loss), arising from or relating to the use, or the inability to use, this Product or the provision, or lack of provision, of support services.
In all cases where HEKA is liable, the extend of HEKA’s liability shall be limited to the actual cost of the Product or to the provision of a replacement version of the Product.

1.2 Scope of the Program
Extended analysis functions for POTMASTER data are provided by the FITMASTER software. FITMASTER features analysis and fitting routines designed to fully support the extended POTMASTER data structure. Analysis can be performed on the levels of Traces, Sweeps and Series. There are standard fit functions such as “Polynomial, Exponential, Gaussian, and Boltzmann” tailored functions to fit e.g. whole-cell current traces according to the Hodgkin & Huxley gating formalism, current-voltage relationships and dose-response curves.

1.3 Supported System Software

POTMASTER is supported on all recent MS Windows Versions: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.
POTMASTER is supported on Mac OS (10.6 – 10.14). Older Mac OS X versions and Mac OS 9 are not supported.

1.4 Naming Conventions

1.4.1 Windows Versions
Throughout this manual we will address all the supported Microsoft Windows versions as “MS Windows”. We will explicitly mention the particular MS Windows versions if required.

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1.5. Windows and Mac Key Conventions
1.4.2 Syntax
· POTMASTER: Small Capitals denote a HEKA program / hardware or keys on the keyboard. · Replay: Typewriter font denotes menu entries and chapters or filenames · Protocol Editor: Sans serif font denotes window names or dialogs. · Sinewave: Roman font denotes options or buttons · Italic: Denotes general emphasis. · Bullet list: Lists points. · Numbered list: Lists actions to be performed sequentially.
& or (MS Windows) & (Macintosh) denotes system-specific keys and actions.
1.5 Windows and Mac Key Conventions
In POTMASTER, all key commands are saved in the file Potmaster.key and will be read at the program start (see chapter 3 on page 13). Note that all key commands specified in this manual refer to the default setting in Potmaster.key. Since all commands can be customized by the user, the settings in your working version of POTMASTER might differ from these default settings. Please also be aware that in case the file Potmaster.key is not available at the program start, no key commands are available! The basic conventions for the system keys on MS Windows and Mac are as follows:

· CTRL: Stands for the CONTROL key. · ALT: Stands for the ALT key.

· CTRL: Stands for the CONTROL key. · CMD: Stands for the COMMAND key (apple or cloverleaf symbol). · ALT: Stands for the OPTION key.

1.6 Installing POTMASTER
Please install the hardware and the software according to the Installation Guide which is supplied with your order. It can also be obtained from the HEKA homepage.

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1.7. Starting POTMASTER
1.7 Starting POTMASTER
Upon clicking on POTMASTER the software starts and various controls and windows become available:
· The drop-down menus File, Edit, Windows, Replay, Display, Buffer, Notebook, Protocols, EPC10, Help.
· Frequently used POTMASTER windows such as Amplifier, Control Window, Analysis Window 1, Oscilloscope, Replay.
· A scrolling text window called Notebook.
Most of these windows can be minimized; they can be re-opened by clicking on the window bar or by selecting them in the drop-down menu Windows.

1.8 Get Online Help on Keys
The option Show Keys in the drop-down menu Help (compare chapter 4.10 on page 39) displays the shortcut keys that are assigned to various controls of the active windows. By selecting List Keys in the drop-down menu Help you can list all keys in the Notebook window. This is useful e.g., if you want to print the complete list. For further information on the assigned keys, see chapter 3 on page 13.

1.9 Get Online Help Controls
The option Show Tooltips in the drop-down menu Help (chapter 4.10 on page 39) displays a short description of the control under the mouse tip.

1.10 Closing POTMASTER
To exit from POTMASTER, choose Quit from the drop-down menu File or press CTRL

• Q.

press CMD + Q. You have three possibilities:
· Save + Exit: Saves configuration and data files and quits the program. · Exit: Saves data files and quits the program. · Cancel: Exit process will be aborted, you return to the program.
Note: If you changed the protocols, the Pulse Generator pool, or the Analysis, then you will be asked independently if you want to save your changes.
Note: Data files are always saved.

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1.11. Support Hotline
1.11 Support Hotline
If you have any questions, suggestions, or improvements, please contact HEKA’s support team. The best way is to send an e-mail to “support@heka.com” specifying as much information as possible:
· Your contact information
· The program name: e.g. PATCHMASTER, POTMASTER or CHARTMASTER software
· The program version number: e.g. v2.65, v2.73.1
· Your operating system and its version: e.g. Mac OS 10.8, Windows 7 64-bit
· Your type of computer: e.g. Intel Core i3 3.2 GHz with 2 GB RAM
· Your acquisition hardware, if applicable: e.g. EPC 10 USB, EPC 800 + LIH 8+8 or PG 340 USB
· The serial number and version of your amplifier, if applicable: e.g. EPC 9 single, version “920552 D”
· The questions, problems, or suggestions you have
· Under which conditions and how often the problem occurs
We will address the problem as soon as possible. Contact Address: HEKA Elektronik GmbH a division of Harvard Bioscience Aspenhaustrasse 21 D-72770 Reutlingen Germany Phone: +49 7121 90925 26 Fax: +49 7121 90925 11 E-mail: support@heka.com Web: www.heka.com www.elproscan.com

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2 User Interface

The following chapter describes the user interface of POTMASTER. It consists of four sections:
Dialog controls explains all types of control controls available in the POTMASTER user interface. Modifying the Dialogs and Controls describes how size, color, and arrangement can be changed. Saving modified Dialogs and Controls describes how to save the dialog settings. Toggling between Windows describes how to switch very fast in between different POTMASTER dialog windows.

2.1 Dialog Controls

Controls are defined as parts of the dialogs that allow user input (data, options or execution of actions). The general rules for dialog controls in this program are:

·

: Box items with a drop shadow enclose changeable values, either as

­ list item or ­ pop-up menu list or ­ drag item

·

: Rounded rectangles are items that perform some action.

·

: Simple rectangles (without drop shadow) display a measured value.

·

: Plain text is for titles only.

Drag: A number in a box with a drop shadow. The parameter value in a drag item can be changed by clicking on it and dragging the mouse up and down. Alternatively, you can double-click on it, or SHIFT-click, or right-click (MS Windows), and then type in a new value. Terminate input with RETURN or ENTER. Using TAB will cycle through all Drag items of the active dialog window.
List: Similar in appearance to a Drag item. Clicking on it will pop up a menu list from which one can choose a setting.
Edit Text: A text string in a box with a drop shadow. Clicking on it will allow editing the displayed string.
Button: Rounded corner rectangle. Clicking on it will cause the respective action to occur.
Switch: Rounded corner rectangle. Clicking on it toggles the parameter value. The switch is “On” or activated if the item is highlighted. A switch can optionally also execute some action.
Radio Button / Checkbox: Identical to the standard dialog items. Clicking on them will toggle the respective parameters.

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2.2. Modifying Dialogs and Controls

Framed Text / Number / Boolean: Simple box with optionally some text. The Boolean value is indicated

by its color, inactive controls are gray

.

Enter: Pressing ENTER on the extended keyboard always brings you back to edit the control that was edited last. The feature is very useful when one often edits the same control (e.g., a duration of a specific segment in the Pulse Generator or the Display Gain in the Oscilloscope window).

Background Color: The color that appears while the user is dragging or entering a value is set by the Highlight Color in the Mac OS control panel.

Be careful if changing ­ the user will not be able to read the edited number if the highlight color is set to a very dark color. The MS Windows version displays highlighted controls with white text on a black background.

2.1.1 Numerical Input
The numerical values can be entered in scientific notation (e.g., “2.3e-3”, “2.3E-3”) or in engineering format (e.g., “2.3m”). Numbers outside the range for engineering numbers (see table) are always displayed in scientific notation. The old value is erased as soon as the user starts to type. To preserve the old string, move the LEFT or RIGHT cursor first. To leave the previous value unchanged although a new one has been entered already, just clear the input by pressing ESC, then RETURN or ENTER.

Table 2.1: Numerical Input Options

Name Tera Giga Mega kilo milli micro nano pico femto

eng. T G M k m µ/ u n p f

sci. E12 E9 E6 E3 E­3 E­6 E­9 E­12 E­15

SI Units: POTMASTER expects most units to be SI units, i.e., meters, seconds, amperes, or derived units like Hertz, etc. However, for convenience there are exceptions to that rule. In such cases the item title contains an identifier for what unit is to be used, e.g., “mV” if a voltage is to be entered in millivolts rather than in volts.
String Buffer: Whenever an edit process is finished with RETURN the edited string is entered into a cyclic buffer of edit strings consisting of 10 entries. These strings can be accessed during editing using CURSOR UP and CURSOR DOWN. This feature is useful when identical or similar strings have to be typed into various string items.

2.2 Modifying Dialogs and Controls
Dialog items can be modified in many different ways, e.g. background or item color, text font, position of one item, position of all items in the window.

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2.2. Modifying Dialogs and Controls
To modify dialogs and control items in the POTMASTER user interface, you have to select Enable Icon Configuration from the Windows menu.
Select Enable Icon Configuration. Now you can customize the windows:
· To drag and resize an item, right-click on the item and drag.
· To drag a group of items, press CTRL and right-click on the group and drag. A group of items is indicated by a grey background field.
· To bring up the Dialog Control window, press CTRL and left-click on the item. Here you can modify the item settings e.g. such as color, text font, dragging speed (see below).
Select Enable Icon Configuration. Now you can customize the windows:
· To drag and resize an item, press ALT and left-click on the item and drag. The new item position will be ignored if ALT is up when the mouse button is released.
· To drag a group of items, press CMD and ALT and left-click on the group and drag.
· To bring up the Dialog Control window, press CMD and click on the item. Here you can modify the item settings e.g. such as color, text font, dragging speed (see below).

Be careful when e.g. changing positions, sizes or colors of buttons. If you deselect the option visible in the Dialog Control window the button will disappear. Be reminded that it is not possible to get the button back after that action.
The following table summarizes all actions (Enable Icon Configuration has to be selected!):

Table 2.2: Icon Configuration Options

Action

Mac OS

MS Windows

Open a configuration dialog CMD + click

CTRL + left-click

Move one item

ALT + left-click + drag

ALT + right-click + drag

Move group of items

CMD + ALT + left-click+drag

CTRL + right-click + drag

All windows except the Configuration window can be iconized i.e. reduced to a minimal size window. Such a window can easily be expanded to the original size (and shrunk again) by clicking in its zoom box.

2.2.1 Dialog Control Window
In the Dialog Control window, you can control the properties of an item.

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2.2. Modifying Dialogs and Controls

Figure 2.1: Icon Configuration Dialog

Here you can see the Dialog Control window for a Drag button, in this case the amplifier R-series button. For other buttons, e.g., with numbers or execution commands, there may be more or less controls available. Here is the complete list of the controls:
Rectangle: Gives the position of the rectangle in the dialog window (left l, bottom b) and the size of the item (width, height) in pixel.
Position: Gives the position of the text in the item (left l, bottom b) in pixel. You can select a position from the list: left/center/right/last. “Last” is useful if you have text that may be longer than the specified button and where the end of the text is more important than the beginning, e.g. a complete file path and name. In this case, only the end of the text will be displayed, cutting off the beginning.
Text: Text label of the item.
Note: The label of a button can only be changed when there is already a name in the text field inserted. Buttons with the default entry “–­” will not be effected by a change of the label.
Unit: Unit of numeric values.
inverted: Changes the text color from black to white or vice versa.
Length: Maximum number of characters for this field. If the number is too low no number/value is displayed.
Digits: Number of decimal places.
Font: Select a font type from the list of available fonts on the system.
Size: Change the font size of the text.
Style: Define the style of the text: normal, bold, italic, underline, outline, shadow, condense, extend.
Key: Define the character which is assigned to that item. This enables the item to be executed from the keyboard. When a key is applied to a list item, there are two keys assignments. E.g. one for increment and one for decrement.
front only: If marked, the key will only work if this window is in front, i.e. the active one. This prevents key command collision in case you want to use the same key settings in several windows.
any modifier: If marked, any of the modifier keys can be used.
Note: In newer MS Windows versions this function is limited.
executable: The button starts action by clicking. If not executable, the button will stay in its original color and is inactive.

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2.2. Modifying Dialogs and Controls
visible: The button is visible.
Note: If not activated, the button will be invisible and cannot be edited anymore! To restore the original setting you have to delete the file Potmaster.set.
enabled: The button can be activated or edited. If not enabled, the button will be gray and inactive. Back Col: Color for a switch button that is not active (default: pink) or for any other button. High Col: Color for a switch button that is active (default: red). For other buttons this feature is disabled. Format of values:
· integer: Value has to be entered as integer, e.g., “5”. · fixed: Value has to be entered as floating point with maximum as many decimal places as given in
Digits, e.g., “0.001”. · scientific: Value has to be entered in scientific format, e.g., “e-9” for “nano”. · engineering: Value has to be entered in engineering format, e.g., “n” for “nano”.
WMF: Saves the window as Windows Meta File (WMF, MS Windows) or PICT (Mac). Goto Item: Index number of the button. Please do not change this number, it is for internal handling only.

In the caption of the dialog, you can see, if the item can be called from a Macro Command in a protocol (‘macro’). To complete the input, you have the following possibilities:
· Click on Update to see the change in the item of the respective window. · Click on Cancel to leave the Dialog Control window without changes. · Click on Done to leave the Dialog Control window and save all changes.

2.2.2 Hiding Controls
If you want to hide controls that are usually not necessary for your tasks, the easiest way to hide them is to pull them to the side of the window. Proceed as follows:
1. Select Enable Icon Configuration from the Windows menu.
2. Increase the size of a window. For that pull with the mouse on the lower end of the window.
3. Press CTRL and click with the right mouse button (MS Windows) or while holding the CMD key down click (Mac OS) on a control and drag it to the edge of the window. While moving, you will see a gray rectangle underneath it.
4. Re-size the window again to the original size. The controls are now hidden in the not visible area.
5. Now you can save it using the Save Front Dialog function in the Windows menu. The window setting will be saved as .dia file.
6. To restore the old default settings, delete the .dia files from the home path as set in the Configuration window.

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2.3. Saving Dialogs and Controls
2.2.3 Deleting Controls
If you want to customize POTMASTER for special purposes, e.g., for not allowing the user access to controls, the secure version is to delete the controls. For this, you have to edit the button properties in the Dialog Control window. Proceed as follows:
1. Select Enable Icon Configuration from the Windows menu. 2. Press CTRL and click with the left mouse button (MS Windows) or while holding the CMD key down click
(Mac OS) on a control. The Dialog Control window opens. 3. Deselect enable or executable to simply deactivate the control. It will still be visible then. 4. Alternatively deselect visible – the control disappears completely. 5. Click on Update to see the effect, or on Done to save the control setting. 6. Now you can save it using the Save Front Dialog function in the Windows menu. The window setting
will be saved as .dia file.
To prevent users from changing your settings, place the .dia files into access restricted folders and change the home path in the Configuration window accordingly. To restore the old default settings, delete the .dia files from the home path as set in the Configuration window.
2.3 Saving Dialogs and Controls
Position and size of all POTMASTER windows are saved in the configuration file (e.g., Potmaster.set). However, position, size, and state (iconized/not iconized) of each window can also be stored using the menu option Save Front Dialog in the Windows menu (e.g., IO_Control.dia). If a dialog file for a window exists, then the settings from that dialog file overrule the settings from the configuration file.
Note: When installing a new version of POTMASTER these customized dialogs are likely to become incompatible, because additional items may have been introduced in the new version. It is, therefore, best to discard these custom dialogs when upgrading.
Note: When you have saved a wrongly configured window by chance, delete the corresponding file from the POTMASTER directory, the naming convention is [windowname].dia, e.g., Oscilloscope.dia.

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2.4. Toggling between Windows
2.4 Toggling between Windows
Hitting the ESC key will close whatever window is in front. Systematically pressing the ESC key will close all windows one at a time (except the Notebook window).

The SPACE key can be used to quickly toggle between windows. The sequence of switching can be set in the Switch to control. This control is extremely useful in several respects, firstly, it enables you to switch from one window to another, depending upon what Switch to window option is selected.
Secondly, switching between windows can be performed very quickly and easily if you assign a keystroke to perform the function. Simply select the desired Switch to window option and then assign a key to this window in the previously described Icon Configuration window. To achieve this press the CTRL and select the Switch to button with your mouse. The SPACE key is the default key but this can be changed. Thirdly, having the Switch to control, enables window switching to be included within macro recordings in the Protocol Editor.
Note: Since this feature is not needed normally, it is available only if either Enable Icon Configuration is selected or you are in the Macro Recording mode. You can then find the control in the invisible window area.
Furthermore, this control is also available in the Protocol Editor, event Switch Window where it allows the inclusion of window switching in a protocol sequence.

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2.5. Copy and Paste Functions
2.5 Copy and Paste Functions
In this section we give an overview of the Cut and Paste functions within the different POTMASTER windows and dialogs. While editing an item text in a dialog the Cut and Paste functions will operate on the edited text of the active, highlighted item. The menu function Edit Copy is enabled for the following windows:
· Notebook Window: Standard copy functionality · Equation Editor Dialog: Complete equation is copied. · Calculator Window: Result of the equation if the SHIFT is not pressed and equation plus result if the SHIFT
is pressed. · Amplifier Window: Amplifier state as defined in the Parameter window (Amplifier tab). · Analysis Window 1 & 2: Respective Analysis Graphs are copied · Analysis Window: The function list of the active Analysis Method, equivalent to the List function. · Oscilloscope Window: Oscilloscope graph is copied. · PGF Editor Window: Text description of selected stimulus is copied. The stimulus cartoon is copied instead
of the text listing, if the Cartoon View tab is active. · Protocol Editor Window: Parameters as defined in the active tab are copied. · Replay Window: Text listing of the data tree is copied. · Protocol Methods: The protocol method is copied. · Markers Window: Copies Series and Markers to the clipboard, equivalent to the function “Write to Note-
book”. · In most other functions or when the OPTION is down during the Copy function in the above functions the
window content is copied to the clipboard as PICT and WMF for Mac OS and MS Windows, respectively. The graph is stored to disk, if the SHIFT is hold down while selecting the Copy function. Be aware that Trace representations will be a bit map (not vectors) when exported as part of the dialog window.
The menu function Edit Paste is enabled for the following windows:
· Notebook Window: Standard paste functionality · Equation Editor Dialog: Insert a complete equation · Calculator Window: Insert an equation · Protocol Editor Window: Insert a protocol. This includes a method copied in the Protocol Methods win-
dow. Events are inserted at the active position, if the pasted text contains events without a leading protocol definition. New protocols are appended to the present protocol pool.
Thus, Copy and Paste operations are target specific. E.g., pasting an equation while a sub-equation is being edited in FITMASTER, will paste the new text into the selected sub-equation string, while pasting when no item is selected, will replace the complete equation.

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3 Keys

Controls within windows can be accessed from the keyboard. The key assignments are saved in the Potmaster.key file and will be read upon starting the program. All commands can be customized by the user. Please be aware that in case the Potmaster.key file is not available when the program is started, no key commands are assigned! The option Show Keys in the Help menu displays the key assignments in the various windows. For further information see chapter 1.8 on page 3. To list the keys, choose List Keys in the Help menu. The complete key list is displayed in the Notebook window. To save the keys, choose Save Keys in the Help menu. The keys are saved in the Potmaster.key file. Old keyboard assignments will be automatically saved with an incrementing extension, e.g., .k00, .k01, *.k02. . . . You can freely customize the key commands by:
· changing and saving key assignments via the dialog control (chapter 2.2 on page 6) or by
· directly modifying the Potmaster.key file, e.g., in a text editor.

3.1 The Key Listing

All keys can be listed in the Notebook by choosing List Keys in the Help menu. Alternatively open the Potmaster.key file with a text editor.
In the following the notation of the key listing is described:

; denotes remark ­ will not be executed @ denotes menu command. B, P, N. . . denotes the window (B = Protocol Editor, P = Pulse Generator, N = Notebook. . . )

; B -> Protocol Editor B WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

char denotes a letter ­ simply press it.

R UnmarkIt

Key Char U

any denotes that any modifier key may be pressed and the key will function.

R WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

back denotes that this key will also work when the window is in the background (reverse to the “front only” function in the Dialog Configuration window).

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3.2. The POTMASTER.key File

E HoldDec2

Key CursorLeft option back

shift, option, caps, command, control requires that the respective modifier key must be pressed. HOME, END denotes the corresponding keys on your keyboard.

R ScrollHome

Key HOME any

NUM denotes that you have to use the numeric keypad for these numbers.

E Macro3

Key Numeric3

3.2 The POTMASTER.key File

MACRO-FILE

900

; @ -> Menu Keys @ File @ File @ File @ File @ File @ File

“New…” “Open Read Only…” “Open Modify…” “Update File” “File Status” “Quit”

Key “N” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “O” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “M” [Press “Key”

• CTRL] Key “U” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “I” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “Q” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

;

the standard keys should not be changed:

; @ Edit

“Undo”

Key “Z” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

; @ Edit

“Cut”

Key “X” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

; @ Edit

“Copy”

Key “C” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

; @ Edit

“Paste”

Key “V” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Select All”

Key “A” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Find…”

Key “F” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Find Same”

Key “G” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Find Selection…”

Key “H” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Replace…”

Key “R” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Edit

“Replace Same”

Key “T” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Windows @ Windows @ Windows @ Windows @ Windows @ Windows @ Windows @ Windows

“Oscilloscope” “Potentiostat” “Replay” “Protocol Editor” “Pulse Generator” “Analysis” “Notebook” “Close Front Window”

Key F12 Key F11 Key F10 Key F9 Key F8 Key F7 Key F5 Key “W” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

@ Notebook @ Notebook @ Notebook @ Notebook @ Notebook

“Save” “Print…” “Clear” “Zoom In” “Zoom Out”

; A -> Analysis A WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; B -> Protocol Editor B WindowSwitch B End B Home B DownPage B UpPage B Down B Up

Key SPACE any Key END any Key HOME any Key PageUp any Key PageDown any Key CursorUp any Key CursorDown any

Key “S” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “P” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “B” [Press “Key”

• CTRL] Key “K” [Press “Key” + CTRL] Key “L” [Press “Key” + CTRL]

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3.2. The POTMASTER.key File

; C -> Solution Base C Done
; D -> Parameters D WindowSwitch

Key RETURN any Key SPACE any

; E -> Amplifier E WindowSwitch E StopStandby E IRange E IRange

Key SPACE any Key Numberic0 any back Key CursorDown back Key2 CursorUp back

; H -> Photometry H WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; I -> I/O Control I WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; J -> Calculator

; K -> Markers K WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; L -> LockIn L WindowSwitch L LockInDone

Key SPACE any Key RETURN any

; N -> Control Window N WindowSwitch N TimerSet N Resume N Wait N Next N Break N Stop N PG6 N PG5 N PG4 N PG3 N PG2 N PG1

Key SPACE any Key Char T any back Key Char R control back Key Char W control back Key Char N control back Key Char B control back Key Char S control back Key Char 6 Key Char 5 Key Char 4 Key Char 3 Key Char 2 Key Char 1

; O -> Oscilloscope O WindowSwitch O YOffsetDec O YOffsetInc O YScaleDec O YScaleInc O YCenter O ResetY O DispTrace O DispTrace O Wipe O MoveRRight O MoveRLeft O MoveLRight O MoveLLeft

Key SPACE any Key Numeric- shift back Key Numeric+ shift back Key Numeric- back Key Numeric+ back Key Numeric. back Key Numeric* back Key Numeric4 back Key2 Numberic5 back Key DeleteLeft any back Key Char > any [for “Scan” function, jumps 10 points] Key Char < any [for “Scan” function, jumps 10 points] Key Char . [for “Scan” function, point by point] Key Char , [for “Scan” function, point by point]

; P -> PGF-Editor P WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; R -> Replay R WindowSwitch R ScrollEnd R ScrollPageDown

Key SPACE any Key END any Key PageDown any

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3.2. The POTMASTER.key File

R ScrollDown R ScrollUp R ScrollPageUp R ScrollHome R ScrollRight R ScrollLeft R UnmarkIt R MarkIt R ShowIt

Key CursorDown any Key CursorUp any Key PageUp any Key HOME any Key CursorRight any Key CursorLeft any Key Char U Key Char M Key RETURN any

; S -> Configuration S WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; T -> Trace Properties

T Done

Key RETURN any

; U -> Online_1 U WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; V -> Online_2 V WindowSwitch

Key SPACE any

; Z -> Ezero Z WindowSwitch Z Cancel Z Done

Key SPACE any Key ESC any Key RETURN any

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4 Menus

The following section describes the various drop-down menus in POTMASTER.
4.1 File Menu
The File menu has all options to handle POTMASTER experiment files. A single POTMASTER “Experiment”, that can hold a variable number of single electrochemical experiments, can consist of several types of files:
· The .dat file contains only the actual raw data without any timing or scaling information (=data). · The .mac file contains macros (=Macro). [Disposed since version 2×52] · The .mrk file contains the used marker information (=Marker). · The .mth file contains the used methods (=Method). · The .onl file contains Analysis information (=Online Analysis). · The .pgf file contains the used stimulus templates (= Pulse Generator File). · The .pro file contains Protocol Editor information (=Protocol Editor). · The .pul file contains the complete data tree (=Pulsed Tree). · If the solution database is used, then a file with the extension .sol is stored with the data files (=Solution).
It contains information on the solutions used in the stored experiments. · In the .txt file (=Text), the contents of the Notebook are stored (If Auto Store is activated in the Notebook
menu).
If the option Make Bundle File is checked in the Configuration window (see chapter 5.5.2 on page 52), then the files .pul, .pgf, .onl, .mrk, .mth and .dat are merged into one single *.dat file. Raw data acquired by POTMASTER is only written to disk in the so called Store mode (i.e. if the Store button in the Control window is switched on). The data are written to disk either:
· upon completion of a Sweep or Series or · during the acquisition, in case of a continuous Sweep.
The structural information is kept in RAM; they are stored to disk only when:
· a new file (File New), a new group (File New Group) or a new experiment (File New Experiment) is created or
· the Update File function is executed (File Update File) or · the program is terminated (File Quit)

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4.1. File Menu
New. . . : Creates a new, empty data file that is ready for data acquisition. The file has read and write permission. Open Read Only. . . : Loads an existing file in Read Only mode. Modification of the file is not allowed. Use this option when you want to analyze data and to make sure not to change or delete anything. Open Modify. . . : Loads an existing file with read and write permission. Modification of the file such as appending or deleting data is allowed.
Deleting entries in the data file is not reversible. Make sure to always have a backup of the original files when modifying an experiment. The exception is, of course, when you really want to delete a part of the stored data.
Merge. . . : Appends the data tree from an existing data file to the data tree of the actually opened file. Update File: Updates the whole experiment to disk. This includes all files involved (see above). If you encounter computer crashes leading to data loss, use this option frequently or enable one of the settings to be found via File Write Tree Files.
Close: Closes the actual file. File Status: Prints information about the status of the currently opened file such as the path, length, etc. to the Notebook window. A typical output could look as follows:
Storing to disk ENABLED, read-write file: “C:HEKADataExp001.dat” length: 284 kb; free disk space: 44.33 GB.
New Group: Generates a new Group in the output data tree of the Replay window if the file is opened without write protection. After the addition of a new Group a file update is automatically performed. New Experiment: Generates a new experiment and a new Group (see above) and increments the experiment number. Write Tree File: Defines when the data are flushed to disk. Choose one of these options:
· After Update File: Files are updated after an Update File command, and after creating a new experiment or Group.
· After Series: Writes raw data to disk after each acquired Series.
· After Sweeps: Writes raw data to disk after each Sweep.
The second option will make sure that the system file cache gets written to disk (i.e., “flushed”) after acquiring a Sweep, and the third option performs a cache flush after acquiring a complete Series. Deselecting both options will suppress file cache flushing. In that case, the operating system will flush the file cache when it overflows. The flushing of the file cache may take some seconds, depending on its size. Thus, if one lets the system decide when to flush, it may occur at an inappropriate moment, such as in the middle of a series. On the other hand, if POTMASTER would always force file cache flushing (as it does when the option Write After Sweep is active), one could not take advantage of the fact that writing to the file cache in RAM is faster than physically writing to disk. It is safest to select the Write After Sweep option. This ensures that the data are immediately written to disk. The timing between Sweeps is also not interrupted by the system when a possibly large file cache is written to disk. If one must get the fastest disk performance possible, one can deselect the options. In that case, data are written to

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4.1. File Menu
RAM, not directly to disk. However, this can only work as long as fewer data are acquired than there is space in the file cache.
Note: POTMASTER writes only that part of the tree files which were added or moved, thereby drastically reducing the time required for updating the files to disk.
Convert to PPC: Converts the raw data to PowerPC format (“big endian”). This is required if a third party program is used that can not distinguish between Intel (“little endian”) and PPC data format but requires data to be read in PPC format. Convert to Intel Format: Converts the raw data to Intel (“little endian”) format. This is required if a third party program is used that can not distinguish between Intel and PPC data format but requires data to be read in Intel format. Page Setup. . . : Calls the Printer/Page Setup dialog of the operating system.
Page Properties Notebook. . . : Calls a dialog to set the page margins (left, right, top and bottom) and the font for printing. These settings apply for printing the Notebook.

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4.1. File Menu Page Properties Traces. . . : Calls a dialog to set the number of columns and rows, the page margins (left, right, top and bottom) and the font for printing. These settings apply for printing data graphs.
Quit: Exits POTMASTER. The default quit options are:
· Save + Exit: Saves configuration and data files and then quits the program. · Exit: Saves data files and quits program. · Cancel: Exit process will be aborted, you return to the program. These default behavior can be influenced by the options Save Settings and Verify Quit in the configuration dialog of POTMASTER.
Note: If you changed the Protocol Editor, the Pulse Generator pool or the Analysis you will be asked independently if you want to save your changes.
Data files are always saved.

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4.2. Edit Menu
4.2 Edit Menu
The Edit menu applies to text manipulation in the Notebook window. The Copy function can also be used to copy graphs from the Oscilloscope or from an Online window into the clipboard. Please note that most entries of this menu are disabled unless the Notebook window is in front! The menu entries conform to the typical functions of the actual operating system (Mac OS or MS Windows). Undo: Cancels the last action performed in the Notebook window. Cut: Cuts the text selection from the Notebook window. Copy: Copies a text selection from the Notebook. The Copy function can also be used to copy graphs from the Oscilloscope or from an Online Window into the clipboard. The active window (Notebook, Oscilloscope or Analysis) determines what is copied. Paste: Pastes text from or to the clipboard. Clear: Removes any content of the Notebook window. Select All: Selects the whole Notebook window content. Find. . . : Finds the entered search string.
Note: The Find function is case-sensitive and only searches from the cursor position to the end of the string.
Find Same: Finds the next appearance of the entered search string. Find Selection. . . : Finds the search string that was marked (highlighted) in the Notebook window. Replace. . . : Replaces the entered search string by some new string. Replace Same: Finds and replaces the next appearance of the entered search string.

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4.3. Windows Menu
4.3 Windows Menu

The Windows menu applies to the windows in POTMASTER. Clicking on a menu entry either opens the respective window or brings the already open window to the front. For most windows there are key commands assigned which will be displayed in the menu (see image beneath and also chapter 3 on page 13).
Control Window: Opens the Control Window or brings it to the front (see chapter 8 on page 91).
Configuration: Opens the Configuration window or brings it to the front (see chapter 5 on page 41).
Oscilloscope: Opens the Oscilloscope window or brings it to the front (see chapter 6 on page 67).
Potentiostat: Opens the Potentiostat window or brings it to the front (see chapter 7 on page 71).
Replay: Opens the Replay window or brings it to the front (see chapter 9 on page 95).
Protocol Editor: Opens the Protocol Editor window or brings it to the front (see chapter 11 on page 131).
Pulse Generator: Opens the Pulse Generator window or brings it to the front (see chapter 10 on page 99).
Analysis: Opens the Analysis window or brings it to the front (see chapter 13 on page 179).
Analysis Window 1, 2: Opens the specified Analysis Window window or brings it to the front (see chapter 13.4 on page 190).
Parameters: Opens the Parameters window or brings it to the front (see chapter 14 on page 197).
I/O Control: Opens the I/O Control window or brings it to the front (see chapter 16 on page 213).
Photometry/Imaging: Opens the Photometry Configuration or Imaging Configuration window or brings it to the front if the Photometry or Imaging Extension is activated (see chapter 5.4.7 on page 48 or chapter 5.4.5 on page 48).
Zero Potential (E-zero): Opens the Zero Potential window or brings it to the front (see chapter 17 on page 217).
LockIn: Opens the LockIn Control window or brings it to the front if the LockIn Extension is activated (see chapter 5.4.3 on page 47).
Spectroscopy: Opens the Spectroscopy Control window or brings it to the front if the Spectroscopy Extension is activated (see chapter 5.4.4 on page 48).
Solution Base: Opens the Solution Base window (see chapter 18 on page 221). If no solution base file is loaded you will be prompted to create a *.sol file.
Solution Changer: Opens the Solution Changer dialog (see chapter 19 on page 225).
Markers: The Markers window allows to set sweep markers and/or trace markers during a continuous recording (see chapter 20 on page 227).
Protocol Methods: Opens a dialog which provides information about the used Protocol Method.
Calculator: The Calculator window allows to perform numeric calculations in POTMASTER (see chapter 21 on

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4.4. Replay Menu
page 231). Notebook: Opens the Notebook window or brings it to the front (see chapter 15 on page 211). Close Front Window: Closes the window that is in front display. Save Front Dialog: Dialogs modified by the user can be saved via this menu entry (see chapter 2 on page 5). Reset Front Window Position: The position of the active (front) window is reset to a predefined “home” position. This function is essential when accidentally the window position has a huge offset and cannot be brought back into the field of view. Enable Icon Configuration: If selected, the dialogs and controls in the POTMASTER user interface can be modified (see chapter 2.2 on page 6).

4.4 Replay Menu
The Replay menu functions are active when the Replay window is selected.
Show: Displays the content of the selected target. Traces are displayed according to the settings specified in the Display menu and the Oscilloscope window. If the Root is selected for Show, all Traces are displayed one after another. This can be aborted by mouse click on the Break or Stop buttons in the Oscilloscope window.
Show PGF Template: This option opens the stimulation file (PGFTemplate) of the corresponding selected Series in the Replay tree (or the first Series, if a Group is the target). Leave the window open and scroll through your acquired data in the Replay tree to get an overview of the stimulation settings of your recordings (read-only).
Copy PGF to PGF-Pool: Copies the stimulus protocol of a selected Trace, Sweep or Series into the current Pulse Generator file.
Show Method: Displays the name and the used settings of the Protocol Method of the selected target (read-only). There are two additional options:
· Copy To Analysis: Copies the used Analysis Method of the Protocol Method to the Analysis Methods pool of the Analysis.
· Copy To Protocol: Copies the protocol event lines of the used Protocol Method into the active protocol at the selected position of the Protocol Editor.
Note: By using the Copy function from the Edit menu one can copy the the method text to the clipboard. Then one can paste the method at any position in the Protocol Editor by the Paste option.
Reference Series: Selects a target as reference with the Set function. The Reference Series is subtracted from all replayed data, if Subtract Ref. Series in the Display menu is active. The subtraction of the Reference Series not only affects the display of the data in the Oscilloscope window, but also data analysis (see chapter 4.5.2 on page 31) and export. A previously selected Reference Series can be turned off with the Off function.
Delete: Deletes the selected target.

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4.4. Replay Menu

Print: Prints the selected target and the Analysis Graphs if an Analysis Method was active. The Analysis Graph gets only printed when the Series level is the selected target.
Export: Exports the selected target. Display gain, leak subtraction or zero line subtraction will be applied (special case for Igor Binary export see below).

Note: The Export option will try to keep a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” behavior. This means that the display options define the export options; e.g., only the displayed data are exported; or when Show Leak Traces is on, the leak Traces are also exported. For full Sweep export please use Export Full Sweep or make sure that the display is set to full time range, i.e. Start Time = 0%, End Time = 100% .

Export Full Sweep: Exports the full Sweep. This function works independent from the time range settings in the Oscilloscope window. Display gain, leak subtraction or zero line subtraction will be applied.
Export Format: This determines the output device and the type of output to be created. Output is generated in the way the data are displayed in the Oscilloscope window, e.g. when the digital filter is on, filtered data are output.
The following export formats are implemented:

· ASCII: Sweeps are output as columns of ASCII numbers representing the data Traces (all in scientific format). Each Sweep and Series starts with an identifier. The separator can be modified (space, comma, or tab separators) by using the ASCII-Text format option in the Replay menu.

Please note, that this may create huge ASCII files when the output target is a Group, for example.

· Igor Pro: Exports Igor Pro format. For further format options, see the lower part of the menu. · MatLab: Sweeps are exported as MatLab file.

·

PICT: Sweeps are exported as Mac OS PICT file. Each file contains a single Sweep. When a Series is

output, the Sweep files are generated automatically with the same name convention as waves for Igor Pro

files: indices of “Group_Series_Sweep” are appended to the name.

·

WMF: Sweeps are exported as Windows Meta Files. Each file only contains a single Sweep. When a

Series is output, the Sweep files are generated automatically with the same name convention as waves for

Igor Pro files: indices of “Group_Series_Sweep” are appended to the name.

Note: Instead of exporting graphs in PICT or WMF format, you might want to copy (CTRL+C) the traces and to paste (CTRL+V) them into another application.

· Printer: Defines a printer for the export of the selected data. In contrast to the direct Print option where you always print the data and the Analysis Graphs, if available, the Printer allows to set either Traces and/or Analysis – Graphs in the Export Mode. If one wants to have individual Sweeps rather than a complete Series plotted in the page sections, one has to turn off Overl. Ser. in the Oscilloscope window or use the export option Export Full Sweep.

Further export parameters can be set here:

· Trace Time relative to Sweep: Individual Sweeps will be exported in an overlaid fashion. Time of the first data point of each Sweep starts with 0.
· Trace Time relative to Series: Individual Sweeps will be exported in an overlaid fashion. Time of the first data point of each Sweep starts with the difference between the start time of the Series and the start time of the 1. Sweep of that Series.

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4.4. Replay Menu

· Trace Time relative to Timer: Individual Sweeps will be exported in a concatenated fashion. The Trace time is offset by the TimerTime at Sweep start.
· Relative Trace Time: Individual Sweeps will be exported in a concatenated fashion. Same as above, but the time is subtracted by the TimerTime at the start time of the 1. Sweep. Resulting that the time of the first Sweep starts with 0.
The following format options refer to Igor Pro format only:
· Igor – Allow Raw Data Access: Whenever possible an Igor Info file is generated allowing access to raw POTMASTER data which should be stored in the same folder. Using this output option assures fastest output and the smallest output files.
· Igor – Create Binary Wave: Export of Sweeps to Igor Pro as binary data. This function generates an Igor macro which contains the instructions for Igor on how the data are to be loaded, scaled, and displayed. It has the extension .itx. A double-click on it will make Igor Pro load that macro file and execute the instructions in it, importing, scaling, and displaying the data. The actual data are not really exported when using the Allow Raw Data Access option. That option will make use of the “GBLoadWave” Igor extension to read the data directly from the POTMASTER raw data file, i.e., the .dat file. The data are converted to Igor binary waves when the simple Export option is used. However, even in that case a macro file is generated and you should load the data via that file. When you want to import data from within Igor Pro, use the option Load…Igor Text to load the macro file. Use the option Load…Igor Binary only when you want to explicitly load one of the generated Igor binary waves (file extensions .ibw or .wav).
Note: It is much faster to work with “Create Binary Wave” than with “Create Text Wave”, and the created files are considerably smaller.
· Igor – Create Text Wave: Export of Sweeps as ASCII waves in “Igor Text” format for the analysis and display program Igor. In Igor Pro, each wave is identified by indices “Group_Series_Sweep_Trace” (e.g., “Name2_4_3_1”). If the file name starts with a number, a “W” is placed in front of it, because in Igor Pro, waves are not allowed to start with a number. The created file has the extension .itx and is recognized by Igor Pro, i.e., double-click on this file will start Igor Pro, load and display the file content (not for Sweeps). The waves will immediately be displayed in Igor Pro only when the Igor: Make Graphs option was selected. Otherwise, the Sweeps will be loaded, but must be displayed by Igor Pro’s “Display Wave” or “Make Graph” command. When loading Igor Text output files, do not use the “General Text” import option in Igor; always use the option “Load. . . Igor Text”.
· Igor – Make Graphs: The Sweeps are exported as Igor graphs as they appear in POTMASTER in the Oscilloscope window. The created files have the extension .itx and are recognized by Igor Pro, i.e., double-click on this file will start Igor Pro, load and display the file content.
· Igor – Make Layouts: This option is useful if several Series shall be exported to Igor Pro. The exported Traces are arranged on an Igor Pro layout page. The created files have the extension *.itx and are recognized by Igor Pro, i.e., double-click on this file will start Igor Pro, load and display the file content.
· Igor – One Graph per Full Sweep: With this option, a Trace that consists of several pages (e.g. continuous data) is exported as one single Igor Pro wave. Without this option, one wave per page is exported.
Export Mode: Shows a sub-menu that allows determining what will be exported:
· Traces: Exports the selected Traces.
· Stimulus: Exports information on the used stimulation pattern (segment duration and amplitude).
Note: This option can only be used when either Traces or Analysis – Graphs is selected.

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4.4. Replay Menu

· Analysis – Graphs: The graphs of the Analysis get exported.
· Analysis – Notebook: The Analysis function results which are displayed in the Notebook get exported. Please note that the option Notebook in the Analysis window has to be selected.
Note: This option is not available when using the Igor Pro Export Format.

ASCII-Text Format: Shows a sub-menu that allows to specify the type of separator used when generating ASCII tables, and the format of the exported text:

· Space/Comma/Tab Separator: Specifies how values are separated.
· Include Headers: If checked, a header that specifies various parameters of the exported data will precede the actual values.

Import Trace: Imports data into a selected Trace.
When importing data you first have to generate a corresponding data structure (Tree) in POTMASTER. Make sure that the Gain and Sampling Interval of the data structure match the data you intend to import:

· Gain mismatch might result in loss of resolution or saturation of the data.
· The length of the imported Trace must be equal or greater than the Trace selected in the Replay window. Points exceeding the length of the Trace in the Replay window are discarded.

You can import the following three formats:

· from ASCII file: Imports data which were saved as CSV (=Comma-Separated Values). · from Binary file: Imports data which were saved in the Igor binary format. · from Igor Wave: Imports data which were saved in the Igor Wave format.

Note: Since the Traces will be imported into the open file, the import function does not work when your file is read-only.

Export Trace: Exports data. You have four possibilities:

· as ASCII file: Exports data in ASCII file format. · as Binary file: Exports data in Binary file format. · as Igor Wave: Exports data in Igor wave format. · as Stimulus Template file: Exports data as a stimulus template file.

With marked Target and Children. . .
Actions executed from this section of the Replay menu are performed on all marked children of the selected Target in the data tree:

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4.4. Replay Menu

In example “A” the With Marked Target and Children Export command would export only Sweep 3 to 8 of the first IV, while in example “B” all marked Sweeps would be exported.
· Show: Displays marked Targets in the selected tree branch.
· Print: Prints the marked Targets and children of the selected tree branch.
· Export Target: Exports marked targets and children of the selected tree branch. The display options in the Oscilloscope window define the export options.
· Export Full Target: Exports the full marked targets and children independent from the time range settings in the Oscilloscope window.
· Recompute Zero Offset: The zero offset value of all Traces in the selected target is recomputed. The zero offset value is used by the Subtract Zero Offset function (see chapter 4.5 on page 29).

­ target trace (1. . . 32): Selects the target Trace for the zero offset recomputing. ­ left bound [%](0. . . 99) & right bound [%](0. . . 100): Defines the range in between POTMASTER should
recompute the zero offset. ­ segment (0=use zero seg.): Defines the Segment (of the PGF) for the zero offset calculation.
Note: Only visible Traces are recomputed.
Note: Only Traces originating from an AD-channel are recomputed; virtual Traces are not affected.

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4.4. Replay Menu
Note: The zero offset of leak Traces are only recomputed if the “Show Leak Traces” is selected from the Display menu.
· Average Sweep: Averages all Sweeps of a Series and stores them as Series with one Sweep. The Sweeps have to have the same length.
· Average Series: Generates one new Series in which each Sweep is the average of all marked Series with the same Sweep index and each Trace with the same Trace index.
· Duplicate: Creates a new Group containing all marked targets. This is e.g. convenient when one needs to compress a Trace for export.
· Compress: Compresses all marked Traces by a given compression factor. Optionally one can supply a maximal compression factor. This can be used e.g., if one has Traces which are already compressed and having much fewer points per second, e.g., a FURA trace. The Traces cannot reside in a read-only file. To compress a Trace in a read-only file, duplicate the required targets.
· Collapse: The Sweeps of all marked Series are copied into a new Series. This is typically used when one acquired many Series with one single Sweep and one wants to combine them into one Series for easier Analysis.
· Delete: Deletes the marked targets and children of the selected tree branch.
Note: Delete and Delete Marked Target Children are disabled when a data file is opened with File Open Read Only.

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4.5. Display Menu

4.5 Display Menu
This menu sets some parameters for the display of data in the Oscilloscope window.
Auto Show: Automatically displays the data selected in the Replay window. When this option is disabled, a double-click on the targets in the tree is required for displaying the data. Trace Properties: In the Trace Properties dialog the user can set Show, Vector (connect individual data points) and Center flags, select the Marker type and the Reference Series properties. All settings are explained in detail in chapter 4.5.2 on page 31. Also, the Trace Properties can be set via macro commands to allow automatic display adjustment depending on type of acquisition. Have a look for the macro commands starting with T (Help menu List All Macro Items). The color of Traces can be set in the Line Colors dialog of the Configuration window (see chapter 5.6.1 on page 54). Show Zero Line: Draws a reference zero line in the Oscilloscope window. Subtract Zero Offset: Subtracts the zero offset from the measured signals. The zero offset is the mean value, calculated from the Zero segment. The Zero segment is defined in the PGF (see chapter 10.10.2 on page 120). Usually, the zero offset value is determined online, but it can also be computed offline by use of the Recompute Zero Offset function from the Replay menu (see chapter 4.4 on page 27).
Note: Subtract Zero in the Display menu is kept “On” even if the conditions for Zero Subtraction are not met. If one wants to see the subtracted Trace offline, one has to switch to another Trace in the Replay Tree and then back to the just acquired Trace. A simple “Wipe” or “Redraw” of the displayed data is not sufficient.
Subtract Ref. Series: If this item is checked, then the Reference Series is subtracted from all replayed data (see chapter 4.5.2 on page 31). Subtract Trace Buffers: If this item is checked, then the Trace Buffer is subtracted from all replayed Traces (see chapter 4.5.2 on page 31). Dimmed Overlay: Turns the Dimmed Overlay mode on or off. In Dimmed Overlay mode, the last displayed Trace is drawn in another color than the previously plotted Traces. Overlay Pages: During continuous acquisition the data are displayed in pages. The pages can be overlayed. Overlay Traces: Overlay of all Traces of a selected Sweep. Overlay Sweeps: Overlay of all Sweeps of a Series. Overlay Series: Overlay of all Series, i.e. overlay of all. Auto Y-scale: The Y-scaling is automatically adapted to the replayed data to fit minimal and maximal data of a Series onto the screen. The range of the Y-scaling depends on the Gain settings. Fixed Y-scale: The Y-scale is fixed. In the Oscilloscope window the controls Y-scale and Y-offs. turn into Y-max and Y-min.
Note: Auto Y-scale has priority over Fixed Y-scale.
Fixed X-width: The X-scale is fixed. In the Oscilloscope window the controls Start Time and End turn into X-min and X-max.

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4.5. Display Menu
Freeze Zero Line: This checkbox determines the behavior of the display scaling in the Oscilloscope window. When Freeze Zero Line is selected, the Oscilloscope behaves like an oscilloscope, i.e. when the display gain is changed the zero line stays at its position. When deselected, display scaling is performed with reference to the center of the display. I.e., when Y-offs is not zero, the zero line may alter its position on the screen. Labeling: Determines the labels in the main display of the Oscilloscope window and the PGF-Editor Grid independently:
· Labels Only: Draws calibration bars. · Grids + Labels: Draws a grid and units/division. · Grids + Values: Draws a labeled grid. · No Labels: No labels, no grids.
Show Tree Info: When this option is selected, information about the replayed target is shown in the Notebook window.
4.5.1 3D-Mode
Shows a sub-menu for selection of the pseudo three-dimensional graphing.

Figure 4.1: 3D Mode of the Oscilloscope Window

The following settings can be made:
· 3D-Graph – On: The results are displayed in black and white in pseudo three- dimensional mode by displaying subsequent Sweeps with a horizontal and vertical offset. The dX and dY values for the 3D feature can be entered in the Configuration window. The default value for both is 0.010.
· 3D-Graph – Color: The results are displayed in pseudo colors leading to a two-dimensional height profile. You can set the color selection and the contrast by changing the values in Y-scale and Y-offs.
· 3D-Graph – On and 3D-Graph – Color: The results are displayed in pseudo colors and 3D-mode to give the impression of contour lines, thus leading to a 3D height profile.

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4.5. Display Menu
Figure 4.2: Pseudo Color Data Representation
4.5.2 Trace Properties Dialog

Figure 4.3: Trace Properties Dialog

The Trace Properties dialog provides access to certain display settings of individual Traces and Buffers. Extend: Extends the setting of the first Trace to all other Traces. Trace 1. . . 16, Buffer 1. . . 4: Up to 16 Traces and 4 buffers can be individually modified.

Note: The amount of traces (default: 16) is defined in the Configuration (General pane).

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4.5. Display Menu
Show: Here, one can decide if a Trace shall be displayed (Show) in the Oscilloscope window or not. Vectors: When option Vectors is checked then the markers are connected by lines. Marker: Markers, such as
· Point · Plus · Star · Diamong · Cross · Square
can be used for plotting data points. This is particularly useful, if LockIn or FURA data are acquired. Ref. Series Corr.: If Ref. Series Corr. is checked for a Trace, then the Reference Series is subtracted from that Trace. A Reference Series can be defined by use of the Reference Series – Set item from the Replay menu. The Ref. Series Corr. can be turned ‘On’ or ‘Off’ globally in the Display menu. Center: If this option is set the traces get centered during acquisition. Therefore the left 10% of the first page are brought to the center of the display. Trace Buffer Corr.: If Trace Buffer Corr. is set to one of the four available Trace Buffers then the contents of the chosen Buffer are subtracted from that Trace. This can be used for subtracting a control Trace from other Traces. The Trace Buffer subtraction can be turned ‘On’ or ‘Off’ globally in the Display menu. Use Trace Scaling: With this option, the display scaling of a Trace Buffer can be coupled to the display scaling of a certain Trace. Repaint: Repaints the last displayed Sweep in the Oscilloscope with the new Trace Properties. Done: Closes the Trace Properties dialog.
Note: Like other menu settings, the Trace Properties are stored in the POTMASTER configuration file.

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4.6. Buffer Menu

4.6 Buffer Menu
POTMASTER offers four independent Trace Buffers for storing and processing of intermediate Trace data.
Buffer 1. . . Buffer 4: Select (make active) the buffer to work on. Use Full Trace: If this option is selected the functions Add Trace, Subtract Trace, and Accumulate Trace work on the complete Trace. If this option is not selected the above mentioned functions work on the part of the Trace which is displayed in the Oscilloscope window only. Clear All: Clears all Buffers (Buffer 1. . . 4 ). Clear: Clears the selected Buffer. Show: Shows the selected Buffer in the Oscilloscope. Scale: Scales the selected Buffer with Scale and Offset. Equation: Allows to perform a Buffer calculation based on an equation. For details see chapter 21 on page 231 and chapter 21.2.2 on page 235. Import: Imports data into a selected Buffer. Please make sure that the key parameters Gain and Sampling Interval of the imported data match the parameters of the Buffer. In case a Buffer is filled with data for the first time, the parameters are retrieved from the Trace currently selected in the Replay window. You can import the following three formats:
· from ASCII file: Imports data which were saved as CSV (=Comma-Separated Values).
· from Binary file: Imports data which were saved in the IGOR binary format.
· from Igor Wave: Imports data which were saved in the IGOR Wave format.
Export: Exports data from a selected Buffer. You have four possibilities:
· as ASCII file: Exports data in ASCII file format.
· as Binary file: Exports data in Binary file format.
· as Igor Wave: Exports data in Igor wave format.
· as Stimulus Template file: Exports data as a stimulus template file (see Using a Recorded Waveform as Stimulus in the PATCHMASTER Tutorial).
Add Trace: Adds the Trace selected in the Replay window to the active Buffer. Subtract Trace: Subtracts the Trace selected in the Replay window from the active Buffer (Trace). Accumulate Trace: Accumulates the Trace selected in the Replay window to the active Buffer:
Buffer(n+1) = (Buffer(n) * n + Trace)/n+1 with n = number of Traces in the Buffer.

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4.7. Notebook Menu
Deaccumulate Trace: Deaccumulates the Trace selected in the Replay window from the active Buffer:
Buffer(n-1) = (Buffer(n) * n – Trace)/n-1 with n = number of Traces in the Buffer. With Marked Target and Children: Multiple Traces can be marked in the Replay window and processed simultaneously.
· Use: Specify which Trace of the marked Sweeps should be processed. · Add, Subtract, Accumulate, Deaccumulate: Work on all marked targets. For further explanations of the
functions refer to individual functions explained above (see chapter 4.4 on page 26).
Replace Target Trace: The Trace selected in the Replay window (target Trace) will be replaced with the active Buffer.
4.6.1 Handling of Parameters by the Buffer
When a Buffer is filled with data for the first time (after a Clear command) all parameters of the target Trace are transferred to the Buffer data structure. When adding further Traces to the Buffer these parameters are not changed. It is assumed that all Traces that are added to the Buffer are of same type. When replacing a target Trace with the data of a Buffer, data only are transferred. The parameters of the target Trace stay unchanged.
It is the responsibility of the user that the key parameters such as Gain and Sampling Interval are chosen adequately when adding importing data to a Buffer or processing different Traces in a Buffer. Once a Trace is replaced by a Buffer, most parameters i.e. Zero Offset or C-slow become meaningless.

4.7 Notebook Menu
The Notebook is used to display experiment information. The ASCII-table separator setting of the Replay menu is used for the Notebook as well. This enables e.g. to transfer data directly to spread sheets requiring a TAB separator, such as MS Excel, via “Cut and Paste”. The options in the Notebook menu are:
Save: Saves the Notebook under its default name: “Notebook_Date”. Save As. . . : Asks for a file name before saving. Merge. . . : Merges a text file to the content of the Notebook. Print. . . : Output the content of the Notebook to a printer. Clear when Saved: Automatically clears the Notebook after the present content is saved to disk. Clear: Clears the Notebook. Set Length. . . : Specifies the maximal number of text lines in the Notebook. The maximal number of lines is given in parentheses. Line Numbers: Shows line and column numbers when moving with the cursors inside the Notebook. Font Size. . . : Allows to select the font size of the Notebook text. Zoom In: Shrinks the Notebook window to default (i.e. small) size.

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4.8. Protocols Menu
Zoom Out: Expands the Notebook window to full program screen size. Scientific Notation: If set, the results of the Analysis are written to the Notebook in scientific notation (e.g., 1.23e12). The default is engineering format (e.g., 1.23p). The scientific notation is mostly used when the user wants to copy results from the Notebook to a spread sheet program by copying to the clipboard.
Note: This setting also applies to the ASCII-export format entry in the Replay menu.
Auto Store: This option will automatically store the Notebook together with the data file ([data file name].txt). Upon opening a data file, its Notebook file will automatically be loaded as well.
4.8 Protocols Menu
The Macros menu of older POTMASTER versions has been replaced by the new Protocols menu (since version 2×52). This drop-down menu can be used for the conversion of macro files from older POTMASTER versions to protocols.
Append Macro File: Converts an existing macro file (.mac) to a protocol and appends this new protocol to the actually opened protocol file (*.pro). Execute while Recording: If selected, every button you press during macro/protocol recording will be executed. If not selected, this option allows recording a protocol without executing the buttons. Thus, during protocol recording, commands and values are recorded, listed in the Notebook, and then the parameters are immediately set back to their previous value.
Note: Macro/protocol recording can be started from the Protocol Editor dialog (see chapter 11.1 on page 131).
Execute: Executes the selected, user defined protocol. Alternatively, protocols can be executed from:
· the Control window, if the option Hide Protocol-Bar in the Control window is not activated on the Display tab (see chapter 5.6.3 on page 55).

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4.9. PG 300 / PG 600 Menu
4.9 PG 300 / PG 600 Menu

The PG 300/PG 600 menu contains some user specific settings which have effects on the data acquisition or on the replay of recorded data.
The options E vs. Reference, E vs. HE, E vs. OCP, Use Present Value, and Use Value in Data File are display options for data which are originating from voltage input. In many cases these options are needed for the display of recorded current potential curves. Please note that the effects of these options are only visible in the Analysis window where you can use potential traces as x axis.
E vs Reference: The displayed cell potential is in accordance to the connected reference electrode. Using this option the recorded potentials are not corrected against any constants and relate directly to the potentials measured between the reference and the working electrode. This is the default setting for data acquisition in combination with Use value in data file. For data replay and potential corrections please chose the options E vs. HE and E vs. OCP.

Note: Please pay attention, that the connected reference electrode has measured and stable potential. When the potential of your reference electrode is not stable during the experiments this shift will affect the recorded potential data.

E vs HE: The displayed cell potential is in accordance to the potential of the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). The potential difference between the Normal Hydrogen Electrode and other reference electrodes is selected in the window Zero potential. To relate recorded potentials versus a reference potential from the window Zero potential please chose E vs. HE, activate the option Use present value and open the window Zero potential. In this window you can select a reference potential or a user specific value. There are various options but the only interesting field is the first blue panel beside Manual Input. Only here stands the value of the selected reference potential which is applied for a correction of your recorded potential values! Click Done and select in the Replay window your potential data.
E vs OCP: The displayed cell potential is in accordance to the measured Open Cell Potential (OCP).In corrosion experiments the OCP is sometimes called “Corrosion Potential” or “Polarisation Potential” and is used as Initial Potential for Tafel Analysis or linear polarization plots. When some potential data have been recorded with the option E vs. Reference, the potentials can be related to a recorded Open Cell Potential (=OCP). Please open the window Configuration and type an OCP value in the section I/O Parameters. Opening the I/O Control window this value appears and can also be changed here. If no OCP has been determined, the OCP value is set to 0 V.
The following options are important for replaying recorded potentials, they take no effect in the parameters E-initial and Charge of the Potentiostat window.
Use Present Value: Replaying recorded traces are shown with the actual selected potential correction.
Use Value in Data File: Replaying recorded potential traces are shown with the recorded potential correction. This is only visible if you have selected E vs. HE and 0 mV in the window Zero potential.
Update Delay: This option defines the refresh interval time of I-cell and E-cell depicted in the Monitor tab of the

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4.9. PG 300 / PG 600 Menu
Potentiostat window (see chapter 7 on page 71). The default value is 0.25 s. Stimulus Ranging: If this option is activated, then the minimal required voltage range of the potentiostat is set automatically when acquiring data via a Pulse Generator sequence. Initialize PG300/PG600: This is used to restart the AD/DA interface; e.g., in case POTMASTER was started with the interface being turned off. Calibrate PG300/PG600: Calibrate the PG 300. Note that this may take several minutes. The calibration procedure creates a new scale file. EIS Calibration: Selecting this option start the calibration routine for EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) measurements. The calibration of the impedance spectroscopy is done with help of the Protocol Editor in a semi automatic way. In case of a multi-potentiostat each amplifier must be calibrated separately. First the select the amplifier in the Amplifier window and then start the EIS Calibration process from the PG300/PG600 Menu. The following amplifiers will be calibrated in a fully automated way. The calibration resistors are built-in to the amplifier and can be switched automatically:
· PG 610 USB · PG 612 USB · PG 690 USB · PG 618 USB Amplifier 1
The calibration process of those amplifiers takes several hours and should be run overnight.
In case a pre-amplifier is used (PG 611 USB and PG 618 USB Amplifier 2), then the model cell MC 61 EIS (Order number: 895336) is required. After starting the calibration process you will be prompted connect the model cell MC 61 EIS to the headstage of the amplifier. Each feedback gain range will be calibrated separately, and you will be asked to switch the model cell to the appropriate resistor for each range.
This calibration process takes about 30 minutes per gain range. Before starting the calibration of a gain range your interaction is required.
Follow the instructions of the software to finalize the calibration process.

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4.9. PG 300 / PG 600 Menu

Once the calibration process has finished, a lookup table is saved (e.g. PG618_USB_332355_1.EIS), and one can now use the EIS Method in the Protocol Editor (see 12.2 on page 168). One calibration file (a text file with extension *.EIS) is stored per amplifier and contains the calibration parameters for each frequency and each gain range.
The EIS calibration is absolutely necessary to do before starting the EIS experiments.
The PG 300 Series of Potentiostats do not support Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

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4.10. Help Menu Serial No.: Displays the serial number (e.g. ‘560141’) and board version (e.g.’E’).
4.10 Help Menu
With the additional tools listed in the Help menu you can get more familiar with the available functions of POTMASTER.
Show Tooltips: When activated information about the button that is located under the mouse tip is displayed.

Show Keys: Displays the key commands with the corresponding buttons.

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4.10. Help Menu
Hide Keys: Hides the key commands. List Keys: Lists all keys to the Notebook window (see chapter 3 on page 13). Save Keys: Saves the actual key command settings to the default key file. The old Potmaster.key file will be saved with the extension *.kXX (X = consecutive index number). List all Items: Lists all items and their values in the Notebook window. List all Macro Items: Lists all macro items and their values in the Notebook window. About POTMASTER: Displays the POTMASTER software version and contact information.

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5 Configuration Window

Settings like sources for external parameters, default values, display settings, colors, fonts, default files, . . . can be edited in the Configuration window. To access the Configuration window select the drop-down menu Windows Configuration. These and other settings can be stored in .set files; by default this file is Potmaster.set. By means of different .set files every user can define their individual program layout to meet specific requirements.

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5.1. Individualize POTMASTER
5.1 Individualize POTMASTER
The name of a POTMASTER setting file can be used as a command line parameter upon starting the program. That way, one can start POTMASTER with various configurations which is very useful when several users work on one setup and have a need for different POTMASTER settings. The procedure for an individualized POTMASTER starting procedure is as follows:
· Rename the *.set file in your HEKA folder (e.g. “Potmaster_User.set”). Note: The term “User” is just a place holder for individual names.
· Create a shortcut of Potmaster.exe on the desktop. · Rename the shortcut (e.g. “Potmaster_User”). · Right-click on the shortcut: Properties – Shortcut – Target. · The following command line should be written in the “Target” field, including the inverted comas and empty
spaces:
“C:Program Files (x86)HEKAPotmasterPotmaster.exe” “C:Program Files (x86)HEKAPotmasterPotmaster_User.set”.

Note: Please be aware that your installation path of your POTMASTER may vary on your PC. The “Patchmaster” definition on the screenshot corresponds to POTMASTER or CHARTMASTER, respectively.

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5.2. Save
5.2 Save
SAVE: Saves the configuration file with its current name. SAVE AS. . . : Saves the configuration file under a new name. Default Windows: Resets the position of most windows. This helps to restore the windows position once one gets dragged off screen (for example after reducing the screen resolution). Default Settings: Sets all settings back to the original settings. Note that this needs a restart of the program!
Note: There is no Load option because POTMASTER has to be restarted upon substantial changes of the settings. Thus, in order to use another setting, quit POTMASTER and restart. Before you do so, make certain that there is no Potmaster.set file available. In this case, upon start-up, POTMASTER will prompt you to select a new setup file (this can have any name).
5.3 General

5.3.1 Max Shown Traces and Values
Max. Shown Traces: This number defines how many Traces are used by POTMASTER. The user interface is adapted to show only the defined number of Traces. A small number makes the dialogs and lists within POTMASTER shorter. The new setting only takes effect after saving the configuration file and upon restarting the program. When using the Probe Selector it may be necessary to increase Max. Shown Traces. Max. Shown Values: This number defines how many values are used by POTMASTER. The user interface is adapted to show only the defined number of values. A small number makes the dialogs and lists within POTMASTER shorter. The new setting only takes effect after saving the configuration file and upon restarting the program.
5.3.2 Memory Allocation

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5.3. General
Max. Sample Points: Sets the maximum number of points that can be acquired in one Trace (see chapter 10.8 on page 104). This parameter is limited by the amount of available memory. Max. Stim. Traces x Points: Maximum number of stimulation Traces and their respective number of points. This parameter is limited by the amount of available memory.
Note: In case you want to drive the number of Max. Sample Points to its limit you might reduce the number of Max. Stim. Traces to make more memory available for allocating sample points.
Spectrum Buffer Size: Maximum number of samples used for spectrum analysis calculation (Fast Fourier Transformation). If more data points were acquired than defined an average of the FFT calculation will be performed.
· 1024 · 4096 · 16384 · 65536 · 262144
Note: It is recommended to adapt the number of Spectrum Buffer Size in respect to the sampling frequency/sample interval and the frequency of interest of your power spectrum.
Log Compression: In a power spectrum analysis (FFT calculation) one gets an expontential increase of data points with increasing frequencies. To balance that unequal distribution the Log Compression can be used. Here, the logarithmic frequencies are divided into equal sized bins and for each bin the average value is calculated. This allows a smooth representation of the power spectrum in the analysis.

5.3.3 Minimum Wait Time
Min. Wait Time: Sets the time POTMASTER reserves to wait for the correct time to start when executing individual repeat loops such as acquisition of a Series of Sweeps or an Repeat loop in the Protocol Editor. For example, to ensure an Acquire Each Sweep repeat loop keeping the same repeat time as set by the Duration in the Repeat event, the program will wait Min. Wait Time before executing the next acquisition to hit the scheduled starting time of the next Sweep as exactly as possible.
Note: In case you are observing incorrect and unstable repeat times, please try to increase the Min. Wait Time.
This parameter can also be set via the Acquire Properties event in the Protocol Editor.

5.3.4 Batch Communication
Batch Communication: The Batch Communication with other applications can be disabled or enabled (see Controlling PA T C H M A S T E R in the PATCHMASTER Tutorial).
· Disable: If this option is checked, the Batch Communication is turned off.

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5.4. Hardware
· Enable as Receiver: POTMASTER is configured to serve as Receiver and will wait for command inputs of other applications.
· Enable as Sender: POTMASTER is configured to serve as Sender, thereby controlling another program, e.g. FITMASTER.
· Synchronize Files: With this option the Sender application will send the “FileOpened” message, when a .dat file, .pgf file, .pro file or .onl file is opened, and the “FileUpdated” message, when the data file is updated. The “FileClosed” message is send, when the data file is closed. The Receiver will then open, update, or close the same data file as the Sender application.
· Polling: In the Polling mode, the master application polls the slave application for commands. The slave then answers to the query and appends all pending commands, i.e., it no longer sends commands independently. In doing so, commands do no longer get lost, if heavy bi-directional communication is ongoing.
Logging: If the checkbox is activated the communication via the Batch Communication interface is written to the Notebook. Connections: Specify the number of connections to other software instances which can communicate via batch communication.
5.3.5 User Name
User Name: A user name that is entered here will be stored with the raw data.
5.4 Hardware

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5.4. Hardware
5.4.1 Amplifier and Digitizer Selection
Amplifier: POTMASTER supports the following amplifiers:
POTMASTER supports the following potentiostats/galvanostats:
· PG 600 USB Amplifier: A PG 610/690 USB, PG 611 USB PG 612 USB or PG 618 USB amplifier.
· PG 330 USB Amplifier: A PG 330 USB amplifier. · PG 300 USB Amplifier: A PG 310/390 USB, PG 390 USB or
PG 340 USB amplifier. · PG 300 Amplifier: A PG 310, PG 390 or PG 340 amplifier. · PG 400 Remote: A PG 400 or PG 500 amplifier (PG 410, PG 490,
PG 510 or PG 590) is connected with the data acquisition interface LIH 1600 (by three BNC cables at Monitor Output Voltage and Current, External Input). The serial communication port of the potentiostat is connected with a serial port of the computer. In this case the amplifier settings are controlled by the software. · PG 400 Local: A PG 400 or PG 500 amplifier (PG 410, PG 490, PG 510 or PG 590) is connected only with the data acquisition interface LIH 1600 and the serial communication port of the potentiostat is connected with a serial port of the computer. In this case the amplifier settings must be done by the knobs on the front panel of the potentiostat. POTMASTER monitors gain, amplifier modes and filter settings.
· PG 285 Amplifier: To connect any analog potentiostat with the data acquisition interface LIH 1600 with 3 BNC cables (Voltage Output, Current Output and External Input). All amplifier settings must be done manually and must be selected manually also in POTMASTER.
· PG 284 Amplifier: To connect any analog potentiostat with the data acquisition interface LIH 1600 with 3 BNC cables (Voltage Output, Current Output and External Input). All amplifier settings must be done manually and must be selected manually also in POTMASTER.
· Telegraphing Amplifier: For connection of an amplifier with telegraphing capabilities.
Digitizer Selection: Select the appropriate AD/DA-converter, if it is not automatically assigned via the amplifier selection. POTMASTER supports the following AD/DA-converters:
· ITC-16 · ITC-18 · LIH 1600 / ITC-1600 · LIH 8+8
Board Type: Select the used Board Type. There are two options:

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5.4. Hardware
· 1. . . 3 PCI: Additional set-up information, if there is more than one possible card slot to connect to the digitizer.
· USB: InstruTech’s USB-16 or USB-18 adapters allow for connecting an ITC-16, EPC 9, ITC18 to the computer via an USB 2.0 port. In case, such an adapter is used, it should be enabled here.
Demo Mode: The functionality of POTMASTER is restricted in the Demo Mode. You can only read your own data files or read and analyze the demo data files. If a Telegraphing Amplifier is used, the Gain and/or Bandwidth settings for the amplifier are read from an AD-channel and encoded by means of a Lookup Table. Upon selection of this amplifier type, the user must specify the AD-channel for the Current Gain and Bandwidth and load the appropriate Gain and Bandwidth tables. Both settings are made in the I/O Parameter section (see chapter 5.7 on page 56). Lookup Tables can be created easily as they are ASCII files with a simple structure with a series of text lines each containing:
Voltage | Gain (mV/pA)
or
Voltage | Bandwidth (Hz)
The voltage is the threshold above which the following Gain or Bandwidth setting applies. The voltage values are scanned beginning with the first value. Thus, voltages must be in descending order! The voltage thresholds for discrimination between adjacent settings should be halfway between the nominal telegraph voltages.
Note: The DacLookup file in the LookupTables folder (inside the PO T M A S T E R folder) depicts exemplary how to create your own lookup table.
5.4.2 Output and Input Channels
The following settings define the default output and input channels (see chapter 10 on page 99). E-Initial Out: Assigns the output DA-channel of the stimulus. Stim. Scale: Scaling factor of the stimulus signal in voltage clamp mode. The voltage amplitude that is set in the PGF sequence is divided by this factor before output to the DA channel. Current In: Assigns the input AD channel for the current Trace. This input channel is scaled by the Current Gain (see chapter 5.7.2 on page 59). Voltage In: Assigns the input AD for the voltage Trace.
5.4.3 LockIn
Here, the LockIn amplifier of POTMASTER can be activated. For a detailed description see chapter Software LockIn Extension, 24 on page 249, and the PATCHMASTER Tutorial “Capacitance Measurements using the LockIn Extension”.

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5.4. Hardware
5.4.4 Spectroscopy
Here, the Spectroscopy Extension of POTMASTER can be activated. For a detailed description see chapter Spectroscopy, 25 on page 261, and the PATCHMASTER Tutorial “Using the Spectroscopy Extension”.
5.4.5 SmartLUX
Here, the Imaging Extension (SMARTLUX) of POTMASTER can be activated. Depending on the fluorescence excitation light source or wavelength switcher you have installed in your setup, you can choose between different kinds of Imaging Extensions:
· TILL Photonics/Cairn OptoScan: “TILL Photonics” or “Cairn OptoScan”, can be controlled via an analog output of the amplifier or any AD/DA converter supported by POTMASTER. The exposure of the camera should then be triggered via a digital output channel.
· DG-4/DG-5: The “DG-4/DG-5” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18. The exposure of the camera should then be triggered via an analog output channel.
· Lamba-10: The “Sutter filter wheel Lambda-10” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18. The exposure of the camera should then be triggered via an analog output channel.
· pti DeltaRAM: The “High-Speed Random-Wavelength Illuminator” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18. The exposure of the camera should then be triggered via a digital output channel.
· no device: No light source control.
For details on the Imaging Extension aka “SMARTLUX” please refer to the SMARTLUX manual.
5.4.6 DocuLUX
Enable DocuLUX features for POTMASTER here. Please be aware, that you need to buy the DocuLUX bundle (order number: 895286 or 895287) first.
5.4.7 Photometry
This will activate stimulation of a monochromator and acquisition via a photo- multiplier or photo diode. You can choose four kinds of Photometry Extensions:
· TILL Photonics/Cairn OptoScan: “TILL Photonics” or “Cairn OptoScan”, can be controlled via an analog output of the amplifier or any AD/DA converter supported by POTMASTER.
· DG-4/DG-5: The “DG-4/DG-5” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18.
· Lamba-10: The “Sutter filter wheel Lambda-10” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18.

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5.4. Hardware
· pti DeltaRAM: The “High-Speed Random-Wavelength Illuminator” can be controlled via the digital output of the EPC 10, ITC-16 or ITC-18.
For details on the Photometry Extension please refer to the chapter Photometry, 22 on page 237.
5.4.8 ElProScan
The ElProScan Extension can only be used with additional hardware. Further, our ELPROSCAN customers will get a special hardware configuration file. If you activate the extension without having the configuration file you will get an error message indicating that the ElProScan Hardware file is missing. After the activation of the ElProScan Extension two additional windows will pop up:

Further, there is an additional menu entry in POTMASTER named ElProScan:

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5.4. Hardware
The functions and options of the new windows and the new menu are explained in detail in our ELPROSCAN manual.
5.4.9 Serial Out
This control is used to open and set up the serial port communication mode. If a so-called Serial Communication has been established between the computer and another device, POTMASTER can send strings over a serial port, but it will not receive instructions. The options for the serial communication are:
· Off: No connected device. · Comm 1. . . 4: Any device that can receive strings through the serial port. Up to 4 ports can be defined and
triggered.
When opening a serial communication, POTMASTER will allow you to configure the serial device. Make sure that the settings match on both communicating machines.
· Serial Port: No Port, Comm 1. . . Comm 8. · Baud Rate: 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 3600, 4800, 7200, 9600, 19200,
57600, 115200, 128000 or 256000 bps. · Stop Bit: 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0. · Parity: No Parity, Even Parity or Odd Parity. · Data Bit: 5, 6, 7 or 8 data bits.
· XOn/XOff: On or Off. · Rts/Cts: On or Off.
To change all settings or leave the dialog, do one of the following:
· Edit Start String: Allows to enter a specific start string. The Start String (Initialization String) is send once after opening the COM port.
· Open: Ope

References

• HugeDomains.com
• HEKA Elektronik - Patch Clamp Amplifiers, Potentiostats, Galvanostats, Acquisition Software and more...
• HEKA Elektronik - Patch Clamp Amplifiers, Potentiostats, Galvanostats, Acquisition Software and more...
• HEKA Elektronik - Patch Clamp Amplifiers, Potentiostats, Galvanostats, Acquisition Software and more...
• HEKA Elektronik - Patch Clamp Amplifiers, Potentiostats, Galvanostats, Acquisition Software and more...

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