After checking your protocol and loading its materials, select 'Next' to run the protocol.
This screen shows the current status ('Ready') and the steps in the currently loaded protocol. If the protocol includes Notes these will show on a yellow background.
If the protocol includes Groups they will each be shown in a different colour. So in the protocol
below, there are 2 grouped steps: 'Shake step' is shown in green and 'Magnetic block' in orange.
If these steps are repeated later in the protocol, the same colours will be used for easy reference.
Select the Start button to run the protocol.
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The screen will be updated with the elapsed time, overall time remaining andand a notification of the next user interaction, so you can prepare for it if necessary.
It will also start to generate the execution log: you can select this to display elapsed time
(stopwatch) or actual time (clock).
If your protocol includes a pause, the pause time remaining will be shown with the overall time remaining.
While your protocol is running, you can select the view you find most useful, e.g. the labware
usage or the decks:
Alternately, you may prefer a simple step by step view, to monitor progress.
You can also select to display the time remaining to completion; useful if you are monitoring
several instruments at once.
If firefly cannot complete the protocol, you will get feedback on the step which failed - shown as
red text in the Execution Logs.
You can pause a protocol at any stage, using the 'Pause' button on the Execute screen.
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If you need to end a protocol for non-urgent reasons e.g. you become aware of a problem with
the reagents, use the 'Stop' button on the Execute screen.
Use the emergency stop if you need to stop firefly instantly for safety reasons
firefly will chime when the protocol is finished. Ensure that the volume on the tablet is turned up
in order to hear this chime.
8.5.1 Carrying out user interactions
Whenever a user interaction is required, you will see the specific instructions on a magenta
background, irrespective of the protocol view you were using.
Once you see this screen you can access firefly and carry out the user interaction instruction. At
this point the heads and decks may have moved to give you safe access to the area you require
e.g. to the upper deck to remove a plate. However this is not always practical i.e. if the head must remain in a plate, so be careful when you access firefly.
IMPORTANT: Do not click 'Done' on this form immediately: complete the required actions first. Clicking 'Done' dismisses the form and continues the protocol.
Open firefly's door and complete the user action. Close the door before clicking 'Done' on the user interaction pop up form. The door indicator will be blue if the door is properly closed.
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If you click 'Done' before the door is properly closed, the protocol execution will stop.
If the user action involves instruments other than firefly, complete the specified task before
clicking 'Done' as the firefly software will continue the protocol at that point, expecting all previous
steps to be complete.
8.5.2 Execution log
If you close firefly software or start to run another protocol, you will lose access to the data shown in the Execution Log panel.
You will need to take a screenshot if you want this detailed data e.g. because there was a problem, as it is not shown in History. If you need to contact reliance for assistance, they will be able to access the instrument's log files.