Method Setup

The Method Setup dialog is used to define and edit all parameters of the method. The method includes both acquisition and processing parts, organized into several tabs. Each tab covers a different area of the method, such as general instrument parameters, detector setup, data acquisition, peak integration, and result calculation.

The dialog can be accessed from the icon in the Instrument window, or from several other locations within Clarity.

Header

At the top of the dialog, the current method name and version are displayed. The date and time indicate when the currently opened version was created (method was last saved).

The format is as follows: [Method Name] - #[Version Number]; [Date] [Time]

Date and time are displayed according to the current system locale settings in Windows.

If a method created in an older version of Clarity (without method versioning) is opened, it will be automatically converted to version 1.

Command Bar

The top row of the dialog contains command buttons for common method-related actions, such as creating, opening, or saving a method. A full list of available commands is provided in the table below.

Icon	Command	Description
	New	Creates a new method (Noname) and closes the current one (a warning appears if there are unsaved changes). This action can also be triggered using the Ctrl + N shortcut.
	Open...	Opens a method file and simultaneously closes the currently opened one (a warning appears if there are unsaved changes). Using this command or pressing the  Ctrl + O shortcut opens the Open Method dialog.
	Save	Saves the current method file. This command can also be triggered using the Ctrl + S shortcut. If saving a new file for the first time, the Save As dialog will appear, requiring a file name to be specified. The default name Noname.met is reserved for new unsaved files only.
	Save as...	Saves the method file under a chosen name and opens it. Using this command or pressing the Ctrl + Shift + S shortcut opens the Save As dialog. If the selected file name already exists, a confirmation message appears before the file is overwritten. Clicking the arrow next to the button offers an alternative: save the method under a new name without opening it (Ctrl + Shift + C). Method saved this way contains one version, history from the source method is not saved.
	Report setup...	Opens the Report Setup dialog (Ctrl + Alt + P). If there are unsaved changes in the method, you will be prompted to save them first. Reports can only be generated from a saved version of the method.
	Audit trail…	Opens the Method Audit Trail window showing the full change history of the current method. If there are unsaved changes, you will be prompted whether to save them before opening the window.
	Send Method by Email	Sends method file as an email attachment.
	Help…	Opens contex help for the currently active tab.

 

Available Tabs

The Method Setup dialog contains several tabs, each covering a specific aspect of the method. Some tabs are common to all configurations, while others are only available when specific control modules (e.g., Thermostat, Fraction Collector) are present.

List of common tabs in the Method Setup dialog

Tabs	Contents of the tab
Event Table	Allows triggering actions during the analysis, such as switching valves.
Measurement	Contains run time, external start handling and general settings for measurement conditions, including column, flow rate, and temperature serving only informational value.
Acquisition	Detector-specific parameters for acquiring the signal.
Integration	Settings defining how the signal is integrated and how the baseline is modified.
Calculation	Parameters for calculating final results from the integrated data (calibration, etc.).
Advanced	Contains Subtraction Chromatogram function, Column Calculation and User Variables parameters.
GC (LC) Control	GC (LC) Control – Direct control parameters for the chromatograph.
AS Control	AS Control – Injection control settings for directly controlled autosamplers.

 

Footer - Buttons

In addition to the tabs, the lower part of the Method Setup dialog contains a set of buttons available on every tab. These buttons are present on every tab.

OK

Saves all changes to the current method and closes the dialog. If acquisition using the opened method is running, only Enable Autostop checkbox and Run Time parameter in the Measurement tab can be modified; the rest of the method is locked. For newly created methods, pressing OK opens the Save As dialog.

Cancel

Discards all changes and closes the dialog without saving.

Send Method

Sends the currently opened method to all connected control modules and sets it in the Single Analysis dialog. This button is disabled during data acquisition or if the method is not saved (marked as MODIFIED or Noname).