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Software Overview

When you first open the FLO i8 software in your browser, you need to enter your Username and Password in the provided fields of the Sign In page to login and work with FLO i8. For more information, see Getting Started with FLO i8.

The FLO i8 Sign In Page

Logging in brings you to the Protocol Explorer page, which is divided into four main panels.

Protocol Explorer Page in the FLO i8 Software

Section 1: Application Menu

The Application Menu allows you to switch between different views within the FLO i8 software interface. Read the available views in the following list:

Options Under the Application Button

Description

Notifications

To see the notifications of the FLO i8’s activity.

User

The User menu will display your username. From here you can access your account and other users’ information if you are an administrator.

Account — Select this option to manage your information: reset password, update name, change email address, and view your role.
User Manager — Available for Administrators only. Select this option to manage user accounts and privileges: add, remove, and edit user accounts.
Logout — Click Logout to sign off the active user.

Explorer

Click this menu to see the following options.

Protocols — Select this option to access and organize your existing protocols. For more information, see Creating a New Protocol.
Pipetting Profile — Select this option to access and organize your existing pipetting profiles. For more information, see Pipetting Parameters.
Dispense Report — Select this option to access the dispense report of the protocols that have been executed. Administrators can access other users’ dispense reports. For more information, see Dispense Report.

Protocol Editor

Select this option to create a new protocol or to re-open and modify the protocol you are currently working on.

Runtime Status

The Runtime Status view will automatically become available when FLO i8 executes a protocol. Here you can see the deck layout, active step, and progress bar.

Tools

The available options in the Tools menu are as follows.

Labware Manager — Select this option to access the Labware Manager page, from where you can see the available labware definitions in the FLO i8 software. You can also create a new plate definition, modify an existing plate, and remove a plate from the database. For more information, see Labware Manager.
Sound Settings — Click this option to configure the sound feature in FLO i8. For more information, see Sound Settings.
Error Recovery Settings — From this option, you can customize the auto error recovery setup based on your preference. The auto error recovery will be performed if the system detects any channel collision or motor error during protocol execution. See Error Recovery Settings for more details.

Help

The Help menu provides the following options:

Log Packages — Select this option to access the error log packages files. For more information, see Reporting Errors Using Log Packages.
Help & Support — From this option, you can find the online help of your current software version and FORMULATRIX support contact. Read more on the Help & Support section.
About — The About page displays the system’s information: instrument serial number, software version, license, and firmware version. Here, you can also update the software version and renew the license.

Section 2: Navigator Bar

The Navigator Bar is at the topmost of the page displays the page title and provides access to perform the FLO i8 software operations, explained below:

Navigator Bar

Button	Description
Search Bar	Type a protocol or folder name that you want to find from the database.
New Protocol Button	Click this button to create a new protocol.
New Folder Button	Click this button to create a new folder.
View Options Button	Click this button to switch between Tiles, Lists, or Details view on how to display the folders and protocols in the Protocol Explorer page.
Sort By Button	Click this button to sort the protocols or folders name alphabetically, or by date modified.
More Options Button	The More button provides six task options for the selected protocol, including: Duplicate - Select this option to duplicate one or more protocols in the Protocol Explorer page. Rename - Click this option to rename the selected protocol in the Protocol Explorer page. Send a Copy - This button allows you to send a copy of your protocols to other registered users in the FLO i8 system. Remove - This allows you to remove one or more protocols and/or folders in the Protocol Explorer page. Download - Select this option to download the selected protocol(s) and/or folders into a .ZIP folder. Upload - Click this option to import a protocol or folder from your local drive.
Protocol Info Button	Click this button to see the labware preview and protocol setup summary of a selected protocol in the Protocol Explorer page.
OPEN Button	Click the OPEN button to access a selected protocol or folder.

Section 3: Protocol List Panel

Protocol List Panel displays the list of protocols and folders that you previously created. They can be run as-is or modified.

Protocol List Panel

Section 4: Status Bar

The status bar provides information about the current status of the FLO i8 system’s components. It includes indicators for instrument , door Door , and waste bin , at the bottom right of your screen. For more information, see Status Bar.

Status Bar Icons After System’s Initialization

Report Error Button

The Report Error button Report Error Button is initially located at the lower-left corner of your screen. This free-floating button can be moved around and positioned anywhere by dragging, and available on every page of the FLO i8 software by default.

Use this button to create log packages when you encounter any issues that occur during the FLO i8 operation. Once you submit the error report, the log packages files will be saved in the Log Packages page. You can download and send them to the FORMULATRIX support technicians to be investigated without remote access. For more information, see Reporting Errors Using Log Packages.

Report Error Form