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Software Overview

To access the FLO i8 software user interface, first login on the Sign In page.

The FLO i8 Sign In Page

Logging in brings you to the Protocol Explorer page, which is divided into 4 panels.

Protocol Explorer Page in the FLO i8 Software

Section 1: Application Menu

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

Options Under the Application Button

Description

Notifications

This panel provides notifications of FLO i8 system activities, such as:

Protocol execution notifications
Licensing warnings
System update notifications

User

The User menu displays your username and allows access to your account information.

Account — Manage current user account information: reset password, update name, change email address, and view your role.
User Manager Grant access to the User Manager page (for Administrators only). For more information, see User Manager.
Logout — Sign off the active user.

Explorer

Click this menu to switch to the following pages:

Protocols — Select this option to access and organize your existing protocols.
Pipetting Profile — Select this option to access and organize your existing pipetting profiles.
Dispense Report — Click to access the dispense reports of the executed protocols. Administrators can access other users’ dispense reports.

Protocol Editor

Select this option to open the last protocol you worked on, or start creating a new protocol.

Runtime Status

View the status of the protocol which is currently running.

Clicking the option when a protocol is running will bring you to the Executing page. This option will also inform you about the time remaining if any other users are executing protocols.

Tools

The available options in the Tools menu are as follows.

Labware Manager — Manage the labware list, including creating a new plate definition, modifying an existing plate, and removing a plate from the database. For more information, see Labware Manager.
Sound Settings — Configure the auditory notification in FLO i8.
Error Recovery Settings — Configure error auto-recovery options.

Help

The Help menu provides the following options:

Log Packages — Access the error log packages files.
Help & Support — Get the online help file and FORMULATRIX support contact. Read more on the Help & Support section.
About — The About page provides 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 of the Protocol Explorer page 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	Create a new protocol.
New Folder Button	Create a new folder.
View Options Button	Switch between Tiles, Lists, or Details view on how to display the folders and protocols.
Sort By Button	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 — Duplicate one or more protocols. Rename — Rename the selected protocol. Send a Copy — Send a copy of your protocols to other registered users in the FLO i8 system. Remove — Remove one or more protocols and/or folders. Download — Download the selected protocols and/or folders into a .ZIP folder. Upload — Import a protocol or folder from your local drive.
Info Button	Display the labware preview and protocol setup summary of a selected protocol.
OPEN Button	Click to load a selected protocol or folder.

Section 3: Protocol List Panel

This panel displays the list of existing protocols and folders that can be run as-is or modified.

Protocol List Panel

Section 4: Status Bar

The status bar contains information about the instrument and protocol activity. For more information, see Status Bar.

Instrument Status and Progress Indicator Tabs on Status Bar

Report Error Button

The free-floating Report Error button Report Error Button appears on every page of the FLO i8 software and can be dragged to any position on the current page. When you encounter any problem during FLO i8 operation, click this button to create an error report. Save your error report in Log Packages and then send it to FORMULATRIX support. A FORMULATRIX technician then investigates your issue.

For more information, see Reporting Errors Using Log Packages.