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Using the Options Menu

There are two tabs in the Options menu: Options and Advanced Options. Advanced options should be edited under guidance from the FORMULATRIX support team to ensure no critical features are impacted.

The Options and Advanced Options Tab

Important: Access to certain options may be limited if the User Management feature is activated. For more information, see Managing the User Roles.

Options

This section covers the following topics:

Dispense Settings
Wash Settings

Dispense Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Dispense area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Detach Chip After Dispense	True	Determines whether or not Mantis detaches and returns the last dispensed chip to its ACC port after the dispense process is completed.
Dispense Direction	Bidirectional	Determines the Unidirectional or Bidirectional (snake-like) dispense pattern per column or row.
Dispense Path	Horizontal	Determines the arms movement direction when executing a dispense.
Dispense Starting Point	Bottom Right	Dictates the Mantis arm’s starting position when a dispense is executed. The dispense can start from any corner of the plate (bottom right, bottom left, top right, or top left).
Pre-dispense with SD Pump	False	Set this option to True if you want to use only the small diaphragm pump for the pre-dispense process. This can help preserve reagents and improve first-well accuracy when dispensing with the small diaphragm, but may increase total dispense time. Note: Mantis will ignore this setting when dispensing with an XL Volume PFE chip.
Recover Reagents Before Detaching	True	Determines whether or not Mantis performs reagent recovery prior to returning the chip to its ACC port. Reagent recovery can prevent reagent from siphoning out of the chip while the chip is stored in its ACC port.

Wash Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Input area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Reagent Recovery After Wash	True	Determines whether or not Mantis performs reagent recovery after washing the chips. It is recommended to set this option to True in order to remove all wash fluid from the chip prior to storage.
Wash After Dispense	Disable	Determines whether or not the Mantis automatically washes the chips after the dispense process is completed. If set to Reagent, the Mantis will wash each chip after it has dispensed. If set to Plate, the Mantis will automatically wash all the chips at the completion of a full plate dispense.

Advanced Options

Important: These settings are for advanced users only! Doing something incorrectly here may impact Mantis performance. Consult with FORMULATRIX support if you have any questions.

This section covers the following topics:

Application Settings
Arms Settings
Dispense Settings
Dispense Summary Settings
Hand Settings
Integration Service (IS) Settings
Manual Arms Control Settings
RFID Settings (only available with the Mantis RFID)
Security Settings
Stage Settings
Support Settings

If you need a refresher, use the tables in the expandable topic headings below to help you understand and configure the various options.

Application Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Application area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Show Deck Geometry Correction Menu	False	Set this option to True to access the Deck Geometry Correction wizard of the Tools menu and configure the Mantis deck geometry settings.
Show Encoder Correction and Idle Position Tuning	False	Set this option to True to access the Absolute Data Encoder and Idle Position Tuning wizard of the Tools menu, and correct the Mantis absolute data encoder and tune the idle position.
Show Wash and Waste Station Tuning Menu	False	Set this option to True to access the Wash and Waste Station Tuning wizard of the Tools menu, and tune the Mantis and wash and wash stations.
Use the Initial Movement during Startup	Never	Set this option to Initial to automatically move the Mantis hand during startup.
Dispense List Auto Load	False	Set this option to True to automatically load a dispense list of your choice every time you open the Mantis software.
Dispense List File Name	Empty	Select which dispense list will be automatically loaded every time you open the Mantis software. This option is available when the Dispense List Auto Load option is set to True.

Arms Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Arms area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Attach Detach Status	Disable	Set this option to Enable to activate the Mantis attach and detach status check. Once enabled, the air pump will be used to ensure the chip is properly attached to or detached from the Mantis hand.

Dispense Settings

Option	Default Setting	Description
Update Sequence Editor During Dispense	False	Set this option to True to enable updates to the Sequence Editor during dispense execution.
Waste Station Location	Default	Default: The waste station is in the default location, attached to the right ACC. See Hardware Overview. Adapter: The waste station is set at the back of Mantis, attached to the right wash input (for right-side LC3 only). See Setting Up the LC3 for a Dispense.
First Dispense Diaphragm	Small	Determines which chip diaphragm is going to be dispensed first in cases where both are used in a single well.
Disable Pump for long delay	True	Enables Mantis to automatically turn off the pump during long dispense list delays.
Use Dispense Visualization	True	Set this option to False to deactivate the dispense progress indicator on the Dispense List Designer.
Pre-Dispense Between Drop Wells	True	Enables additional pre-dispense for plate definitions that include drop wells.
Prime Check Diaphragm	Large	Determines the diaphragm usage to run Prime Check. This option is available when the QC Station license is activated.
CF Pressure Drop Warning	True	Set this option to True to display a notification when Mantis detects a pressure leak during dispense using CF chips.

Dispense Summary Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Dispense Summary area.

Important: If you are activating the User Management and Audit Trail license, the Dispense Summary settings will be moved from the Advanced Settings tab to the Audit Trail menu.

Dispense Summary Logs Settings in the Audit Trail Settings

Option	Default Settings	Description
Enable Dispense Summary	True	Set this option to True to enable the Mantis software to create a dispense summary log file. This file will be created once per day as long as this option is enabled. If this option is set to False, the Export Dispense Summaries option under the Tools menu will be automatically hidden. Note: The dispense summary log files will be automatically saved under the DispenseSummaries folder that can be accessed by the following options: - Select the Open Data Directory option under the Tools menu, and then select the User folder. - Click the View Export Directory button in the Dispense Summary window. For more information, see Exporting Dispense Summary.

Option

Default Settings

Description

Enable Dispense Summary

True

Set this option to True to enable the Mantis software to create a dispense summary log file. This file will be created once per day as long as this option is enabled.

If this option is set to False, the Export Dispense Summaries option under the Tools menu will be automatically hidden.

Note: The dispense summary log files will be automatically saved under the DispenseSummaries folder that can be accessed by the following options:
- Select the Open Data Directory option under the Tools menu, and then select the User folder.
- Click the View Export Directory button in the Dispense Summary window. For more information, see Exporting Dispense Summary.

Hand Settings

Option	Default Settings	Description
Theta Motor 1 Offset	0	Allows you to realign the theta motor 1 position in case its position goes wrong when homing. To adjust the value, press Alt+F2 on the keyboard, then set it manually via the Theta Motor Control Pad. The up arrow increases the value, and the down arrow decreases it. The speed slider determines how fast the changes will occur.
Theta Motor 2 Offset	0	Allows you to realign the theta motor 2 position in case its position goes wrong when homing. To adjust the value, press Alt+F2 on the keyboard, then set it manually via the Theta Motor Control Pad.

Integration Service (IS) Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Integration Service (IS) Setting area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Service Remote Start	Deny	Determines the setting for the Integration Service to run as background process. Allow — Allows the Mantis IS to be remotely started or stopped from different computers. Deny — Denies remote access to the Mantis IS. Ask — Prompts the user you to allow or deny remote access to the Mantis IS.
Integration Service Base Address	http://localhost:7091/ LiquidDispenser/Mantis	The API service host address. The address can be changed based on the available host in your site.
Integration Service Duplex Address	http://localhost:6091/ LiquidDispenser/Mantis	The API duplex service host address. The address can be changed based on the available host at your site.

Manual Arms Control Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Manual Arms Control area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
X Axis Manual Control	Velocity Slow: 1	Determines the X Axis acceleration and velocity values for the motion controller.
	Velocity Normal: 10
	Velocity Fast: 20
	Acceleration: 2500
Y Axis Manual Control	Velocity Slow: 1	Determines the Y Axis acceleration and velocity values for the motion controller.
	Velocity Normal: 10
	Velocity Fast: 20
	Acceleration: 2500
Z Axis Manual Control	Velocity Slow: 1	Determines the Z Axis acceleration and velocity values for the motion controller.
	Velocity Normal: 5
	Velocity Fast: 20
	Acceleration: 500

RFID Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the RFID area.

Option	Default Setting	Description
Scan Inputs During Startup	True	Set this option to False to disable RFID chips scanning during startup.
Rescan Input on Arm Before Dispense	False	Set this option to True to enable Mantis to always rescan the RFID chip attached to the Mantis arm before dispense.
Validate RFID tags before chip use	True	Set this option to True in order to revalidate and rescan the RFID input before every dispense. If you set this value to False, the Rescan Input On Arm Before Dispense option will be automatically disabled.
Write RFID Data After Dispense	False	Set this option to True to instruct the Mantis to update the RFID chip data after the entire plate dispense process is finished. Set this option to False to immediately update the RFID chips data when the chip is detached following each reagent dispense. This option is available if you are dispensing using LC3 and have configured the LC3 chip changers in the Chip Changers Configuration window.

Security Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Security area.

Important: The Security settings will be hidden, unless you activate the User Management and Audit Trail license.

Option	Default Setting	Description
User Control	Disable	Set this option to Enable to allow you to access the User Management system, where you can manage the user roles and control the access to various functions in the Mantis software. For more information, see User Management.
Require Edit Reason	No	The Require Edit Reason feature requires users to provide an explanation for their dispense list edits in the Save Dispense List Confirmation window. Save Dispense List Confirmation Window This explanation will be listed in the Dispense List History. Set this option to Yes to force the user to describe the reason for modifying the dispense list. Setting this option to No will still allow the user to add the message, but will not force an entry prior to saving changes.
Password Expiration Period (in Months)*	12	Define the password expiration period. For unlimited password duration, set this option to 0.
Minimum Password Length*	8	Define the number of characters in a password. The minimum number of characters is 8.
Special Character Required in a Password*	No	Set this option to Yes to require at least one special character in a password. The special characters include: ,.;:'_\|/\&^*-?!()[]{}=#$+"%<>~
Number Required in a Password*	No	Set this option to Yes to require at least one number to be in a password.
Upper and Lowercase Letter Required in a Password*	No	Set this option to Yes to require at least one uppercase and lowercase letter in a password.
Maximum Failed Login Attempts*	5	Determine the maximum number of failed login attempts. Set this option to 0 to allow unlimited attempts. Note: This setting will be applied to every user that has access to the User & Role Management feature.
Send Email When Failed to Login	Always	Determine whether or not Mantis will send a notification email when a registered users fails a login attempt. The available options are: Always: Mantis will always send a notification to the administrator if any registered user account fails a login attempt. Never: Mantis will never send notification emails for failed login attempts. When User Account Locked: Mantis will send a notification email only when a registered user account is locked due to reaching the maximum number of failed login attempts.

*This option is available if the User Control is set to Enable.

Stage Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Stage area.

Option	Description
Stage Origin	Original stage position, which can be used as reference values.
Stage Offset in X Axis	The stage offset values in the X axis to solve any sloping positions.
Stage Offset in Y Axis	The stage offset values in Y axis to solve any sloping positions.

Support Settings

See the table below for detailed explanations of each option found in the Support area.

Option	Description
Mail To	The email address to which the error notification will be sent.
Is Notify Immediately	Determines whether the software will automatically send an email notification to FORMULATRIX team support, in the event of an error.
SMPTP Server	Determines the SMTP server associated with your email address.
SMPTP Port	Determines the SMTP port number associated with your email address.
SMPTP UserName	Determines the SMTP user name associated with your email address.
SMTP Password	Determines the SMTP password used.
SMTP Enable SSL	Allows you to choose if your SMTP server supports SSL.
Attach Log Files	Allows the software to send zipped log files via email.
Number of Log Files to Attach	Determines how many log files will be attached in an email.

Using the Options Menu

Options

Advanced Options

Related Topics