Audit Trail - "Method: Configuration has changed."

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent OpenLab CDS software (Rev 2.x) controlling Agilent GC systems.

Issue

After loading an acquisition method, the audit trail shows warning with a description starting with the following statement: "Method: Configuration has changed. The following parts of the Method are Not Consistent with the GC Configuration". The previous message is followed by a description of the differences in the column configuration.

Background

The root cause of the issue is a difference in column configuration between the current acquisition method and the column configuration stored in the instrument.

The acquisition method stores the last known column configuration. If another user changed the column configuration from the GC, or the software, and a different user loads the method without resolving the differences, this message will appear in the audit trail.

Locking the column will not prevent or fix the issue. (see How to Lock/Unlock GC Columns with Agilent OpenLab CDS )

Resolution:

 
Option 1: Uploading column configuration from the instrument

1. Make sure that the method loaded in the instrument has all the parameters required for the analytical method.

2. Change the column dimensions on the GC instrument matching the dimensions of the column that is currently installed.

   • For the 7890 GC system, see: Column Configuration for the 7890 GC System

   • For the 8890/8860 GC system, see: Column Configuration for the 8860/8890 GC System

3. Upload the method from the instrument

   1. Launch the acquisition screen.

   2. In the top ribbon, go to the Home tab and click the Method button (see Figure 1)

   3. Click the third right-most icon, as indicated in Figure 1

      
      
      Figure 1. Upload method button
      
      

      This action will retrieve the current method from the instrument and will overwrite the method parameters in the software acquisition method.

   4. Save the method or save it with a different name.

Option 2: Downloading the column configuration to the instrument

1. Launch the Acquisition screen.

2. In the top ribbon, go to the Home tab and click the Method button

    

3. In the Instrument Setup section, go to Configuration > Columns (See Figure 2)

   
   
   Figure 2. Column Configuration
   
   

4. Make sure that the correct column is configured and if necessary, update the column dimensions. See: GC Column Configuration Using OpenLab CDS Software

5. Send the method to the instrument

   1. In the top ribbon, go to the Home tab and click the Method button (See Figure 3)

   2. Click the second right-most icon, as indicated in Figure 3

      
      
      Figure 3. Send method to instrument button

      This action sends the current OpenLab CDS method parameters to the instrument (including column configuration).

6. When a different user logs in, make sure they upload the method from the instrument (See Option 1).