Gathering GC Diagnostics Log Files Using the Agilent Acquisition Software

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent OpenLab CDS, OpenLab ChemStation, OpenLab EZChrom, MassHunter Acquisition Software for GC/MS Systems, and Agilent 7890/7820/8890/8860/Intuvo 9000 GC Systems

Issue

When you are working on troubleshooting an Agilent GC system with an Agilent support representative, you may need to provide the GC diagnostics logs.

This article shows how to get the files using the Agilent acquisition software.

Requirements

The user extracting the Log Files requires the corresponding privileges in the acquisition software to perform this task.

Hint: If you have an 8890/8860/Intuvo 9000 Smart GC, you can also gather the log files from the Browser Interface. See the following article:Gathering Diagnostics Log Files from the 8890/8860/Intuvo 9000 GC Systems Using the Browser Interface

Steps to Follow

1. Get to the Maintenance screen in the Agilent acquisition software:
   OpenLab CDS
   OpenLab ChemStation
   OpenLab EZChrom
   MassHunter acquisition software for GC/MS systems
    
   
   • OpenLab CDS
     

     1. Launch the Acquisition screen.

     2. From the top Ribbon Bar, click the Control tab.

        
        Figure 1. Locating the Control tab in OpenLab CDS

     3. On the left side of the Ribbon Bar, click Maintenance. (See Figure 2)

        
        
        Figure 2. Locating the Maintenance option in the Control tab 

     4. Go to Step 2.
        
        
        
   • OpenLab ChemStation
     

     1. Launch the Acquisition screen.

     2. On the bottom left of the acquisition screen, click the Method and Run Control tab (It should be selected already by default when opening the acquisition screen).

     3. From the main menu bar, click Instrument > Maintenance. (See Figure 3)

         
        
        Figure 3. Acquisition - Locating the Maintenance option in the OpenLab CDS ChemStation Software.

     4. Go to Step 2
        
        
        
   • OpenLab EZChrom
     

     1. Launch the Acquisition screen.

     2. From the main menu, click Control > Agilent [Instrument] > Maintenance according to your GC model (i.e: 7890, 8890, 9000. See Figure 4)

        
        
        Figure 4. Locating the Maintenance option in the OpenLab CDS EZChrom Software.
        

     3. Go to Step 2
        
        

   • MassHunter acquisition software for GC/MS systems

     1. Launch the Acquisition screen.
        

     2. From the main menu bar, click Instrument > Maintenance. (See Figure 5) 

        
        
        Figure 5. Locating the Maintenance option in MassHunter acquisition software for GC/MS systems.

     3. Go to Step 2

        
        
        
2. Gather the log files (common steps for Agilent acquisition software products):
   

   1. From the Maintenance screen, click the Gather Logs... button.

      
      Figure 6. Locating the Gather Logs option within the Maintenance screen of any Agilent Software.

   2. Click the New Log... button.

      
      Figure 7. Creating a new log file.
      

   3. Add comments in the Customer Comments section. (See Figure 8)

   4. Click the Begin button (See Figure 8)

      At this point, a new report should be generated, with a progress bar showing at the bottom of the Diagnostic Reports screen.

       
      
      Figure 8.  Diagnostic Reports Window - generating the report.

       

      When completed, you will see an entry under Available Diagnostics Report, with details on the system serial number it was generated for.

   5. Select the report and then click Copy.

      
      Figure 9.  Selecting and copying the report.

      You will see the message Report copied successfully to PC, with the indicated location of the logs (Documents folder on the PC).

3. Send the report to the Agilent service representative.