As we saw previously, a worklist is essentially a CSV or a text file with information (commands consisting of individual lines or records with data and instructions) for the liquid handler machines. Exporting an epMotion worklist from TeselaGen's LIMS results in a .csv file following this format:
Source Rack, Source Well, Destination Rack, Destination Well, Transfer Volume, Tool.
Transfer volumes are in μL.
Wells are identified through alphanumeric coordinates.
Source rack, Destination rack, and Tool are set to 1 by default (see below for alternate inputs for tool number).
The tool numbers in the CSV file must correspond to the dispensing tools as follows:
1 = TS_50
2 = TS_300
3 = TS_1000
TM tools cannot be used. It is recommended to avoid frequent tool changes within a method.
epMotion Editor Software Manual
‘Importing commands from CSV file’ (pages 38 to 49)
If you use Microsoft Excel to create or edit a CSV file for import, ensure that the standard separator for lists is a comma and the decimal symbol is a period ( (i.e., in Windows, under Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region > Change date, time, or number formats > Formats > Additional Settings > List separator & Decimal symbol). Save your edited table in CSV format before closing Excel.)
The values in the six columns of the CSV file must begin in line two and continue without gaps. Below the values, there must be no further entries because this would be interpreted as a command during import and would cause errors.
If a row begins with '#' it is interpreted as a comment and will not be imported.
A maximum of 500 transfer commands can be imported into a method of the epMotion Editor from a CSV file, but only 102 commands can be transferred to the Control Panel.
The rack numbers stated as source and destination locations in the CSV file must correspond to the number of racks defined in the first Sample Transfer command that you add to the method manually before importing the file.
Please refer to the manual for specific steps for ‘Importing a CSV file’ (page 40)