Split stream channels combined during import

drewalevy

Hi All,

I am trying to import laser ablation split stream data into Iolite 4 which was collected on two Themo Element2 ICP's. Both the U-Pb and TE data sets have a 238U channel. When I import the data (.FIN2 files) the 238U channels are combined into a single 238U channel. The result is shown in the attached image.

I cannot find a way to split the channels once imported. Help?

Thanks!
Drew Levy

Bence

Hi Drew,

When you have two instruments of the same type for split stream work, iolite won't know that there are actually two different instruments (iolite just knows what type of instrument created each file). To avoid this, you can set a different machine name for the second instrument before you import the data. To do this, click and hold on the 'Import file' button in the Files Browser in iolite. This will show some import settings. For the second instrument, you can change the Machine Name option to something other than default, and iolite will then recognise the data as coming from a different Element.

If that doesn't work, please let us know.

Kind regards,
Bence

drewalevy

Hi Bence,

Thank you for the assistance. This somewhat worked, however the problem is not quite solved. When i import the files from the second instrument, Iolite creates a new U238 channel for each file (I have individual .FIN2 files for each analysis). Below is a screenshot of this.

This may not typically be an issue, but Iolite has been crashing in the DRS.

My thought is I may need to write my own importer and give the channels which were collected on both instruments different names. Maybe U238a and U238b.

Thanks,
Drew

Bence

Hi Drew,

It shouldn't be a problem: we know of several labs doing this (albeit with different instrument types).

Would you mind sending us some example files (raw data files) along with an experiment file that you've observed crashing? If you could please send it to iolite's support email address, we can hopefully get it sorted out.

Kind regards,
Bence

drewalevy

Hi Bence,

I will send along the files.

I did figure out a solution that works for now. I have to (1) import my TE data, (2) remove the U238 channel using the code data.removeTimeSeries("U238"), (3) change the machine name as you instructed above, (4) use Data Syncer to sink all the files, then (4) upload the laser log file. This works fine, but the obvious downside is I lose my U238 data collected in the TE run.

Thanks,
Drew