Omega Software Manual – Part I: Installation BMG LABTECH

Part I: Installation
Version 5.70

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Omega Software Manual – Part I: Installation BMG LABTECH

This manual was designed to guide Omega software users through the software features.
Although these instructions were carefully written and checked, we cannot accept responsibility for problems encountered when using
this manual. Suggestions for improving this manual will be gratefully accepted.
BMG LABTECH reserves the right to change or update this manual at any time. The revision number is stated at the bottom of every
page.

Copyright © 2007-2020 BMG LABTECH. All rights reserved. All BMG LABTECH brand and product names are trademarks of BMG LABTECH. Other brand
and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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BMG LABTECH Omega Software Manual – Part I: Installation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Installation 4
1.1 System Requirements 4
1.2 Software Structure 4
1.3 Upgrading 4
1.4 Installation Menu 4
1.5 Control Software Installation 5
1.5.1 WELCOME SCREEN 5
1.5.2 SETUP TYPE 5
1.5.3 SMART UPGRADE 5
1.5.4 CUSTOM INSTALLATION 6
1.5.5 READER TYPE PRE-SELECTION 6
1.5.6 DATA BASE CONVERSION 6
1.5.7 BACKUP FILES 6
1.6 MARS Data Analysis Installation 7
1.7 Uninstalling the Omega Software 7

2 Using Multiple Installations 7

3 Support 8

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1 Installation
1.1 System Requirements
▪ Computer with Windows operating system (Windows Vista / ▪ 1 GB free hard disk memory for software installation
7 / 8 / 8.1 or 10) ▪ Minimum screen resolution 1280 x 900 pixels
▪ Minimum 1 GB RAM (we recommend 4 GB or more) ▪ One free USB port

1.2 Software Structure

The Omega software is comprised of two components: the It is possible to install the two parts onto two different
Control part and the Data Analysis part. computers, e.g. the control part onto a computer in the
laboratory and the data analysis part onto a computer in an
The control software is necessary for configuring the instrument,
office. By storing the measurement data onto a network drive
for setting up test parameters and for executing measurement
you would be able to perform the data processing in your office
procedures. The control software can store the measurement
instead of the laboratory. It is not necessary to install BMG
data in Absolute data base and/or ASCII format.
LABTECH’s Data Analysis software, if you want to use different
BMG LABTECH’s data analysis software can be used to perform Data Analysis software or if you want to use a LIMS.
all kinds of data processing.
Please follow the next set of instructions carefully to ensure
In a few words: the control software is used to get the results proper installation of the software.
and the data analysis software is used to look at them.

1.3 Upgrading
Please go to the next chapter if there is not a previously installed Notes: The installation program will create a backup of the
version of the Omega software. existing test protocols, the user database, the filter table,
microplate definitions, and measurement data when the
Before installing a new software version over an existing version
data base format has been converted or files have been
it is recommended to export (or to backup) test protocols and
replaced during the upgrade procedure. At the end of the
microplate definitions (if any changes have been made) and to
installation procedure there will be a window directing
export measurement data. The Export function can be found in
the user to the location of the backup files. As long as the
the test protocol selection window (‘Protocols | Manage
database format has not been changed (see above) it is
Protocols’ inside the Microplate tab and inside the LVis Plate tab)
possible to copy the backup files back to their original
for test protocols. Use ‘Program | Manage Microplates’ inside
directory (in case you want restore previous data).
the Settings tab for microplate definitions. Select all the
However, if there has been a format change, backup files
definitions to be exported and click the ‘Export’ button.
can only be used after re-installing the old program
To export measurement data of already performed test runs, version.
start the MARS Data Analysis software. The Export function is in
For complete removal of an old software version see
the test run selection window of MARS (see Software manual
chapter 1.7. De-installation of an older version is
part III).
generally not necessary; it is possible to install the new
version directly over an existing version.

1.4 Installation Menu

Connect the USB stick to the computer. Then execute the From this installation menu, the user can start the installation of
program ‘Start’ from the root directory of the USB drive. An the control and the data analysis part of the Omega program
installation menu will appear: and/or read the manuals online.
Note: It is necessary that the installation is performed by a user
with administrative rights.

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1.5 Control Software Installation

Click on ‘Install Control Software’ and follow the instructions If this is the first installation of the software it is possible to
from the installation wizard. choose either Full Installation or Custom Installation:
▪ Full installation will install the programs with all options. This
1.5.1 Welcome Screen is the installation option recommended for most users.
▪ Custom installation allows the user to choose the options to
It is possible to install this program more than once (see chapter install and is recommended for advanced users.
2 Using Multiple Installations). Up to 9 installations are possible.
This can be useful if more than one reader is connected to one It is possible to choose the start menu entry in the section for all
computer. users or in the section for the current user only.

If the software is already installed on the computer, the user will It is possible to choose whether the program should be usable
be prompted to choose either to upgrade/repair an existing also for non-power users. If this box is not checked, the program
installation or to create a new installation. If an older software might not be usable for non-power users (depending on the
version is already installed, please perform an upgrade of the operating system or the current setting of the system policies on
existing, older version first (Upgrade program installation #1). If your computer: beginning with Windows 2000, Microsoft
the software is not currently installed, create installation number changed the default access permissions for some registry keys
one by performing a standard full installation (see screen shot and newly installed program files in a way that a non-power user
below). To create a new installation, please start the control is, by default, not able to use nearly any newly installed program
software installation again. On the Welcome screen you should other than some Microsoft certified programs). When this option
now select 'Create new installation (#2)'. is chosen, the access permission is changed for the BMG
LABTECH registry keys and files to enable program usage for all
users. For more information about access rights, see chapter
Known Problems and Solutions in Software manual part II.

1.5.3 Smart Upgrade

When upgrading from a previous version it is necessary to
choose between Smart Upgrade and Custom Installation:

1.5.2 Setup Type

Using the next screen select the setup type:

Using the Smart Upgrade mode none of the existing user, filter,
test protocol or measurement result data bases will be
overwritten. If there has been a data base format change
between the installed and the new version, the existing data
bases will be automatically converted and a backup of the old
files will be created. By default, only the microplate data base
will be replaced, as BMG LABTECH might have added new
microplate types. Please use the Custom Installation mode and
deselect the ‘Microplate Definitions’ group, if you want to keep
the existing microplate definitions. You should also use the
Custom Installation mode if you want to replace any of the other
data bases.

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1.5.4 Custom Installation 1.5.6 Data Base Conversion

When using the custom installation mode, the next window When performing an upgrade it might be necessary to convert
displays a list of the components that can be installed during the the format of certain data bases due to new functions. This will
setup. be done automatically. If a high number of test runs have been
performed, this conversion procedure might last quite long
(anything between a few minutes and in extreme cases up to
several hours).

It is possible to cancel the conversion procedure for the

measurement data base. If you do so, you will get a new, empty
measurement data base. The old data base will be moved to a
backup folder: <Install_Dir>\Backup\<User>_<Date>_<Time>.
You can re-import (and convert) the measurement data from the
old data base at a later point in time using the test runs import
function of the MARS Data Analysis Software. Inside the import
dialogue select as file type 'Test Runs data base (*.abs)'.

By selecting an item by clicking the box next to it, a description of

the individual software component option will be displayed. The 1.5.7 Backup Files
user can then decide if this option should be installed. If the data The installation program will create a backup of the existing test
base format of a group that not has been selected has been protocols, the user database, the filter table, microplate
changed, it will automatically be converted. definitions and measurement data when performing an upgrade
if files have been replaced or if the data base format has been
changed. At the end of the installation procedure there will be a
1.5.5 Reader Type Pre-Selection window telling you where to find the backup files.
During the installation the user will be asked for the type of
reader to be used. The Omega software can be used for the
FLUOstar Omega, LUMIstar Omega, POLARstar Omega,
SPECTROstar Omega and NEPHELOstar Plus readers. Depending
on the reader type, test protocols using different measurement
methods can be defined and executed. The selection made here
is only used as a pre-selection for the software. If the reader is
connected and switched on, the control part of the software will
automatically recognize the correct reader type. If there is no
connection to a reader, you can select the reader type using the
menu command ‘Setup | Reader Type’ (see software manual
part II: Control Software).

As long as the database format has not been changed (see

chapter 1.3 Upgrading) it is possible to copy the backup files back
to their original directory (to restore previous data). However, if
there has been a format change, backup files can only be used
after re-installing the old program version or after manually
converting these files into the new data base format.

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1.6 MARS Data Analysis Installation

After installation of the control software, the main menu will existing newer MARS files will not be overwritten. Should you
reappear. Click ‘Install MARS’ to install the BMG LABTECH’s new really which to downgrade an existing MARS installation to an
generation Data Analysis software. Follow the instructions of the older version, this can be achieved by using the ‘Custom
installation wizard to install the software (the installation installation’ option and by selecting the MARS program files in
procedure and options are similar to the control software the next tab of the installation program. When the downgrade
installation, see above). mode is active, the sub title in the ‘Installation type’ dialogue
under ‘Smart Upgrade’ will be changed to ‘MARS will be installed
When trying to install an older MARS version onto a computer,
for <reader family name>.’ instead of ‘The program will be
where a newer MARS version already exists, only the reader
installed with all options.’. Please note: this special downgrade
specific files and registry keys will be installed (by default). This
option does not exist in any MARS installation program before
means, MARS will be unlocked for the selected reader, but the
MARS V3.10!

1.7 Uninstalling the Omega Software

An uninstall program has been included in the software package ▪ Select ‘Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove
which allows users to delete all components of the software and Software’.
all registry entries belonging to it.
▪ Select Omega and click on ‘Remove’.
▪ In the ‘Remove Omega’ window click the ‘Start’ button.

To uninstall the data analysis software select ‘BMG LABTECH

MARS Data Analysis’ and click on ‘Remove’. In the ‘Remove BMG
LABTECH MARS Data Analysis’ window, click on ‘Start’. Please
note: the data analysis software might also be used for other
BMG LABTECH readers, not only for the Omega.

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2 Using Multiple Installations

It is possible to install the control part of the Omega program number 2 to 9 will be shown in the caption of the main program
more than once. You can create up to 9 program installations. window and of the login screen.
This will be useful if more than one reader is connected to one
computer. Please see chapter 1.5 Control Software Installation
for a description how to create a new installation. If you have
created more than one installation, you will find a separate
This number will also be displayed in the Windows task bar:
desktop icon and a separate start menu entry for each
installation:

The Data Analysis software MARS needs to be installed only

once; nevertheless, it is possible to use this one installation to
perform data reduction tasks for data created by all control part
installations. A start menu entry and a desktop icon will
It is possible to use the different program installations totally automatically be created for each existing (control part)
independently. All settings, e.g. the communication port to be installation.
used, the test protocols and the measurement data will be When using the ASCII export function, it is possible to define the
stored independently. The program installation (instance) target directories independently in all program installations.

3 Support
For any problems / questions regarding the software / the Note: For support due to a software / firmware malfunction,
instruments, visit our web page (http://www.bmglabtech.com) please send the run log file together with the error
and read the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) on the Support description. Please always tell us the serial number of the
page. If an answer cannot be found there, please use our on-line reader and the software and Windows versions (see
bug report form: ‘System Information’). It is recommended to use the
BMG LABTECH support tool, accessible via the application
http://www.bmglabtech.com/en/support/technical-support/
button menu.
Alternatively contact BMG LABTECH using the following email
addresses:
▪ Problems / questions regarding software:
[email protected]
▪ Problems / questions regarding the instruments:
[email protected]

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