In a protocol, outputs can be exposed to display real-time information about the liquids generated by specific steps. This allows users to dynamically see how modifications to protocol parameters affect the outputs.
This feature makes use of the element outputs functionality. Learn more about this here.
Enabling Outputs
To display outputs for a specific element (e.g., a standard), navigate to the Define Protocols interface and toggle the inputs and outputs on. Outputs can be made available from any element in the workflow, not just liquid-handling elements. For example, you can append outputs from different steps (e.g., sample and standard aliquot steps) to provide a comprehensive view of the assay plate at a particular workflow stage.
Follow the steps below to enable outputs for each step in your protocol:
Navigate to the define protocol window,
Select the outputs tab in the left-hand panel
Click on the element from which you want to expose the output
Toggle the output parameter you want to expose in the parameter panel on the right-hand side.
Adding Additional Outputs
You can add more outputs by including additional steps in the protocol. A step does not need to contain both inputs and outputs. For instance, you might want to add a step to display a final plate map for validation.
Describing Outputs
In the "Personalize Protocol" step, you can view and add descriptions for the configured outputs. This includes a preview of the plate layout or a table view of the outputs.
Note that for certain outputs, such as liquid handling steps where the “Let Synthace Optimize” replaicate grouping parameter is selected, a preview may not be available. However, the table view can still be displayed.
Defining Combined Outputs
If you have multiple input liquids defined across various elements, you can display them in a single output. Although each protocol step can show only one output at a time, you can use an append element to combine outputs from multiple elements. This allows for a clearer presentation of all relevant liquids, such as diluents, samples, and reagents.
Conclusion
By configuring outputs effectively, you can enhance the usability of your protocol, providing clear visibility into the liquids involved at each step. This documentation serves as a guide to streamline the process of managing outputs within your workflow.