Clarity Launch Manager - Overview

Introduction

Modern chromatographic laboratories often operate instruments with multiple detector configurations. Depending on the analytical task, an operator may need to run measurements using all available detectors or only a selected subset. Reconfiguring the system manually each time can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Launch Manager is a lightweight utility designed to address this challenge by enabling users to start Clarity Chromatography Software with predefined configurations, known as profiles. Each profile launches Clarity with a specific instrument setup, streamlining daily workflows and reducing setup time.

This article provides a detailed explanation of how to use Launch Manager to create, duplicate, and manage multiple Clarity configurations, using a practical example with LED and PDA detectors.

Purpose of Launch Manager

Launch Manager allows users to:

• Define multiple startup profiles for Clarity
• Associate each profile with a dedicated configuration file
• Quickly switch between different detector setups
• Automatically open selected instruments and projects
• Create desktop shortcuts for direct access to specific configurations

This approach is particularly useful in laboratories where instruments are frequently reconfigured or shared between different analytical tasks.

Example Scenario: LED and PDA Detector Configurations

In this example, two operational scenarios are required:

1. LED + PDA configuration
   Used when both detectors are needed simultaneously.
2. LED-only configuration
   Used when measurements are performed using only the LED detector.

Instead of manually enabling or disabling detectors each time, Launch Manager allows both scenarios to be prepared in advance as independent profiles.

Accessing Launch Manager

Launch Manager can be opened in two ways:

• From the Windows Start Menu
• Directly from the Clarity installation folder

Once launched, the main window displays all existing profiles available on the system.

Understanding the Launch Manager Main Window

The main interface provides:

• A list of all defined profiles
• Options to launch a selected profile
• Access to profile management via Edit Profiles

From this window, users can either start Clarity using an existing profile or create and modify profiles as needed.

Creating a New Profile

Step 1: Open Profile Editor

• Click Edit Profiles
• Select Add to create a new profile

Step 2: Define Profile Information

For each profile:

• Enter a profile name (e.g., LED + PDA)
• Optionally add a short description to clearly identify the setup

Clear naming is recommended, especially when multiple configurations are used regularly.

Assigning a Configuration File

Each Launch Manager profile is linked to a Clarity configuration file, which defines:

• Which devices are assigned to each instrument
• How many instruments are available
• Which detectors are enabled

For the LED + PDA profile:

• Select an existing configuration that already includes both detectors
• Duplicate the configuration and save it under a new name

This ensures that each profile has its own independent configuration file.

Automatic Instrument and Project Loading

Launch Manager allows additional startup behavior to be defined:

• Automatically open Instrument 1 after Clarity starts
• Automatically load a selected Work Project

This further reduces manual steps after launching the software.

Creating Desktop Shortcuts

For faster access, Launch Manager can generate:

• A dedicated desktop shortcut for each profile

Using shortcuts, Clarity can be started directly with the required configuration, without opening Launch Manager first.

Duplicating an Existing Profile

To create the LED-only setup:

1. Duplicate the existing LED + PDA profile
2. Duplicate the associated configuration file again
3. Save the new configuration under a different name

Duplicating profiles ensures consistency while minimizing setup effort.

Modifying the Configuration (Removing the PDA Detector)

Step 1: Launch the Profile

• Close the profile editor
• Start Clarity by double-clicking the new profile or clicking Launch

Step 2: Edit Configuration in Clarity

• Open the configuration editor using the standard Clarity workflow
• Remove the PDA detector from the device configuration
• Confirm changes by clicking OK

The modifications are saved directly into the configuration associated with the active Launch Manager profile.

Finalizing and Using Profiles

After completing the configuration adjustments:

• Both profiles are fully prepared:
  • LED + PDA
  • LED only
• Users can switch between setups simply by selecting the appropriate profile

No further configuration changes are required when switching between measurement modes.

Verifying the Active Configuration

When opening the LED + PDA profile:

• The Device Monitor confirms that both detectors are connected
• Both detectors are ready for simultaneous operation

This visual verification ensures that the correct configuration is active before measurements begin.

Benefits of Using Launch Manager

Implementing Launch Manager provides several practical advantages:

• Faster startup with predefined setups
• Reduced risk of configuration errors
• Easy management of multiple detector combinations
• Improved daily efficiency in multi-instrument environments

By separating configurations into clearly defined profiles, laboratories can maintain flexibility without sacrificing reliability.

Conclusion

Launch Manager is a simple yet powerful tool for organizing and managing multiple Clarity configurations. By creating dedicated profiles for different detector combinations, users can switch between analytical setups quickly and consistently.

This approach is especially valuable in laboratories with shared instruments, variable detector usage, or frequent method changes. Proper use of Launch Manager can save time every day while ensuring correct and reproducible instrument operation.