Chromperfect Profile Editor – Setting User Search Directories
- Chromperfect
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
Introduction to Chromperfect Profile Editor
The Profile Editor in Chromperfect is an essential utility that allows users and administrators to configure search directories, user preferences, acquisition server host names, and printer settings. By tailoring these settings, laboratories can streamline workflows, enforce consistency, and reduce errors when handling chromatography data files.
This article provides a detailed overview of how to use the Profile Editor effectively within Chromperfect.
The Profile Editor
The primary purpose of the Profile Editor is to specify search directory paths. These paths allow users to reference files by name without needing to enter the full path. Chromperfect automatically checks the search directories and prepends the correct path for the first directory containing the named file.
In multi-user environments, each user can define their own search paths.
In single-user mode, all users share the same paths.
Search directories are station-local, meaning they must be configured on each workstation individually.
Managing the Search Paths
The Profile Editor displays search directories in a spreadsheet format:
Add Paths: Insert new rows to add additional directories.
Delete Paths: Remove unused or outdated paths.
Edit Paths: Manually type in a path or browse for directories.
Reorder Paths: Use move up/down controls to change the search order, determining which directory Chromperfect checks first.
If duplicate files exist in multiple directories, Chromperfect will prioritize the first path in the list.
Standard Search Directories
To ensure consistency, administrators can define standard search directories:
These directories are appended automatically when the “Append Standard Search Directories” option is selected.
Only administrators can set or update these defaults.
Standard directories appear at the bottom of the list but can still be edited or removed by users.
This feature helps labs manage shared storage locations while still allowing individual customization.
Automatic Creation of Search Directories
When a user saves directory paths, Chromperfect verifies that the directories exist:
If a directory or its parent folders are missing, Chromperfect prompts the user.
Options include Yes, Yes to All, No, and No to All, allowing flexible handling.
Selecting “Yes” or “Yes to All” automatically creates the missing folders.
This ensures that directory structures remain valid and usable.
Acquisition Server Host Names
In large corporate networks, displaying every host can be impractical. The Profile Editor allows users to:
Define a list of host names of interest.
Restrict host name lists to only relevant servers.
This simplifies the configuration process when working with remote acquisitions.
User Preferences
The User Preferences tab includes several advanced options:
Acquisition Settings:
Control whether setpoint files are downloaded each time or only when filenames change.
Restrict downloads to specific methods by embedding the instrument name in the file description.
File Browser Settings:
Choose between the Windows browser or Chromperfect’s custom browser with preview.
Retain preferred sorting and view options between sessions.
These options allow users to tailor Chromperfect’s behavior to their workflow.
User Printer List
For environments with multiple printers, Chromperfect supports printer aliases:
Up to eight custom printer slots can be assigned to different printers.
Format files can reference these aliases, ensuring reports print to the correct device regardless of user or workstation.
If “None” is selected, the report will not print.
This alias system is especially useful in shared lab environments with label printers, report printers, or specialized hardware.
The User Profile Printout
Chromperfect provides a printout of the user profile, summarizing configured search directories, preferences, and printer assignments. This record ensures that administrators and auditors can confirm settings across multiple stations.
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