Question

Answer

First you will need to make sure that you are using SmartCapture version 2.1 or newer. If you are using an older version contact us for details on how to upgrade. You can click on the 'contact us' link at the bottom of this page.

SmartCapture 2.1 can export images in a format readable by the POWERGENE™ karyotyper. The files are exported into a directory structure. Since SmartCapture and the POWERGENE™ karyotyper both run on the Macintosh, it is possible to configure SmartCapture PowerGene Export to export the file, then automatically open the exported file in PowerGene.

At the time of writing this document, the only the POWERGENE™ karyotyper application to support import from SmartCapture is MacProbe v4.3.

Using PowerGene Export

• If you intend to export an image and automatically have it transferred into PowerGene, then you should make sure that the PowerGene application is open and the initial splash screen has been dismissed, then return to the SmartCapture application.
  
  
• Open the image that you wish to export to PowerGene.
  
  
• PowerGene maintains a notion of which plane in a multiple image is the key plane, this is usually the counterstain plane. You can use the SmartCapture image palette to nominate the counterstain plane. Make sure the 'Histograms' tab is selected and that the 'More Info' check box is checked. Select the counterstain plane from the 'Counterstain' popup menu. Note if you fail to do this PowerGene may take the wrong plane as it's key plane, however, this is easily reset with a single mouse click in PowerGene.

• From the "DS Scriptable Buttons" palette, click on the PowerGene Export button .

• If this is the first time that PowerGene Export has been used, a dialog will be displayed inviting you to specify the location of the PowerGene export directory, the directory in which the exported files will be placed.

• If this is the first time that PowerGene Export has been used, a further dialog will be displayed inviting you to locate of the PowerGene application. This will allow SmartCapture to automatically transfer the exported images direct into PowerGene. Click on 'Cancel' if you just intend to export the file without automatically transferring it to PowerGene.
  
  

• The exported files should now be in the export directory. If you have nominated the PowerGene application, control is transferred to PowerGene and a new PowerGene window is opened displaying the exported images.

Changing the Export Directory or Location of the PowerGene Application

On subsequent exports, you will not be prompted for the export directory or the location of the PowerGene application. If you need to change these, delete the file called "PSIConfiguration" which can be found in the "System Folder/Preferences/SmartCapture2 Prefs/" folder. The next time you use PowerGene Export you will be reprompted for the information.

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