Release date: 6-May-2010

PATCHMASTER 2.53

New Features
Current Clamp Gain The CC Gain setting of each amplifier is now stored in the configuration file, and reloaded upon startup.
Rs compensation A new "off" button in the EPC 10 amplifier window sets RsComp to 0%. It is useful to de-activate Rs-compensation and bridge balance by on key stroke (numeric-0, i.e. “panic knob”), when oscillations start.
Startup Protocols The startup protocol files are now in the sub-directory “Setup_Protocols”.
Recording Mode Default recording mode is now whole-cell mode. The old default setting required the user to know that in on-cell mode one has to apply positive holding to hyperpolarize the cell. To highlight that change, the 2 former icons “SET-UP” and “ON-CELL” are renamed to “SETUP” and “SEAL”. The appropriate protocol file is loaded and immediately stored as DefProt.pro (if no such file exists)

PATCHMASTER 2.53

Known Bugs
EPC 8 Remote mode does not work. Upon starting Patchmaster, the software brings up the error message "EPC 8 is not in REMOTE mode anymore!". Even after clicking on "Set Remote", the amplifier cannot be controlled by the software. With this Patchmaster version, the EPC 8 can only be used in local mode.

Release date: 2-Mar-2010

PATCHMASTER 2.52

New Features
Important Note! EPC 9 users should NOT install that version, since the Current Clamp mode of EPC 9 amplifiers does not work with that version.
Please install Patchmaster 2.43 instead. Patchmaster 2.43 can be downloaded from our FTP server.
Support of new Hardware Patchmaster 2.52 supports the new EPC 10 board revisions "Q" (EPC 10 Plus), "R" (EPC 10 USB), and "S" (EPC 10). The new amplifier boards are equipped with an extended EEPROM, that allows to store the calibration information in the amplifier instead of writting it to a scale file. The calibration routine of Patchmaster automatically writes the new calibration settings into the EEPROM of the EPC 10.

The new EPC 800 amplifier is supported by Patchmaster 2.52. The amplifier can either be used in "Remote Mode" or in "Local Mode". In "Remote Mode" all settings (e.g gain, filter, recording mode) of the amplifier are under control of the software.
In "Local Mode" the amplifier can be controlled manually and most amplifier settings are read by the software.

Support of the new Oocyte clamp amplifier iTEV 90.
Control Window A new Control Window is now used for starting protocols or PGF sequences. The number of buttons for starting a protocol can be increased up to 40 in the configuration dialog (display section) of Patchmaster. The Protocol editor and the pulse generator are now only required for editing protocols or PGF sequences.
Macros The macro functionality has been taken over by the protocol editor. Similar to the macro recording function of previous versions, a recording button in the protocol editor window allows for recording sequences of mouse clicks and to store these sequences in a protocol. Existing macros from older Patchmaster versions can be converted to a protocol.

Release date: 20-Jul-2009

PATCHMASTER 2.43

Fixed Bugs
Continuous Acquisition with EPC 10 USB / LIH 8+8 Under certain conditions (at least 2 channels, long acquisition) a continuous acquisition from a LIH 8+8 interface or an EPC 10 USB amplifier could suddenly stop before the end of the recording had been reached. Only USB devices were affected.

Release date: 5-Jun-2009

PATCHMASTER 2.42

New Features
Support of new Hardware Patchmaster 2.42 supports the new EPC 10 board revisions "M" (EPC 10 Plus), "N" (EPC 10 USB), and "O" (EPC 10). Amplifers with the new boards ...
  • ... have an extended CFast compensation range in low and medium gain range. The range could be extended by a factor of about 10x. With this extended compensation range, the noise in lipid bilayer experiments can be significantly reduced, by fully compensating for the huge fast capacitance in these experiments.
  • ... have an option for by-passing "Filter2". In the amplifier dialog of PATCHMASTER, the filter characteristic can now be set either to "Bessel", "Butterworth" or "Bypass". If "Bypass" is selected, then the Filter 2 current signal is only filtered by Filter 1. "Imon2" in the pulse generator then records the Filter1 current signal.
  • ... support an additional 3-Electrode Mode. With an optional "3-electrode headstage", EPC 10 amplifiers can now use an additional electrode. The three electrodes are GND, REF, and working electrode (pipette, headstage input). In 3-Electrode Mode the potential between GND and REF electrode is measured and added to the potential between Working Electrode and GND. This allows to use the amplifier under conditions where the bath resistance has to be taken into account, particularely in electrochemical experiments.
LockIn Cm measurements with Square waves In the new Patchmaster version, square waves instead of sine waves can be used as stimulus in LockIn membrane capacitance recordings. Under certain conditions, this helps to reduce the variance of the Cm traces.
Naming of values In Patchmaster 2.40, the number of values has been increased from 16 to 32. In order to make it easier to use these values, it is now possible to entitle these values in the configuration dialog of PATCHMASTER (I/O Control section).
Scaling of DA outputs DA outputs can now be scaled by three different ways in the configuration dialog of PATCHMASTER:
  • Fixed scaling factor: a scaling factor can be entered, that is multiplied with the "Voltage" value from the PGF sequence. For example, if a scaling factor of 0.1 is set defined for a DA output and "voltage" in the PGF is set to 1V, then 100mV would be applied to that DA output.
  • Lookup Table: a lookup table could be loaded that converts the "Voltage" value in the PGF to a corresponding voltage output from the lookup table. For example
    3.5 8.0 ; output 8.0 V for amplitude > 3.5, e.g. 4
    2.5 4.0 ; output 4.0 V for amplitude > 2.5, e.g. 3
    1.5 2.0 ; output 2.0 V for amplitude > 1.5, e.g. 2
    0.5 1.0 ; output 1.0 V for amplitude > 0.5, e.g. 1
    -0.5 0.0 ; output 0.0 V for amplitudes <= 0.5, e.g. 0
  • Equation: an equation can be entered that converts the "Voltage" value from the PGF sequence to a voltage that is applied to the DA output. For example:
    0.5 * 1/ampl ("ampl" corresponds with "Voltage" in the PGF sequence)

PATCHMASTER 2.42

Known Bugs
Continuous Acquisition with EPC 10 USB / LIH 8+8 Under certain conditions (at least 2 channels, long acquisition) a continuous acquisition from a LIH 8+8 interface or an EPC 10 USB amplifier could suddenly stop before the end of the recording had been reached. Only USB devices are affected. (FIXED in 2.43)

Release date: 28-Jan-2009

PATCHMASTER 2.40

New Features
Improved Online Analysis In the new version, Analysis methods can be switched without wiping existing analysis graphs. This is achieved by making graphs independent from analysis methods. Two rows of checkboxes now allow to define what graphs are displayed in the two online windows 1 and 2. In the analysis method, one can chose what graphs are used in this method. If one method is using graph 1 and another method is using graph 2, then switching between the methods will not affect the graph created by the other method.
Automatic Firmware Update This Patchmaster version checks the firmware version of LIH 8+8 interfaces (stand-alone and built-in) and automatically updates the firmware if required.
EPC 10 USB / LIH 8+8 Patchmaster no longer requires the service program "LIH88Service.exe" to run. Under Windows, the "LIH88Service.exe" program was required for data exchange between Patchmaster and LIH 8+8 interfaces. It was automatically started by Patchmaster if an EPC 10 USB or a LIH 8+8 interface has been chosen in the configuration.
Serial Communication (RS-232) One can now send the command "\000". Before it was interpreted as string termination marker and, thus, never sent. The command "\000" is used by some serially controlled devices as terminator.
Auto Rs Compensation A new function "Auto Rs-Comp" has been devised. Its purpose is to automatically adjust the Rs-compensation setting to optimize the speed of a voltage jump at the cell membrane. The procedure tries to keep overshooting response to a minimum, since such overshoot leeds to increased noise and introduces higher frequency components into the current signal (details).
32 "values" The number of values has been increased from 16 to 32. These values are "variables" which can be used for exchanging information between the modules of Patchmaster (e.g. Online Analysis, Protocol Editor, Pulse Generator).
Additional Markers There are now 10 markers for each trace. The Trace Markers can be set in the new Markers Window. The controls get activated, when continuous acquisition is running. A Trace Marker is drawn as a cross in the oscilloscope and it shows its time value as well.
The control for the Sweep Markers has been moved from the Protocol Editor Window to the new Markers Window.
Batch Communication Added the commands "ListProtocols" and "ExecuteProtocol".
Syntax: "ListProtocols"
no parameters
response: a comma separated list of quoted strings
Syntax: "ExecuteProtocol [Protocol]"
parameters: 1 quoted string: protocol to execute
response: "Done" or error description
The batch control command "Query" will now report "Query_TestPulse" when the test pulse is running. Before, it was returning "Query_Idle'.
Equation Editor Since Patchmaster 2.32 equations can be entered to compute a value in a protocol or a result in the Online analysis. In this version, an equation editor dialog has been added. This editor facilitates the handling of equations. The number of characters in an equation could be increased to 62 characters and error messages shown in this dialog help to find syntax errors.
Export to ASCII The Series Comment is now exported in the header block.
Break conditions in virtual traces "Break" conditions are now supported for virtual traces as well. Such "Break" conditions can be specified for each acquired trace that is longer than 1 second. The first condition that is TRUE terminates the acquisition of the sweep.

PATCHMASTER 2.40

Known Bugs
Calibration of older EPC 10 amplifiers With some older EPC 10 amplifiers, the calibration procedure stops with the error message "Something seems to be connected to the probe" input. If you should get this error message upon calibrating your amplifier, then please download the "WinCalibrator" program from the following link: ftp://server.hekahome.de/pub/old%20Versions/Windows/patchmaster%20family/2.35/
With this program, the calibration of your amplifier should work.

Release date: 16-Jun-2008

PATCHMASTER 2.35

New Features
Probe selector support The new revision "C" of our probe selector is now supported. While the old probe selector could be equipped with up to 8 headstages, the new probe selector now supports up to 16 probes.
Up to 32 traces supported The number of supported traces has been increased from 16 to 32
"Max. Shown Traces" The new value "Max. Shown Traces" in the pane "General" of the configuration window, defines how many traces are shown in the GUI elements, e.g. in pop-up menus. Affected elements are:
  • trace selection in osci,
  • target trace in online analysis,
  • source trace in "Trace Buffer" event in the protocol editor, and
  • traces in the Display Properties window.
    • Reducing the number of shown traces

    PATCHMASTER 2.35

    Known Bugs
    EPC 7 gain setting If an EPC 7 amplifier is used, then the current gain is set to 0.0mV/pA after starting Patchmaster. It should be set to the "Default" value that is stored in the configuration. (FIXED in 2.40)
    "Digital Filter" and "Subtract Reference Series" If "Subtract Reference Series" from the Display menu is used, then the digital filter in the oscilloscope window seems to have no effect. Obviously the unfiltered "Reference Series" is subtracted from the selected - digitally filtered - trace. The result appears as unfiltered. (FIXED in 2.40)
    "Sweep Label cannot be changed" The Sweep label cannot be changed. If one tries, then the error "Target is nil" is indicated. (FIXED in 2.40)
    "EPC 8: Stimulus Scaling in Current Clamp" In Current Clamp Mode, a 10 times too large CC-scaling factor was used. (FIXED in 2.40)
    "EPC/N amplifiers in CC mode" The CC-gain of the active amplifier was used to check the maximal amplitude of a pgf-stimulus instead of the CC-gain of the amplifier to which the stim-DAC belonged. (FIXED in 2.40)

    Release date: 18-Jan-2008

    PATCHMASTER 2.32

    New Features
    Important Note! Since the format of the scale files has been extended, it is strongly recommended to recalibrate your amplifier after installing the new version. This is of particular importance if you intend to perform capacitance measurements with the built-in software LockIn amplifier.

    On Apple computers, Mac OS 10.4 or higher is required to run Patchmaster 2.32.
    Support of "Intel Macs" Apple's new MacPro computers with Intel processors are now supported. Please note, that only the green HASP USB dongle is supported by PATCHMASTER 2.32. The older (purple) Eve3 dongles cannot be used with this new version!
    Protocol Editor: formula to compute a value In the Protocol Editor event "Set Value" one can now enter a formula to compute a value.
    Normal math syntax is to be used. Standard brackets, i.e. '(' and ')', can be used. Square brackets, i.e. '[' and ']', are used to define the index of PatchMaster specific functions.

    Implemented constants:
  • pi


    • Implemented math functions:
  • +, -, *, /, ^ (i.e., power)
  • sin, cos, tan, arcsin, arccos, arctan


    • PatchMaster specific functions:
  • f[x], x = online function index = 1 to n
  • p[x] x = parameter list index = 1 to n
  • v[x] x = value index = 1..16
  • item[item descriptor]

    		•
    Online analysis: computing the result of a function by specifying a formula One can now compute the result of a function by specifying a formula, see description of the formula syntax above.
    Online analysis: "Same color as trace" The option "Same Color as Trace" in the "Marker Properties" dialog of the Online Analysis window allows to draw the markers with the same color as the corresponding trace in the oscilloscope window. This will define the color of the markers of those online functions which have a "trace" as source. For the arithmetic functions, the trace is inherited from the arguments. Some functions do not have a trace parameter and their marker colors will be as set in the Entries window (i.e., as earlier).
    Online analysis: "Not a number" NaN (not a number) is now used to denote missing online results. NAN values are not plotted in graph entries.
    "Export Full Sweeps" for marked targets. The "Export Full Sweeps" function is no longer limited to the currently selected sweep (or series). Now it can be used for exporting all marked targets.
    "Values" moved to I/0 control dialog The display of the "values" has been moved from the Protocol Editor dialog to the I/o control dialog. While in the Protocol Editor only 4 of 16 values were displayed, one can now show all 16 values in the I/O control dialog. An item in the I/O Control pane of the Configuration window allows to specify how may values are to be displayed.
    Path to the "dialog" files One can now specify the path to the "*.dia" files in the "Files" pane of the Configuration window. This allows to have user specific dialog files.
    Auxiliary Series Parameters The former Series "User" parameters were renamed to "AuxX" (X = 1 to 6), to remove the possible ambiguity with the Sweep "User" parameters. The "Aux" parameters are used for storing parameters from the Photometry extension, such as Background fluorescence, Rmin, Rmax, and Kd.
    New "Probe Selector" window The Probe Selector is a headstage multiplexing device that turns a single EPC 10 patch clamp amplifier into an eight or twelve channel serial patch clamp device. The new dialog allows selecting the active probe(s).

    PATCHMASTER 2.32

    Known Bugs
    Export of Analysis Results The export of Online Analysis results does not work.
    Serial Communication The status of the serial port is not correctly stored with the configuration. After storing the configuration and re-starting Patchmaster, the serial communication is turned off and the error message "old configuration file: Serial parameters re-initialized" is written to the notebook.
    Test Trigger Out In the configuration window (tab: Hardware), there is an option to select "Test trigger out". Dig-0 and Dig-1 have been listed twice. The second instance works as and should be listed as Dig-2 and Dig-3.
    FURA: Filter wheel position A PGF segment that is set to "Digital-WORD = 0" does NOT set the digital OUT to '0" but to the value that is set as "filter position" in the photometry dialog (Sutter Lambda-10).
    Analysis: "Same Color as Trace" If "Same Color as Trace" is used for a graph entry, then the color of the graph label might not be correct. Instead of the trace color, the color definded in the Marker properties dialog is used

    Release date: 30-Sep-2007

    PATCHMASTER 2.30

    New Features
    Support of new Hardware Patchmaster 2.30 supports the new EPC 10 USB amplifier and the LIH 8+8 data acquisition interface. Please note, that this version is an interim release to be used exclusively with the new USB devices. Users of the EPC 10, EPC 9, LIH 1600, ITC 18, or ITC-16 should not update to this version!
    Support of "Intel Macs" Intel based Macintosh computers are now supported. Please note, that MacOS 10.4 or higher is required for running Patchmaster 2.30. Mac OS 9 and old 68k Macs are no longer supported !!
    Extended "Copy and Paste" capabilities While the "Copy and Paste" function of previous Patchmaster versions was limited to the text of the notebook and to the graphs of Oscilloscope and Online windows, this function has now be extended to other Patchmaster windows:
  • Amplifier dialog: the main amplifier settings are copied to the clipboard
  • Protocol Editor: the active protocol is copied.
  • PGF Editor: the settings of the active pulse generator sequence are copied.
    		•
    High speed mode switching It is now possible to switch from CC mode to VC mode or vice versa, while an acquisition is running. The time for switching is specified in the pulse generator sequence (PGF). The new feature is limited to EPC 10 and EPC 10 USB amplifiers. Details can be found in the updated Patchmaster manual 2.30.
    File Format of the Configuration File The configuration file (*.set) is now a text file. Its format is line oriented. Each line starts with an identifier followed by one or more parameters. This allows the configuration file created in either a Windows, Mac PPC or the new Intel- based Macs to be used on any one of these platforms.
    Separate Scaling Factors for
    VoltageIn and VoltageOut    		 In previous PatchMaster versions, it was assumed that the scaling of voltage output (stimulus scaling) and voltage input is identical. Therefore, PatchMaster used only one scaling factor (“VC Stim. Scale") for scaling both output and input voltage. This assumption is correct for all HEKA amplifiers, but not for all other manufacturers. Separate scaling factors for voltage output and input have now been implemented. The new parameter can be set in the Configuration Window – TAB “Hardware” - option “Voltage In Scale.”
    Starting Patchmaster without Hardware When PatchMaster was used without any hardware attached, it would default to a single EPC x amplifier configuration. Data files recorded from a Double, Triple or Quadro amplifier could not be opened in "Open Modify" mode due to the mismatch in amplifier types. Now if the hardware initialization fails, the number of amplifier boards is read directly from the configuration file.
    Hardware Selection Dialog The Hardware Selection dialog displayed when the configuration file is not found, usually when PatchMaster is used for the first time, has been expanded for specifying multiple ‘rack” configurations. Now multiple amplifier or amplifier – interface combinations can be properly selected. This is required for reading acquired data recorded with this type of hardware configurations (see above).
    Extended Protocol Editor Commands The "Acquire Series" and "Acquire Each Sweep" commands have a new option to set the number of averages ("running average"). This allows a series to be executed several times while only storing the average of the acquired traces.
    The "Write Icon Value" command can now also output the result in an alert box. The list selection "To Notebook", 'To Batch", "To Both" have been replaced by the checkboxes "Notebook", “Alert" and "Batch Communication". The checkbox “Batch Communication” is only visible when batch communication is active.
    The range of item types which can be assigned to a "Value" in the protocol event "Set Value" has been extended. Boolean types (checkbox, radiobutton, switch, etc.) return 1 if true. Multi-checkboxes return the decimal representation of its bit set.
    Display scaling of Buffer Traces In the “Trace Properties dialog”, the scaling of each trace buffer can be set to be the same as the scaling of a given trace.
    Show PGF Template The function "Show PGF Template" opens the pulse generator dialog, in read-only mode, with the settings of the currently displayed series. Some settings were disabled in this mode. The Compression mode pop-up menu and “List” option have been enabled.
    New Parameter "Program Version" The new field "Program Version" displays the version of the program which created that data file.
    Parameters in the I/O Control window The "Parameter" controls can now be accessed from a macro, but only if their source is set to "Default" in the Configuration window.
    Measure function The "To Notebook" button in the Measure function will now also write the last "difference" between two data points to the notebook.
    Patchmaster File Format Storing of data during continuous acquisition: sweeps with continuous segments and with more than 1 channel are now stored blockwise interleaved. This reduces the size of file blocks reserved for data in the file at start of an acquisition. For long sweeps that was quite time consuming. Thus, the new interleaved storing mode reduces the "inter sweep" gaps drastically. Data files with interleaved traces are not contiguous. The consequences are that a few functions can not operate on such traces: compression and replacing with a buffer trace. Also, when accessing data directly with external programs may require traces which are fully contiguous. To convert interleaved data to purely contiguous and sequential data one can use the option "File -> Convert to PPC/Intel Format".
    Batch Communication The "Batch Communication" selection has been moved from the amplifier menu to the "General" TAB of the Configuration window. All programs can now be controlled via the batch communication mode, including FitMaster. The new control “Sender / Receiver” in the configuration dialog allows to PatchMaster to be configured as either a “Receiver“ or “Sender“. If PatchMaster is to be controlled from another application, then “Receiver” should be set. If “Sender“ is selected, then PatchMaster can talk to FitMaster or to another PatchMaster instance (see “Master / Slave“ mode below).
    Master/Slave Mode: It is now possible to synchronize two running copies (instance) of PatchMaster, each with different hardware configurations, by using the Master / Slave settings and batch communication to synchronize the acquisition on one computer. For example, an EPC 10 with an ITC-18 interface or even an EPC 10 Quadro with an EPC 9 Triple can be combined. Although the hardware is controlled by individual copies of PatchMaster, the data acquisition from both units is synchronized and the acquired data is stored in a common data file.
    To store in a common data file, activate the Batch Communication as "Receiver" (same as mentioned above) and as "Sender" (where input and output files are swapped). The latter is to be used by the "master" instance of PatchMaster. The new “Build Instruction“ "Slave=[number]" copies the trace data from the "slave" PatchMaster instance via the batch communication protocol. The equal sign must immediately follow "Slave", (e.g. "Slave=2"). The given number is the TraceCount of the trace to get. In the given example, data from the source trace with TraceCount = 2 is read. The data format must be 4-byte real for both the source as well as the target trace.
    Added command "OpenProtFile" to load a protocol file.
    The response of the "Query" command has been extended. Query will now return "Query_Aq_WaitTrig", when PM is waiting for a trigger. Before, "Query_Acquiring" would be returned.
    Added the "SweepInfoExt" command, see chapter "Controlling PatchMaster" of the Patchmaster manual. Additionally to the responses of the "SweepInfo" command it returns the query status, plus additional fields per trace, namely:
  • Y-range
  • zero data
  • data type: 0=int16, 1=int32, 2=real32, 3=real64
  • interleave block size in bytes
  • interleave block skip bytes
  • endian type: 0=big endian (PPC), 1=little endian (Intel)
  • temp file: 0=stored in data file 1=in temp file
  • ...
    		•
    Added "Export" command for export of stored data in various file formats.
    The option "Synchronize Files" has been added to the selection of batch communication modes. If selected the "Receiver" application will open, update, and close the same data file as the "Sender" application. The notifications "FileOpened", "FileUpdated", and "FileClosed" are send.

    PATCHMASTER 2.30

    Known Bugs
    PGF-Cartoon in the pulse generator dialog PGF-Cartoon: non-stored segments appear at the end of the cartoon.
    Timing of REPEAT loops The "Duration" of a REPEAT event is actually a "delay" period not a "duration". Therefore, the timing of REPEAT loops might not be correct.

    Release date: 12-Dec-2006

    PATCHMASTER 2.20

    New Features
    Zero Subtraction The "zero subtraction" function has been revised. In the current version, the zero subtraction works for all trace types, including virtual traces (e.g. LockIn traces). Zero subtraction is now supported during continuous acquisition/redraw, too. The zero offset is calculated and subtracted online, if the zero segment is the first stored segment and if it is not longer than 100ms.
    Merging of files The new "Merge" function from the File menu allows merging of two Patchmaster data files. Similar functions have been added to the analysis dialog and to the pulse generator dialog for merging online analysis files and pulse generator files, respectively.
    "Freeze" function in the oscilloscope This function will freeze the present content of the oscilloscope. Any change in display parameters, such as scaling etc. will unfreeze the display again, as does a "Wipe" and switching to the amplifier window. One can call this function from a protocol via the macro command event.
    New Analysis Functions in the Online Analysis The analysis functions "atan" (arc tangent) and "1/atan" have been added.
    New Batch control commands New functions for modifying PGF sequences from external programs have been added. With "GetSeqBlock" a stimulation pattern from the PGF can loaded. After it has been modified by the user program it can be written into the PGF with the "SetSeqBlock" command (the syntax of these commands is described in the new Patchmaster manual).
    Stored Parameters The state of the digital out lines is now stored and displayed in the parameters dialog.
    LockIn: Admittance, CV, and GP Trace The new LockIn trace types "admittance", "CV" (vesicle capacitance) and "GP" (pore conductance) have been added to the already existing Cm, Rm, Rs, Real, Imag., DC, and Avg. options.
    C-Slow cmpensation By default, a G-Leak compensation is now performed before an automatic C-Slow compensation. Usually, this improves the result of the C-Slow compensation routine. The G-Leak before C-Slow can be turned off in the EPC10 menu of PATCHMASTER.
    Ramp stimulation The first segment of a PGF stimulation can now be a ramp. It is no longer required to use a constant segment for defining the start potential of the ramp.
    Min / Max of leak traces The minimum and maximum voltage of all leak pulses within a series is now displayed in the "Leak Pulses" section of the pulse generator dialog. This will help to avoid activation of currents by the leak pulses.
    Protocol Editor The IF...THEN comand has been extended by the "IF BREAK ALERT" option. This command pops up a dialog with a user-defined message. The user can stop or proceed the protocol by clicking on "Break" or "Continue", respectively.

    The "Trace Buffer" command also has a new option. One can either scale the contents of the buffer or scale a trace before it is added to the buffer.

    PATCHMASTER 2.20

    Known Bugs
    Loading *.ONL Files Patchmaster would hang when it loaded an online file with 12 or more methods. FIXED in 2.30.
    "Average" and "SweepInterval" The averaged sweeps were acquired immediately one after another, without waiting the time specified for "SweepInterval". That was a problem for slowly inactivating channels. FIXED in 2.30.
    "G-leak before C-Slow" The option "G-leak before C-Slow" is reset to its default value, i.e. to "on", by a "reset" command. In addition, the EPC menu was not updated to the presently active setting when switching active amplifier. Both problems got FIXED in 2.30: the option "G-leak before C-Slow" is now preserved during a "reset" command and the EPC menu is updated after switching active amplifier. Finally, the settings is now stored in the PatchMaster configuration file, yet only for one amplifier! Users of an EPC/n will have to use the startup macro to set different selections for the amplifiers. "G-leak before C-slow" is now stored for all amplifiers, not just as before only for the active one.
    DA Scaling is missing The "DA scaling" option in the configuration dialog is missing", instead 2 AD-scaling items are shown - FIXED in 2.30
    Printing of Analysis results The Print function from the Analysis dialog does not print comments"- FIXED in 2.30
    Analysis function "dt" (Differential) The computed trace is inverted. Also, the differential and integral computation for virtual traces (PGF) are not corrected by 1/ sampling interval - FIXED in 2.30
    Series Comment and "Acquire Each Sweep" If the "Acuire Each Sweep" command is used more than once in a protocol, then the "Comment" is correctly written only to the first series. The comment of the other series is either empty (If "Clear Comment" in the configuration is checked) or it is the same as for the first series (If "Clear Comment" is off) - FIXED in 2.30
    "New Group" function The "New Group" function was incrementing the GroupCount, even when no new group was actually created, because the previous group was empty - FIXED in 2.30
    No Auto-Vo with EPC 7 and EPC 8 The Auto Vo control in the amplifier dialog has no effect with Epc7 or EPC 8 amplifiers - FIXED in 2.30
    "Copy & Paste" of Analysis Graphs (Windows only) If Fixed Scaling is used in the online analysis graph and there exists data outside this scaling range, then these data points are exported although they are not visible in the graph - FIXED in 2.30
    Deleting an "IF" command line from a Protocol An "Annotation" event in an IF statement would cause an improper deletion of the IF ... END_IF loop FIXED in 2.30
    PGF-Cartoon in the pulse generator dialog PGF-Cartoon: non-stored segments appear at the end of the cartoon.

    Release date: 30-Aug-2006

    PATCHMASTER 2.15

    New Features
    Copy & Paste The menu function "Edit -> Copy" is now enabled for all windows: this can be used to transfer traces from the oscilloscope and Online Analysis graphs to other applications.
    "Trace Mapping" One can now define the value of the "TraceCount" of a trace in the "build" instruction (PGF dialog). The identifier is "Tcount=" followed by the wanted index value. Traces without a TraceCount definition are filled sequentially, irrespectively of the "store" flag. Leaks follow the highest trace count value of the normal traces. The TraceCount is used in the Online Anaylsis for determing a trace for analysis.
    Labels in Online Analysis Graphs Headers and labels can now be added for the x- and y-entries in a graph. The labels are the analysis function names. Headers and labels are defined in the "Modify Axis" dialog.
    Online Analysis: Measure function A measure function similar to that of the oscilloscope is now available in analysis graphs. A mouse click in the graph will write the corresponding value to the notebook. The distance from one point to another can be measured, too.
    Online Analysis: Share X axis The new checkbox "Share X-axis" in the analysis dialog will make all x-axis parameters and the wrap flag of all graphs with the same target window (Win1 or Wind2) identical. This allows to change X-axis parameters of several graphs at the same time.
    New Analysis functions the new functions "Int. Sol Value" and Ext. Sol. Value" allow for accessing the solution indexes from the Online Analysis.
    Parameters dialog The Parameters dialog has been re-arranged. Parameters which correspond to a certain data tree level (root, group, series, sweep, trace) are now separated in panes.
    USB Dongle support The new USB type dongles are now supported under Win2000, WinXP, and MacOS 10.3.9 (or newer).
    New data replay mode Even without a dongle, any data file can be opened and replayed. Analysis, export and printing of data is restricted to licensed programs (with dongle).
    "Bridge mode" In current clamp mode, the Rs compensation of EPC 10 and EPC 9 amplifiers acts like a bridge balance. In order to make this more clear, the "Rs. comp" label has been changed to "Bridge" in CC mode.

    PATCHMASTER 2.15

    Known Bugs
    "Export of Analysis results to ASCII" Analysis results can only be exported to ASCII, if "Include Headers" is active in the "ASCII Text Format" option. FIXED in 2.20
    "Test and Calibrate menu" There is a mismatch betwen the entries of the EPC 10 "Test and Calibrate" menu and the function which are executed upon clicking on these items. For example, a click on "Save Protocol" starts the "Print Protocol" routine. This applies to all entries below "Upgrade Board Version". FIXED in 2.20
    Calibration and Testing of two EPC 10 units Two EPC 10 units can be connected to one PCI-1600 board and can be controlled by one PATCHMASTER instance. However, the calibration and the full test fail, if "All amplifiers" are tested instead of calibrating or testing each amplifier individually. FIXED in 2.20
    Protocol Editor: wrong index In the protocol editor dialog, it is possible to "jump" to a certain protocol by entering the index of that protocol. For some indices, this does not work. If I enter an "8", then the 9th protocol is selected. FIXED in 2.20
    Protocol Editor: ELSIF command An ELSIF event was evaluated after an IF case, even when the IF case was true. FIXED in 2.20
    PGF and "Undo" function If a PGF sequence was modified and the UNDO button is clicked AFTER switching to another sequence, then this sequence is overwritten by the first sequence of the PGF file. FIXED in 2.20
    "Break" and triggered PGF sequences A triggered PGF sequence cannot be stopped by clicking on BREAK (while the PGF is waiting for the next trigger) if "Cont. Redraw" in the pulse generator dialog is on. FIXED in 2.20

    Release date: 14-Mar-2006

    PATCHMASTER 2.11

    New Features
    New "Photometry Wave" dialog The new "Photometry Wave" dialog in the pulse generator allows to define a basic stimulus pattern for for photometric measurements. This stimulus pattern can be repeated an arbitrary number of times.
    Photometry Measurement "Recompute Marked Targets" allows to recompute stored photometry traces with new background and calibration values. Please note, that only existing traces can be recomputed. Thus, one can only recompute a ratio- or Ca-trace, if it was previously defined at time of acquisition!
    Ca concentration according to Grynkiewicz A Ca trace according to the Grynkiewicz formalism can be computed online.
    PSA-12 support The new PSA-12 sound generator is now supported by Patchmaster. The PSA-12 is connected to the USB port of your computer and can be used as an audio monitor for the seal resistance. The PSA-12 support can be turned on or off in the configuration dialog.
    Analysis function "Mean of Trace" The new analysis function "Mean of Trace" computes the mean of all points in a trace. The "Mean of Trace" can be used to easily obtain the mean of a photometry trace. The previous "Mean" function was renamed to "Mean of Seg." to make the two "mean" functions clearer.
    Please note that only the points loaded in RAM are used. If a trace is longer than "Max Sample Points", it will compute the mean of the first "Max Sample Points" in RAM.

    PATCHMASTER 2.11

    Known Bugs
    "BREAK and P/n pulses" Important: PatchMaster could crash, if one clicked on "Break" in a pgf stimulus with p/n leak pulses. FIXED in 2.15
    "Pipette Pressure" and "User2" are not stored The parameters "Pipette Pressure" and "User2" are not stored with the data file. FIXED in 2.15
    "Relative" stmulation and "Set last Segment Amplitude" The holding would be incorrect, when one selected "relative stimulus" plus "Set Last Segment Amplitude". FIXED in 2.15
    Menu operation "Save keys" The Menu operation "Save keys" gave the error message "Renaming configuration file: bad name" under MacOS X. FIXED in 2.15
    "Data Compression and Oscilloscope pages" The page size in the software oscilloscope was affected by the compression factor set in the PGF template. If "Compression" was set to "5", then a trace was split into 5 pages. This only occurred, if "Continuous Redraw" in the PGF was active. FIXED in 2.15

    Release date: 10-Feb-2006

    PATCHMASTER 2.10

    New Features
    Online Averaging
    ("Running Average")    		 A PGF sequence can be repeated several times. Only the average is stored to disk. The number of averages acquired for one sweep can be set in the protocol editor dialog.
    Reference Series A series from the data tree can be selected as Reference. The Reference Series is subtracted from all replayed data, if Subtract Ref. Series in the Display menu is active.
    Compress Function This function compresses all marked traces by a given compression factor. This is particularly useful before exporting long data traces.
    Collapse Function The sweeps of all marked series are copied into a new series. This is typically used when one acquired many series with one single sweep and one wants to combine them into one series for easier online analysis.
    Average Series Function Generates one new series from a set of marked series.
    Average Sweeps Function Averages all sweeps of a series and stores them as series with one sweep. The sweeps have to have the same length.

    PATCHMASTER 2.10

    Known Bugs
    Trace Buffer subtraction The Trace Buffer subtraction does not work. FIXED in 2.11
    "Average Series" and "Zero Subtraction" If "Average Series" from the Replay menu is used while "Subtract Zero Offset" in the Display menu is active, then the averaged series has an offset. FIXED in 2.11
    Continuous recording and "Set Last Segment Amplitude" If "Set Last Segment Amplitude" is used in a PGF sequence, then a continuous segment is always set to the holding of the last "non-continuous" segment. FIXED in 2.11
    Settings file and iconized Patchmaster dialogs If one of the Patchmaster dialogs is iconized when storing the configuration, when Patchmaster cannot be started with that setting file. FIXED in 2.11
    PGF channel and Patchmaster crash Clicking on an empty channel button at the left side of the pulse generator dialog might causes Patchmaster to crash. FIXED in 2.11
    Zero Subtraction The zero subtraction value ("Zero Data") would be incorrect, when the "Start Time" was longer than the stored trace data. FIXED in 2.11
    Zero Subtraction during continuous acquisition The warning "Zero Subtraction Disabled" was written to the notebook, when no trace had a "Zero Segment" specified, even when "Zero Subtraction" was disabled. FIXED in 2.11
    "Crash upon loading *.pro file" PM occasionally crashed, if one switched from a long protocol with the selection on a late event to a shorter one. FIXED in 2.11
    Continuous recording and "Set Last Segment Amplitude" If "Set Last Segment Amplitude" is used in a PGF sequence, then a continuous segment is always set to the holding of the last "non-continuous" segment. FIXED in 2.11
    "Pipette Pressure" and "User2" are not stored The parameters "Pipette Pressure" and "User2" are not stored with the data file. FIXED in 2.11
    >> older PATCHMASTER versions ...