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Acquisition

Starting the software

Data are written to the folder you start the app from, so first open a terminal and change to wherever you want your files to go.

On Windows (Command Prompt) — use a drive letter and backslashes, switching drive first if needed:

D:
cd D:\akta_runs

On macOS/Linux:

cd ~/akta_runs        # or wherever you keep your data

See Opening a terminal if you are not sure how to get a command prompt.

Then start the app. If you have already set your serial port (see Installation), just run:

AktaPrime

To use a specific serial port — or the first time you connect a new instrument — give the port name:

AktaPrime /dev/tty.usbserial-110     # macOS
AktaPrime /dev/ttyUSB0               # Linux
AktaPrime COM3                       # Windows

The port you give is remembered for next time.

Setting up the log files

When it starts, the app prints a short summary and asks for a log-file prefix:

  Log-file prefix  (press ENTER for "akta"):

The prefix is just a label to help you find your files later — a sample name or your initials work well. Press ENTER to accept the default. Each run is then written to its own file in the current folder, named:

<prefix>_<date>_<time>.csv

for example lysozyme_20260714_142530.csv.

Running the instrument

Operate the ÄKTA Prime from its own front panel as usual — AktaPrime.jl watches and records, it does not drive the separation. As the run proceeds you will see:

  • the live chromatogram (UV, %B, conductivity, pH and pressure);
  • event markers and shaded, numbered fraction-collection spans;
  • a status panel and a live flow-path schematic showing the current routing.

Multiple runs

You do not need to restart the app between runs. When a new run begins, the app automatically starts a fresh log file and clears the display, so successive runs never overwrite or draw over one another. Each run's data ends up in its own <prefix>_<date>_<time>.csv file.

Stopping

To stop, simply close the plot window (or press Ctrl-C in the terminal). The current log file is closed cleanly, and the app prints where your data was saved:

  Data saved in:
      /Users/you/akta_runs

  Most recent run: lysozyme_20260714_142530.csv