Efficient Table Population in Clarity Software: Using Fill Down and Fill Series Functions

Manual population of sequence and calibration tables can be a time-consuming task in chromatography data systems. Clarity software from DataApex offers two powerful tools—Fill Down and Fill Series—to streamline this process and reduce repetitive typing. This article provides a structured and technical explanation of how to use these features effectively within Clarity, enabling users to improve their workflow efficiency during method setup and sample analysis.

Tools and Environment

• Software: Clarity Chromatography Data System
• Modules Covered: Sequence Table, Calibration Table
• User Access: Requires access to sequence or calibration tables within Clarity
• Navigation: Edit menu or right-click (local menu) access to commands

Overview of Table Filling Commands

Clarity provides two primary functions for populating table columns:

• Fill Down: Replicates the content of a single cell downward through the column.
• Fill Series: Fills a range of selected cells with a numeric or text pattern, typically incremented values.

These commands can be invoked from:

• The Edit menu in the main application window.
• The local (right-click) menu within a specific table.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Using Fill Down

This function is used to copy the contents of the currently selected cell to all cells below it in the same column.

Instructions:

1. Open the sequence or calibration table in Clarity.
2. Select the cell containing the value to be copied.
3. Navigate to Edit > Fill Down or right-click and select Fill Down.
4. All cells below the selected cell in the same column are populated with the same content.

Use Case Example:
If "Unknown 1" is typed in a single row, Fill Down can replicate "Unknown 1" across all subsequent rows of that column.

2. Using Fill Series

Fill Series is used when a user needs to populate a sequence of incrementally numbered or structured entries.

Instructions:

1. Select the range of cells in a column you wish to populate.
2. Right-click the selection and choose Fill Series from the local menu.
3. A dialog window titled Fill Series appears.
4. Enter the desired increment value (e.g., 2).
5. Click OK to apply the series.

Example Scenario:

• If you start with “Unknown 1” and apply an increment of 2, the resulting entries will be:
  • Unknown 1
  • Unknown 3
  • Unknown 5

The increment applies to the numeric component of the entry while maintaining the text prefix.

Functional Notes and Best Practices

• Partial Column Filling: Both Fill Down and Fill Series work on selected cells only, allowing partial updates without overwriting the entire column.
• Reversible Actions: All filling operations can be undone using the standard Undo feature if applied incorrectly.
• Numeric Incrementation: Fill Series interprets trailing numbers in strings and adjusts only the numeric portion.
• Flexibility: The Fill Series dialog also includes a switchable option to use Fill Down as an alternative, depending on user need.

Benefits of Using Fill Functions

• Time Efficiency: Reduces manual typing, especially for large sequences.
• Error Reduction: Minimizes input errors from repetitive data entry.
• Standardization: Ensures consistent naming conventions across rows.

Conclusion

The Fill Down and Fill Series features in Clarity provide powerful, user-friendly tools for populating sequence and calibration tables quickly and accurately. By leveraging these commands, laboratory professionals can improve workflow efficiency, reduce errors, and maintain consistent data entry standards across analytical sequences.