MetaXpressÂ® Image Acquisition and Analysis Software Version 3.1

MetaXpress ® Image Acquisition and 

Analysis Software Version 3.1 

For ImageXpress ® Micro and ImageXpress ® Ultra 

Instrument Workstations 

Upgrade Guide 

5001659 Rev. B 

June 2010

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Contentsents 

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Suggested Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Install the MetaXpress ® Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Install the Latest Update of the MetaXpress ® Software 14 

Install Version 9 of the USB Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Configure the Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Check for Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

5001659 B 1

2 5001659 B

Upgrading the MetaXpress ® Software 

Before You Begin 

This guide provides instructions on how to upgrade the MetaXpress ® 

software from version 2 or version 3.0 to version 3.1 on ImageXpress ® 

Micro and ImageXpress ® Ultra instrument workstations. 

To see a list of the features of version 3.1 of the MetaXpress software, 

read the release notes on 

www.meta.moleculardevices.com/mxupdates. 

To view a presentation on the new MDCStoreTools TM application and the 

new Laser Autofocus wizard included with version 3.1 of the 

MetaXpress software, go to https://moldevents.webex.com. On the 

web site, click “High-Content Cellular Imaging” and then select the 

webinar “New Laser Autofocus Wizard and Data Management Tools with 

MetaXpress 3.1”. 

Before upgrading to version 3.1 of the MetaXpress software, perform 

the following tasks: 

• Read the MetaXpress ® Image Acquisition and Analysis Software 

Installation Guide for Version 3.1, available on the MetaXpress 

3.1 software installation CD. 

• Make sure you are logged in as Administrator on the instrument 

workstation. 

• Make sure the C: drive has at least 1 GB of available space. 

• For ImageXpress Ultra systems, delete all files starting with 

“FS_” in the C:\Documents and Settings\window login 

account\Local Settings\Temp folder. Earlier versions of the 

MetaXpress software did not delete these files, which are 

created when images are larger than 10 MB. Version 3.1 of the 

software deletes these temporary files appropriately. 

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Suggested Workflow 

Upgrading to version 3.1 of the MetaXpress ® software involves several 

steps, most of which can be performed using the MetaXpress 3.1 

software installation CD. The following table lists the tasks required in 

the order they should be performed. 

Task 

Install version 3.1 of the MetaXpress ® 

software on the instrument workstation. 

Download and install the latest update for 

version 3.1 of the MetaXpress software. 

Install version 9 of the USB driver. 

Configure the numerical apertures and 

working distances of the objectives. 

Update the MDCStore TM database to version 

2.2. 

Instructions 

See Install the MetaXpress® 

Software on page 5 

See Install the Latest Update 

of the MetaXpress® Software 

on page 14 

See Install Version 9 of the 

USB Driver on page 21 

See Configure the Numerical 

Apertures and Working 

Distances of Objectives on 

page 24 

See the MDCStore TM 2.2 

Database Schema Installation 

and Update Guide* 

Install the MDCStoreTools TM application. See the MDCStoreTools TM 1.1 

User Guide* 

Create a user account with Administrator 

privileges on the MDCStore database schema. 

See the MDCStoreTools TM 1.1 

User Guide* 

*These manuals are included on the MetaXpress 3.1 software 

installation CD. 

Note: Version 3.1 of the MetaXpress software will work with version 

2.0 of the MDCStore TM database. However, to use the MDCStoreTools TM 

applications, you must upgrade the MDCStore database to version 2.2. 

4 5001659 B

MetaXpress ® Image Acquisition and Analysis Software Upgrade Guide 

Install the MetaXpress ® Software 

CAUTION! Molecular Devices, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any 

damage to existing user data that may occur due to network problems, 

power failure, unexpected termination during the update process, user 

customization of an existing MDCStore TM database, and so on. You 

must fully back up your existing database before beginning an 

installation or upgrade procedure. 

Note: The 64-bit version of the MetaXpress ® 3.1 software is for offline 

use only. 

To install the MetaXpress software 

1. Insert the MetaXpress 3.1 software installation CD into the 

computer’s CD-ROM drive. If the installation screen does not 

appear, go to the CD folder and double-click autorun.exe. 

Note: If you do not have the MetaXpress 3.1 software 

installation CD, contact Molecular Devices, Inc. Support at 

www.moleculardevices.com/support. You will need to provide 

your System ID. 

The MetaXpress software installation screen appears. 

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2. Click Install MetaXpress 3.1: 32-bit. 

A message appears asking you to confirm the installation. 

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3. Click Yes. 

The MetaXpress 3.1 software installation wizard appears. 

4. Click Next. 

The software license agreement appears. 

5. Select I Accept all terms of the preceding License and then 

click Next. 

The Sentinel Security Components page of the installation 

wizard appears. 


7. If the installation wizard does not detect an earlier version of the 

MetaXpress software on the instrument workstation, skip to 

Step 10. If an earlier version of the software is detected on the 

instrument workstation, the message below appears. 

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8. Select Copy the settings from this folder into a new 

destination folder and then click OK. 

Note: The installation wizard uses the settings from the copy of 

the MetaXpress software that was most recently open. If you 

want to install the MetaXpress software using the settings from 

a different copy of the software, close the installation wizard, 

open the other copy of the MetaXpress software and then close 

it, and then start the installation again from the beginning. 

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The Browse for Folder dialog box appears. 

9. Create a folder for the new copy of the MetaXpress software, 

and click OK. 

The Destination Folder page of the installation wizard appears. 

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10. Make sure the C: drive has enough space available as indicated 

in the Disk Space Limits section of the dialog box, change the 

destination folder if needed, and then select Next. 

The Program Group Selection page of the installation wizard 

appears. 

11. Change the name of the program group if needed, and click 

Next. 

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The Hardware Key Confirmation page of the installation wizard 

appears. 

12. Make sure the USB key for the MetaXpress software is inserted 

into the instrument workstation, select Use Local Key and then 

click Read System ID from Key. 

The installation wizard displays your System ID in the System 

ID field. 


5001659 B 11


The User Information and Codes page of the installation wizard 

appears. 

14. Enter the codes using one of the following methods: 

• If the instrument workstation is connected to the internet, click Using 

the Internet. The installation wizard retrieves the codes and displays 

them in the appropriate fields. 

• If the codes are on a disk, insert the disk and click From a Disk. The 

installation wizard copies the codes from the disk to the appropriate 

fields. 

• If the instrument workstation is not connected to the internet, click 

Manually and type the registration and authorization codes in the 

appropriate fields. You can find the codes on the letter that 

accompanied your order. Or, you can go to 

www.meta.moleculardevices.com/authorize/ to find the codes (you 

must provide your System ID on the web page). 


16. Click Install. 

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The installation wizard installs version 3.1 of the MetaXpress 

software and then opens the Meta Imaging Series Administrator 

software. 

17. To create a folder on the desktop, click Create Icons. 

18. Click OK. 

The Installation Complete page of the installation wizard 

appears. 

19. Click Finish. 

5001659 B 13


Install the Latest Update of the MetaXpress ® Software 

Updates for the MetaXpress ® software are available for download on the 

Molecular Devices web site, as described below. If you are unable to 

download the update, please send an email to Support using the web 

site www.moleculardevices.com/support or call 1-800-635-5577 and 

request that the latest update be sent to you. You will be asked for your 

System ID and the version of the software that you are requesting. 

To install an update of the MetaXpress software 

1. Go to www.meta.moleculardevices.com/mxupdates. 

2. Enter your System ID and click Log In. Your System ID is on 

your USB key and in the letter that accompanied your order. 

The web page that appears lists the available updates for the 

MetaXpress software. 

3. Select the latest update. 

The Update page for the update that you selected appears. For 

example: 

4. Click on the link for the 32-bit version to download the update 

file. 

5. When the license agreement appears, click I ACCEPT THE 

TERMS IN THIS AGREEMENT. 

14 5001659 B


A yellow bar appears indicating that the site is blocked from 

downloading. 

6. Click the yellow bar and, in the menu that appears, select 

Download File. 

The File Download dialog box appears. 

7. Click Save, choose a location on your hard drive for the update 

file in the Save As dialog box and then click Save again. 

Note: You can save the update file to a USB flash drive or DVD, 

which is especially useful if you are updating the MetaXpress 

software on more than one instrument workstation. 

CAUTION! Do not attempt to unzip the update file. The Meta Imaging 

Series ® Updater unzips the file during the update process. 

5001659 B 15


8. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs>Meta 

Imaging Series>Meta Imaging Series Updater. 

The Meta Imaging Series Updater opens. 


The Select Patch File page of the Meta Imaging Series Updater 

appears. 

10. Select the ellipsis (...) button. 

16 5001659 B


The Open dialog box appears. For example: 

11. Navigate to the update file, select it, and then click Open. 

The Select Patch File page appears, displaying the path name of 

the update file that you selected. 


5001659 B 17


The Hardware Key Confirmation page of the Meta Imaging 

Series Updater appears. 

13. Make sure the USB key for the MetaXpress software is inserted 

into the instrument workstation, select Use Local Key and then 

click Read System ID from Key. 

The Meta Imaging Series Updater displays your System ID in 

the System ID field. 


18 5001659 B


The User Information and Codes page of the Meta Imaging 

Series Updater appears. 

15. Enter the codes using one of the following methods: 

• If the instrument workstation is connected to the internet, click Using 

the Internet. The Updater retrieves the codes and displays them in 

the appropriate fields. 

• If the codes are on a disk, insert the disk and click From a Disk. The 

Updater copies the codes from the disk to the appropriate fields. 

• If the instrument workstation is not connected to the internet, click 

Manually and type the registration and authorization codes in the 

appropriate fields. You can find the codes on the letter that 

accompanied the order. Or, you can go to 

www.meta.moleculardevices.com/authorize/ to find the codes (you will 

be asked to enter your System ID). 


The Ready to Proceed page of the Meta Imaging Series Updater 

appears. 

17. Click Update. 

5001659 B 19


When the installation is complete, the following page appears: 


The Meta Imaging Series Updater opens the Meta Imaging 

Series Administrator software. 

19. Click OK. 

20 5001659 B


Install Version 9 of the USB Driver 

You must update the USB driver on all instrument workstations. If you 

do not update the driver, the ImageXpress ® Micro and ImageXpress ® 

Ultra systems will not operate properly. 

Note: You do not need to install the driver on computers that are not 

used for acquisition. 

To update the driver 

1. Make sure you are logged in as Administrator on the instrument 

workstation. 

2. Insert the MetaXpress ® 3.1 software installation CD into the 

computer’s CD-ROM drive. If the installation screen does not 

appear, go to the CD folder and double-click autorun.exe. 

5001659 B 21


The MetaXpress installation screen appears. 

3. Click Install IXM/IXU USB Driver V9: 32 bit. 

A message appears asking you to confirm the installation. 

4. Click Yes. 

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The WinZip Self-Extrator dialog box appears. 

5. Click Setup. 

The following page appears. 

6. If the installation wizard detected an earlier version of the driver 

on the computer, select Repair WinDriverMDC. 


8. When the Installation Complete page appears, click Close. 

5001659 B 23


Configure the Numerical Apertures and Working 

Distances of Objectives 

To configure the objectives 

1. From the Windows Start menu, select Programs>Meta 

Imaging Series>Meta Imaging Series Administrator. 

The Meta Imaging Series ® Administrator appears. 

2. In the List of Groups, select the Group Name for version 3.1 of 

the MetaXpress ® software, and then click Configure 

Hardware. 

The Configure Hardware dialog box appears. 

24 5001659 B


3. In the Hardware Settings section, select the appropriate 

hardware configuration (for example, “IXM” or “IXU”), and then 

click Configure Acquisition. 

Note: If multiple hardware configurations exist (for example, 

multiple objective configurations or filter cube configurations), 

perform Steps 3-11 for each configuration. 

The Configure Acquisition dialog box appears. 

4. For ImageXpress ® Ultra systems, ensure that “ImageXpress 

Ultra” is listed in the Installed Drivers section of the dialog box. 

5. For ImageXpress ® Micro systems, ensure that “Photometrics” is 

listed in the Installed Drivers section of the dialog box. 

5001659 B 25


6. Click OK. 

The Configure Hardware dialog box appears. 

7. In the Hardware Settings section, select the appropriate 

hardware configuration (for example, “IXU” or “IXM”), and then 

click Configure Devices. 

26 5001659 B


The User Settings for the hardware configuration dialog box 

appears. For example: 

8. In the Claimed Devices section, select the objective (for 

example, “ImageXpress Micro Objective” or “ImageXpress Ultra 

Objective”), and then click Settings. 

5001659 B 27


The settings for the objective appear. For example: 

Using the following table, verify the numerical aperture and the 

working distance of each objective. Also, verify that the type of 

media is correct; if you are using oil or water, be sure to enter 

an appropriate refraction index. 

Note: If the working distance of an objective is a range of 

numbers (for example, the 20x ELWD objective), use the 

smallest number. 

28 5001659 B


Objective Magnification and Type 

* Recommended basic configuration 

** Common objectives 

Numerical 

Aperture 

1x Plan Achromat 0.04 3.2 

Working 

Distance 

(mm) 

4x S Fluor* 0.20 15.5 

4x Plan Apo** 0.20 15.7 

4x Plan Fluor DL 0.13 16.2 

10x Plan Fluor* 0.30 16 

10x S Fluor** 0.50 1.2 

10x Plan Fluor DLL 0.30 16 

10x Plan Fluor DL 0.30 15.2 

20x Plan Fluor ELWD cc 0-2mm* 0.45 8.1 - 7.0 

20x S Fluor** 0.75 1 

20x Plan Apo 0.75 1 

20x Plan Fluor DLL 0.50 2.1 

20x Plan Fluor ELWD DM cc 0-2mm 0.45 8.1 - 7.0 

40x Plan Fluor ELWD cc 0-2mm* 0.60 3.7 - 2.7 

40x Plan Apo cc 0.11 - 0.23 mm** 0.95 0.14 

40x S Fluor cc 0.11 - 0.23 mm** 0.90 0.3 

40x Plan Fluor Oil 1.30 0.2 

40x Plan Fluor DLL 0.75 0.72 

40x Plan Fluor ELWD DM cc 0-2 mm 0.60 3.7 - 2.7 

60x Plan Fluor ELWD cc 0.5 - 1.5 mm* 0.70 2.1 - 1.5 

60x Plan Fluor ** 0.85 0.3 

60x Plan Apo Oil 1.4 0.21 

60x Plan Fluor ELWD DLL cc 0.5 - 1.5 mm 0.70 2.1 - 1.5 

100x Plan Fluor cc 0.14 - 0.20 mm** 0.95 0.2 

100x Plan Fluor Oil 1.30 0.2 

5001659 B 29


11. Click OK. 

Repeat Steps 3-11 for each configuration that exists. 

Check for Updates to the MetaXpress ® Software and 

MDCStore Database 

Molecular Devices, Inc. recommends that you always use the latest 

available version of the MetaXpress ® software and MDCStore TM 

database. Periodically check the Molecular Devices web site, 

www.moleculardevices.com, for updates. 

30 5001659 B

MetaXpressÂ® Image Acquisition and Analysis Software Version 3.1

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