Purpose 

To provide details about the necessary steps to implement the BMG Labtech, SMART Control data connector for use with the Benchling Connect platform.

Introduction

The BMG Labtech, SMART Control data connector a component used in the context of the Benchling Connect platform to parse data from the SMART Control software to an Allotrope Simple Model (ASM) and make those data available within the Benchling UI in the context of a Run. The SMART Control software is used in conjunction with the VANTAstar and CLARIOstar plate readers.

The Benchling Connect - BMG Labtech, SMART Control data connector is a ‘file-based’ based data connector, meaning that it processes multi-sheet .XLSX file exports generated by the SMART Control software. The data within the file export is then accessed by Benchling Connect through the use of a ‘watched’ file directory on the local computer hosting a Benchling Gateway, which has been configured via a Connection from within Benchling.

In order to successfully implement the BMG Labtech, SMART Control data connector for use with the Benchling platform, there are specific steps that need to be followed across both the SMART Control software and Benchling user interfaces. 

This guide details the steps to be taken in both applications in order to configure the integration. 

Steps within SMART Control software

Within the SMART Control software users should perform the following steps outlined below:

(i) Configure a XLSX export compatible with the Benchling Connect, BMG SMART Control connector.

(ii) Ensure that the file is placed with the watched directory configured via Benchling Connection.

Supported Detection Methods / Calculated Data

BMG Labtech SMART Control software allow users to perform experiments using different Detection Methods, depending on the configuration of the instrument being used.

Detection Methods include: absorbance, luminescence, and fluorescence. At present the Benchling Connect, BMG SMART Control connector is only capable of processing data recorded from fluorescence experiments.

Export XLSX file from SMART Control Software

1. In the Settings tab in the main page select Data Output
   
2. Under Data Output, select to Save your measurement data in Excel format
3. Click Define Format and change the file path to save file as the same 'file watched' directory configured via Benchling Connection.
   
   Note: The BMG SMART Control connector will expect that the file contains three Excel sheets in the export (Microplate End Point, Table End Point, Protocol Information).
   
   
4. To export, click the Export button at the bottom left of the window

Sample files can be found here.

Steps within Benchling

From within Benchling, a user must:

1. Enable the BMG SMART Control data connector on the tenant [internal admin console]

2. Configure a BMG SMART Control Connection

3. Create a Result schema to structure the data to be recorded

4. Configure a Run schema to accept data from BMG SMART Control and records Results

For steps 1 - 4, please reference the Benchling Connect Installation Guide for details related to creating and installing a Gateway and configuring a Connection.

Data returned by SMART Control data connector

The Benchling Connect - SMART Control data connector uses the Allotrope Simple Model (ASM) to structure the information parsed from the BMG Labtech SMART Control file export. The data is processed in a two step process; step one from SMART Control export to the .json based ASM, and step two from the ASM .json to (3) .csv files available for ingest to Benchling - the well file in which each each row corresponds to a well of a plate, and a measurement file .csv, in which each row of the file represents a measurement, and a group file .csv, in which each row of the file represents a group of.

These data are structured using the Allotrope Plate Reader ASM data model. Details about the this ASM schema can be found here:

https://github.com/Benchling-Open-Source/allotropy/tree/main/src/allotropy/allotrope/schemas/adm/plate-reader/ 

The well file and measurement file can contain the following columns (if available within the data):

• Device Identifier
• Model Number
• Product Manufacturer
• Data System Instance Identifier
• File Name
• UNC Path
• Software Name
• ASM Converter Name
• ASM Converter Version
• ASM File Identifier
• Analyst
• Measurement Identifier* - this is a UUID generated as part of data conversion
• Measurement Time
• Experiment Type
• Device Type - this will be 'plate reader' in all cases
• Analytical Method ID
• Experimental Data ID
• Container Type - this will be 'well plate' in all cases
• Plate Well Count 
• Well Plate Identifier
• Location Identifier
• Sample Identifier
• Mass Concentration - reported in pg/mL units
• Compartment Temperature
• Detection Type - this will refer to Absorbance, Fluorescence, or Luminescence
• Detector Gain Setting*
• Scan Position Setting*
• Detector Distance Setting (mm)*
• Number of Averages*
• Detector Wavelength Setting* - where applicable
• Detector Bandwidth Setting* - where applicable
• Excitation Wavelength Setting* - where applicable
• Excitation Bandwidth Setting* - where applicable
• ‘Measurement’* - this column header will vary depending on the modality: absorbance, fluorescence, or luminescence - e.g absorbance_mAU

* (Well file only) To account for experiments with multiple measurements these columns will be duplicated (as needed) and will be annotated with a number for each measurement. 

The group file can contain the following columns (if available within the data):

• Device Identifier
• Model Number
• Product Manufacturer
• Data System Instance Identifier
• File Name
• UNC Path
• Software Name
• ASM Converter Name
• ASM Converter Version
• ASM File Identifier
• Analyst
• Measurement Identifier* - this is a UUID generated as part of data conversion
• Measurement Time
• Experiment Type
• Device Type - this will be 'plate reader' in all cases
• Analytical Method ID
• Experimental Data ID
• Container Type - this will be 'well plate' in all cases
• Plate Well Count 
• Well Plate Identifier
• Location Identifier
• Sample Identifier
• Mass Concentration - reported in pg/mL units
• Compartment Temperature
• Detection Type - this will refer to Absorbance, Fluorescence, or Luminescence
• Detector Gain Setting*
• Scan Position Setting*
• Detector Distance Setting (mm)*
• Number of Averages*
• Detector Wavelength Setting* - where applicable
• Detector Bandwidth Setting* - where applicable
• Excitation Wavelength Setting* - where applicable
• Excitation Bandwidth Setting* - where applicable
• Calculated Data Name/Result*
  • Examples: Average of All Blanks Used, Blank Corrected Based On Raw Data (480-14/520-30) (RFU)

* To account for experiments with multiple measurements these columns will be duplicated (as needed) and will be annotated with a number for each measurement. 

Configure Run Schema to employ BMG Labtech, SMART Control Connection

The Run schema can be created from the menu under Feature Settings.

As part of the Run schema creation, the user should specify 'BMG Labtech, SMART Control' as the Connection Schema.

Configure the Output File Processor

For details on configuring the Output File Processor within the Run schema, please refer to these articles.

• Configure the Output File Config of a Benchling Connect Run
• Configure the Output File Processor to Create New Entities
• Configure the Output File Processor to Capture Results

BMG Labtech, SMART Control Data Connector Requirements

* This is the version of SMART Control Software with which the data connector has been developed and tested. The data connector may work with other versions of SMART Control Software, but that must be verified by the user.

Revision History

2025/01/21

Initial Version