Trying to export method into MassLynx Xevo TQ-Absolute method with error

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Trying to export method into MassLynx Xevo TQ-Absolute method with error Susan Abbatiello  2025-08-21 18:49
 
It's an unscheduled method with 294 transitions. Here is the message upon trying to export to a template method:

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Skyline-daily
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An error occurred attempting to export.
ERROR: Error parsing method template.

Command-line: Method\Waters\BuildWatersMethod -w 6.4 -m "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\200SPD_Template.exp" "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\1e0tu2fg.aa0\transitions.txt"
Working directory: C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\
Exit code: -1
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OK More Info
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Skyline-daily (64-bit) 25.1.1.206 (2ad5a87e4)

System.IO.IOException: ERROR: Error parsing method template.

Command-line: Method\Waters\BuildWatersMethod -w 6.4 -m "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\200SPD_Template.exp" "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\1e0tu2fg.aa0\transitions.txt"
Working directory: C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\
Exit code: -1 ---> System.IO.IOException: ERROR: Error parsing method template.

Command-line: Method\Waters\BuildWatersMethod -w 6.4 -m "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\200SPD_Template.exp" "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\1e0tu2fg.aa0\transitions.txt"
Working directory: C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\
Exit code: -1 ---> System.IO.IOException: ERROR: Error parsing method template.

Command-line: Method\Waters\BuildWatersMethod -w 6.4 -m "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\200SPD_Template.exp" "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\1e0tu2fg.aa0\transitions.txt"
Working directory: C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\
Exit code: -1

Output:
MESSAGE: Exporting method 200SPD_PhosB_294trs_v01.exp
Void StringToNumber(System.String, System.Globalization.NumberStyles, NumberBuffer ByRef, System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo, Boolean) (Exception Message='Input string was not in a correct format.') : Error parsing method template.
ERROR: Error parsing method template.

 ---> System.IO.IOException: ERROR: Error parsing method template.

Command-line: Method\Waters\BuildWatersMethod -w 6.4 -m "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\200SPD_Template.exp" "C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\1e0tu2fg.aa0\transitions.txt"
Working directory: C:\MassLynx\Default.pro\Acqudb\
Exit code: -1
   at pwiz.Common.SystemUtil.ProcessRunner.Run(ProcessStartInfo psi, String stdin, IProgressMonitor progress, IProgressStatus& status, TextWriter writer, ProcessPriorityClass priorityClass, Boolean forceTempfilesCleanup, Func`3 outputAndExitCodeAreGoodFunc, Boolean updateProgressPercentage) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Shared\CommonUtil\SystemUtil\ProcessRunner.cs:line 234
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at pwiz.Common.SystemUtil.ProcessRunner.ThrowExceptionWithOutput(Exception exception, String output) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Shared\CommonUtil\SystemUtil\ProcessRunner.cs:line 294
   at pwiz.Common.SystemUtil.ProcessRunner.Run(ProcessStartInfo psi, String stdin, IProgressMonitor progress, IProgressStatus& status, TextWriter writer, ProcessPriorityClass priorityClass, Boolean forceTempfilesCleanup, Func`3 outputAndExitCodeAreGoodFunc, Boolean updateProgressPercentage) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Shared\CommonUtil\SystemUtil\ProcessRunner.cs:line 276
   at pwiz.Skyline.Util.Extensions.UtilProcess.RunProcess(ProcessStartInfo psi, String stdin, String messagePrefix, IProgressMonitor progress, IProgressStatus& status) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Util\Extensions\UtilProcess.cs:line 45
   at pwiz.Skyline.Model.MethodExporter.ExportMethod(String exeName, List`1 argv, String fileName, String templateName, Dictionary`2 dictTranLists, IProgressMonitor progressMonitor) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Model\Export.cs:line 5062
   at pwiz.Skyline.Model.WatersMethodExporter.ExportMethod(String fileName, String templateName, IProgressMonitor progressMonitor) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Model\Export.cs:line 4925
   at pwiz.Skyline.Controls.LongWaitDlg.RunWork(Action`1 performWork) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Controls\LongWaitDlg.cs:line 254
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at pwiz.Skyline.Util.Helpers.WrapAndThrowException(Exception x) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Util\Util.cs:line 1631
   at pwiz.Skyline.Controls.LongWaitDlg.PerformWork(Control parent, Int32 delayMillis, Action`1 performWork) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Controls\LongWaitDlg.cs:line 202
   at pwiz.Skyline.Controls.LongWaitDlg.PerformWork(Control parent, Int32 delayMillis, Action`1 performWork) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\Controls\LongWaitDlg.cs:line 140
   at pwiz.Skyline.FileUI.ExportDlgProperties.PerformLongExport(Action`1 performExport) in C:\proj\pwiz\pwiz_tools\Skyline\FileUI\ExportMethodDlg.cs:line 2530
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Nick Shulman responded:  2025-08-21 19:12
It looks like the Waters method builder is having trouble parsing a number.
An error like that could be caused by something like the Windows international settings using the wrong decimal separator.
It's also possible that there is something wrong with the template file "200SPD_Template.exp" since it does say "Error parsing method template".

If you send us "200SPD_Template.exp" and your Skyline document we could try to figure out what is going on.
In Skyline you can use the menu item:
File > Share
to create a .zip file containing your Skyline document and supporting files including extracted chromatograms.

If that .zip file and 200SPD_Template.exp are less than 50MB you can attach them to this support request.
You can upload larger files here:
https://skyline.ms/files.url
-- Nick