Abstract: The invention provides a manual or automated method for eliminating or minimizing retention time shifts in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (abbreviated GCxGC). Under nominal identical conditions (identical column-set specifications and GCxGC oven temperature programming), the invention allows one to reproduce the two-dimensional retention times from one column-set to another, from one GCxGC to another or from one column outlet pressure to another. A procedure is described to manually or automatically adjust the head pressure of the primary column and the (effective) secondary column length to compensate for the two-dimensional retention time differences.