High Quality Plots for FTIR and UV/VIS Data

The ACD SpecManage UV-IR Module provides the capability to manipulate and manage optical spectra in the continuous range from 1 cm^-1 to 100, 000 cm^-1 (100 to 1,000,000 nm). The name UV-IR may be thought of as an abbreviation to indicate spectral regions and techniques covered: ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and Raman. The program is easily tunable towards the almost every individual form of optical spectroscopy.

The Department has several diode array spectrometers the HP-8452A and P-E 1720X or their 1600 FTIR which need high quality data printouts. For general use, the plotters or printers associated with each device produces an adequate plot. The procedure for transferring spectra data from these instruments via 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" floppy disks follows. The spectra can be imported directly into SpectraManager.

First save spectra on a floppy at the instrumental data station. This step is a bit different for each instrument. Next take the floppy to the computer in room 130 for processing, printing, and perhaps re-saving in the modified format.

UV/VIS Spectra

1. Record the requisite background and UV/VIS spectra on the HP-8452A. Insert the floppy into the disk drive labeled B and select Files the black key or if Files is not on screen select the key to access Files.

Under files, the last selection is Change Data Directory which by default is C:\HPUV\Data. Change the directory to B: and then select Files followed by Store Data File. Give the file an appropriate DOS name (i.e. 8 or less characters i. e. spectra2). The program will automatically extension ".WAV". After saving the last spectra to a floppy return to Files and Change Data Directory and change the directory back to the default. The "A" drive of this computer can also be used to save data, it is for a 5 1/4" floppy.

FTIR Spectra

2. For FTIR Spectra on the P-E 1720X first note the floppy drive is positioned vertically and reversed. This require the floppy disk to be placed into the drive with the label to the left. Obtain background and spectra before beginning to save data. Using the Save option will force the program to save spectra under a sub directory called Spectra. The program also creates several unnecessary directories on the floppy: GC-IR, IGRAM, EXPORT, OBEY, PEAK, TIME, USERGEM, as well as SPECTRA. These directories are required on the hard drive.

Simply use the SaveAs option and then File Select to change from the default path of C:\IRDM\ DATA\SPECTRA to B:\*.SP. The default path will not be changed.

3. For the P-E 1600 a 5 1/4" floppy disk is required to copy spectra.

Learn a bit more than necessary about floppies!