JCAMP Data File Viewers

Macintosh Viewer last updated on: Monday, 20-Jul-2009 17:38:29 CDT; size: 5.5M bytes

Windows viewer last updated on: Monday, 20-Jul-2009 17:38:47 CDT; size: 2.7M bytes

Linux viewer last updated on: Saturday, 12-Apr-2008 14:48:31 CDT; size: [an error occurred while processing this directive] bytes

JCAMP-DX spectral files are best displayed using the JCAMP viewer as the Chime plugin(Windows only) seems unable to display spectra with a large number of data points in an AFFN JCAMP data file.

All jcamp files on this site can be viewed as well as those on the NIST web site. In general, all compounds on this site will have infrared, ¹H, ¹³C, and mass spectra. The viewer reads and saves in AFFN format only. Compressed JCAMP formats are not supported at this time. See the official JCAMP specification site for details.

General Viewer Features:

All spectra can be expanded in both X and Y coordinates via commands or buttons on the screen. Click and drag will outline a region which can be expanded or displayed via an inset window. Expansion will automatically rescale the Y dimension to bring the largest peak to full scale. Annotations (simple text labels) can be added via the annotation button (toggles on and off). These annotations will be saved if the file is saved via file:save. Holding down the control key while clicking and dragging on a peak will produce a label showing the X coordinate of the peak. Labeled peaks will also be saved if file:save is executed. Automatic peak picking results in identification of all all peaks above the threshold which can be adjusted via on screen controls. A peak table can also be displayed.

In general, anything displayed on screen can be printed or copied to the clipboard. If Quicktime 4 is installed, the screen display can be saved in jpeg format suitable for direct display on web pages. All jpeg files on our web site were created using this feature of the viewer.

Infrared Spectra:

Infrared spectra in the database were recorded and converted using a Nicolet FT-IR spectrometer. The default display format is absorbance versus wavenumber (cm^-1), but % transmittance is also available. This default can be changed via the preferences dialog and may be overridden by preferences within the JCAMP file itself.

Mass Spectra:

Mass spectra in the database were recorded on a Hewlett-Packard GC/MS and converted to peak table format using software delveloped locally. Normal expansion and labeling is available.

¹H nmr spectra:

Proton nmr spectra can be displayed in both Hz or ppm assuming the spectrometer observe frequency is available in the file header. The default can be changed via the preferences dialog. In addition, automatic integration can be performed. Raw FID data is available for some compunds in both JCAMP ntuples and MacNMR format. The viewer can read and display the real or imaginary portion of the JCAMP FID.

¹³C nmr spectra:

Carbon nmr spectra can be displayed in both Hz and ppm assuming the spectrometer observe frequency is available in the file header. The default can be changed via the preferences dialog. Raw FID data is available for some compunds in both JCAMP ntuples and MacNMR format. The viewer can read and display the real or imaginary portion of the JCAMP FID.

Nifty features:

1. Save as JPEG has been added to the file menu and works on both platforms if
2. Quicktime 4 is installed. Another way to get files into a word processing document.
3. Copy spectrum to the clipboard now works on both platforms.
4. NMR spectra can be displayed in ppm or hz.
5. An inset button has been implemented which displays the selection in a floating window while maintaining the full spectrum display in the main window. The inset is dynamically updated when a new region is selected in the main window. The inset window can be moved and resized. When the inset window is closed a copy of the inset window is displayed on the spectrum. Multiple insets can be displayed and edited. Insets are copied to the clipboard or printed as displayed.
6. Buttons to display the integration trace, peak pick and peak list have been added. The preferences can be set to show some of these data upon file open.
7. Chemical formulas and chemical structures can be pasted into the currently displayed spectrum. They will be saved in the data file (Macintosh only).
8. The contents of the peak list, structure and inset windows will be copied to the clipboard or printed. High resolution printing on postscript printers has been implemented and functions well. It may fail on inkjet printers. Testing is in progress.
9. Display of the ##Title line from the data file on the spectrum is now optional.
10. A simplistic spectrum overlay capability has been implemented to overlay spectra of the same type. An overlay button will appear when two or more comparable spectra are opened. Only the first three will be overlaid.
11. A Database item has been added to the file menu which allows direct access to the whole database from the viewer over the internet. This is hard coded into the application and points at http://pslc.uwsp.edu/ initially. A preference item is now available to allow pointing at a local web server. In addition to the above URL, the database is also available at http://pslc.ws/spectra. This may be modified at some point to allow direct access to the database stored on a local drive or CD. Search facilities may be added at a later time.
12. A special JCAMP file format has been contructed to allow students to access problem sets via the viewer. Several features of the viewer are disabled when files of this type are loaded. Try this URL after installing and configuring the viewer.
13. Multiple editable inset capability has been added. Insets will print to postscript printers.
14. A new file menu item has been added which brings up a minimal web viewer to access the UWSP spectral data server.