1. technology and computing
2. software

I N F O R M AT I O N S H E E T
I M ACC F T I R S O F T WA R E S U I T E
pg 1/3
imacc-instruments.com
IMACC FTIR Software Suite
There are four software packages included with all IMACC FTIR instruments that
comprise the IMACC FTIR Software Suite (IFSS):
IMACC SCRIPT EDITOR
controls sequences of
events for the FTIR
instrument and for
external equipment.
IMACC MONITOR
is a graphical display
package providing standard
or customized display of
both spectral and gas
concentration data.
IMACC QUANTIFY
generates and tests
analysis methods
and provides batch
reprocessing of
spectral data.
IMACC TOOL BOX
provides tools for
manipulating data.
IMACC SCRIPT EDITOR
The script editor is a simple
“drag and drop” package that
allows the user to set up
sequences of events for the
FTIR as well as external
equipment. Objects are simply
dropped into the script window
in the order in which they are
to be executed.
Typical events:
FTIR data acquisition
Valve control
Pressure/temperature sensor
interfacing or background
collection
Logical objects also exist and can be used
to set up loops or branches as desired.
Loops may be continuous or started and
stopped based on time or external events.
For example, a loop may be set up to
collect and process data continuously until
23:30:00 hours, at which time processing
stops, valve 1 is closed, valve 2 is opened,
and a background spectrum is collected.
After this is complete, valve 2 is closed,
valve 3 is re-opened, and data collection
continues (looping back to the top).
Each element of a script has its own setup
window with tabs: Collect, Bench,
Directory, Omnic, and Auto-Background.
The Collect tab sets items like integration
time, spectral band width, shift correction
parameters, the background file to be used,
the analytical method or methods to be
used, and whether or not the IMACC
dynamic reference selection and IMACC
bias correction features should be used.
Tables are used to set all FTIR bench
parameters, the directories and types of
data to be saved, the default Omnic
parameters to use, and the automated
background collect parameters. Various
scripts can be created and saved for
different applications. These are opened
manually or automatically by the IMACC
Monitor discussed below. Custom objects
can also be added to the script menu so
user specific equipment or options can be
included in all scripts.
IMACC Script set up to collect, perform valve
control, and collect background.
I N F O R M AT I O N S H E E T
I M ACC F T I R S O F T WA R E S U I T E
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IMACC MONITOR
The IMACC Monitor is used to display data or spectra during
real time acquisition or using saved data files. The IMACC
Monitor typically opens and automatically runs a specified script
when it is started and allows the user to create custom windows
and panes within the windows that can graphically display
spectra, interferograms, or gas concentration data. It can also
produce tabular lists of diagnostic information or gas
concentrations. The interface is very versatile so users can
customize the display to their needs. A Monitor layout is also
saved so multiple display layouts can be set up and opened to
configure the screen for particular applications.
Typical layout created by IMACC Monitor for
display of tabular and graphical data from FTIR.
IMACC QUANTIFY
The IMACC Quantify is used to create new
analysis routines, to test them, and to batch
reprocess spectral data. Once an analysis
method is developed, it can be used by IMACC
Script or IMACC Monitor to analyze spectra in
real time. The IMACC quantify software has
several powerful features including spectral line
shift correction, linearity correction, and
dynamic reference selection.
IMACC Quantify Setup
showing the window used to
select analysis regions and
windows within regions.
Quantify also allows the user to set up
windows within analysis regions to avoid
interferences from other compounds or to skip
highly absorbing areas. Dynamic reference
selection actually changes the references used
in the method “on the fly” to keep up with
process/sample changes, minimizing the errors
in the analysis process. As references are
changed, their individual linearization
correction parameters are also changed.
This shows the screen used
for linearity corrections of
individual compounds. Shown
is the linearity for NO from
zero to 500 ppm in a 5m cell.
The upper plot on the right is
the percent error which
ranges from -0.19% to 0.15%.
Shows quantitations of
sample spectra. There are
two lines of numbers for
each compound because
dynamic references selection
is being utilized so the
software adjusts all references to match the observed
concentrations and then
re-analyzes the spectrum.
800 Paloma Drive, Suite 150
Round Rock, TX 78665
imacc-instruments.com
Robert Spellicy, Ph.D.
rspellicy@imacc-instruments.com
512-341-8189
Troy Boley, Ph.D.
tboley@imacc-instruments.com
770-883-7082
I N F O R M AT I O N S H E E T
I M ACC F T I R S O F T WA R E S U I T E
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IMACC TOOL BOX
Several special tools are included in the IMACC Tool Box:
A Spectral Averager that allows multiple spectra to be input and averaged to produce a single
output spectrum with averaged collection parameters such as temperature and pressure. The
averager also allows the user to alter pressure, temperature, path-length, and gas-concentration
information in the header of spectral files;
A Synthetic Io Generator which uses a set of chosen points along the baseline of a spectrum to
fit an “averaged” quadratic polynomial to it. The result is a smooth polynomial defining the
baseline of the spectrum and having data points at the same spacing as the fit spectrum. This Io
can then be used to convert single beams to absorbance when a measured Io is not available or
impossible to collect.
A Batch Reprocessor that allows a large number of spectral files to be reprocessed with any
specified background and analysis methods. The reprocessor generates a new gas concentration
file as output that can be used in all IMACC display software packages as well as Microsoft
Excel and Access.
The IMACC Tool Box is being updated regularly, and updates are available for free download.
800 Paloma Drive, Suite 150
Round Rock, TX 78665
imacc-instruments.com
Robert Spellicy, Ph.D.
rspellicy@imacc-instruments.com
512-341-8189
Troy Boley, Ph.D.
tboley@imacc-instruments.com
770-883-7082