Introduction

ixdat provides a powerful object-oriented interface to experimental data, especially in-situ or online experimental data for which it is of interest to combine data obtained simultaneously from multiple techniques. Being centered around timestamps, ixdat allows you to smoothly connect data recorded with different techniques.

The concept is illustrated in the figure below: A measurement object interfaces with the data from one or more techniques, which can be treated using built-in methods, or can be retrieved in the form of an array, for maximum flexibility. Data in various formats is read in with the corresponding reader and can be plotted with a plotter, exported with an exporter (e.g. for treatment using other tools), or simply stored for later use in a database connected to ixdat. To allow for this broad functionality, ixdat comes with a pluggable reader interface for importing your data format, as well as pluggable exporter and plotter and database.

Design: pluggability

Get started today with one of the tutorials available under Tutorials. If you’re curious about the details of ixdat’s structure and the available readers, plotters and exporters, check out the section Diving deeper.

Supported techniques

Following techniques and asscociated file formats are currently supported:

Techniques and Readers

Measurement technique

Status

Readers

Electrochemistry

Released

  • biologic: .mpt files from Biologic’s EC-Lab software

  • autolab: ascii files from AutoLab’s NOVA software

  • ivium: .txt files from Ivium’s IviumSoft software

Mass Spectrometry

Released

  • pfeiffer: .dat files from Pfeiffer Vacuum’s PVMassSpec software

  • cinfdata: text export from DTU Physics’ cinfdata system

  • zilien: .tsv files from Spectro Inlets’ Zilien software

Electrochemistry - Mass Spectrometry (EC-MS)

Released

  • zilien: .tsv files from Spectro Inlets’ Zilien software

  • EC_MS: .pkl files from the legacy EC_MS python package

Spectro-Electrochemistry

Released

  • msrh_sec: .csv file sets from Imperial College London’s SEC system

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Development

  • avantage: .avg files from Thermo Scientific’s Avantage software

X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Development

  • xrdml: .xrdml files from e.g. PanAnalytical’s Empyereon

In-situ Electrochemistry - X-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS)

Development

  • qexafs: .dat files from Diamond’s B18 beamline

Low-Energy Ion Scattering (LEIS)

Future

Missing something?

Is the technique or reader for the file format you’re looking for not available yet? Then you have two options:

  • Contribute with a new feature: ixdat is a free and open source software and we welcome input and new collaborators. See Developing ixdat

OR