Spectragryph - optical spectroscopy software: Help & Guidance

Opening *.spc files doesn't work. There is a message saying something about "gspciolib.dll error" or "Class not registered"

Please follow the installation instructions from the download site. To enable reading of *.spc files, Spectragryph has to be installed with admin permissions!

Opening *.sif files from Andor doesn't work on my Win11 system. The error message says "External Exception C06D007E"

Reading of *.sif files from Andor makes use of the atsifio.dll conversion DLL. On Win11, a more recent version of this DLL is required. Please download this zip file and copy the contained dll files into the Spectragryph program folder (admin permission needed). Say YES to overwriting atsifio.dll and atspooler.dll. Restart Spectragryph and it will work forever.

The software doesn't start, instead giving an error about "MSVCP100.dll is not a valid Windows image" (or something else about "msvcp100.dll")

Please delete the "msvcp100.dll" file from the Spectragryph program folder and try to start again.
If it is still not working, please download & install Microsoft's "Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)" from here.

The software doesn't recognize my file format. What can I do?

For ASCII files (that is: content can be read with a text editor), try to change your file extension to *.csv (for multi-spectrum data) or else *.txt or *.fak (for single-spectrum data), and open again with Spectragryph. There is a good chance to successfully import your data. You might also try to copy the data columns and use the "Paste data from clipboard" feature.
For binary files, first have a look for an export feature within the measuring software. Most spectrometer software has a feature to export data into ASCII files. You might also send me sample files (ideally the same data as both binary and ASCII file), often enough it is possible to create a new import function for these files.

How can I change the axis types?

Just use one of the "Axes" buttons from the "Plot/ Views" ribbon for axis type selection (also available on top of each spectra tab). All axis types can be used for all spectral types, however not every axis type conversion also make sense (e.g. to display an intensity spectrum as transmittance). Please understand that only the plotted display is changed, the spectral data itself remains unchanged.

Where can I select the axis boundaries? How can I zoom in and out?

Select the zoom region with the left mouse button. Axis ticks will always be labeled with even numbers. Clicking the right mouse button zooms back out again to give the full display. Middle mouse button will pan the whole plot around. Mouse wheel scrolls horizontally. Shift + mousewheel scrolls vertically. Alt + mousewheel zooms in/out centered at the mouse position. Selecting one of the "zoom direction" buttons on top of the spectra page (or EEM page) will restrict zooming and scrolling to the selected direction. Use the [Zoom history] button for stepwise zooming out. The blue ( i ) button gives an overview of all possibilities.

Additionally, you can assign custom axis boundaries by 1) clicking onto the respective axes and entering the start/ end values, and 2) turn on/off the use of these boundaries with the [custom boundaries] button from the Plot/Views ribbon. Whenever zooming out, these boundaries will be used as axis range.

Can I edit the spectrum names/ legend texts?

Change legend texts for all spectra with the "Replace by filename" option from the "Edit Legend text" function (accessible with doubleclick on the legend box, or F6 shortkey, or from the left menu on the "Spectra" ribbon or from the lower right arrow menu in the Spectra ribbon's Properties section... In the upper text box, insert your desired spectrum description (= "legend text"). The "Edit all " button brings up a sub-window, to allow to work on all spectra legend texts, including batch search&replace functionality.

Is it possible to use the filename as legend text?

bring up the "Edit all" window for editing all legend texts (by doubleclick on the legend box, or pressing F6, or from the left menu on the "Spectra" ribbon or from the lower right arrow menu in the Spectra ribbon's Properties section). By using the "Replace by filename" button, you can immediately replace all the legend texts by the spectra's filenames.

What is the best way for creating a spectral plot graphics?

Two things are essential:
1) Do not maximise the Spectragryph window! Instead keep it medium-sized.The plot created by "Save Plot as..." or "Copy Plot to Clipboard" has text and axis labeling that is sized proportional to what you see on your screen. Which happens to look much better for a medium sized Spectragryph window, compared to a maximised one.
2) Use a line size of +1 or +2, by hitting "Lines Thicker" once or twice. Like this, line colours can be seen much better, especially in printouts.
To get an impression, have a look at this example PDF document.

How to normalize to any peak I want, even if it is not the highest peak?

As the hint for the "Normalize (Peak)" button says, it will set each spectrum's highest peak within the visible area to 1. That is: first use the mouse to zoom into the peak area you want to normalize and then press the "Normalize (Peak)" button. Like this, you are not only able to normalize to any peak you want, but you can in fact even apply normalization to any spectrum position. Just zoom in a way, that the desired position is the highest point in the current plot window, before executing the "Normalize (Peak)" function.

Can't connect to my Ocean Optics spectrometer. The message says something about ""Class not registered"?

Make sure to quit OceanView/ SpectraSuite software before controlling your spectrometer module from Spectragryph. In case there is no OceanOptics software installed*, it is required to first install the 32bit version of OceanOptic's Omnidriver package. Please download from the OceanOptics website, or else from this website: http://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/support/OmniDriver-2.56-win32-installer.exe. Beware, it is about 125MB in size. After installing this package, Spectragryph should run smoothly with your OO module. One more time: the 32bit version of OmniDriver is needed!
Supported device types are: ADC1000-USB, Apex, Curie, Flame, HR2000, HR2000+, HR4000, Jaz, Maya2000, Maya2000Pro, MayaLSL, MMS-Raman, NIR256, NIR512, NIRQuest, QE65000, QE65Pro, QEPro, Spark, STS, Torus, USB2000, USB2000-FLG, USB2000+, USB4000, Ventana. Some older types might not get immediately recognized: these require manual driver association, then it works flawlessly.
About driver versions: the Spectragryph version v1.2.9 and newer will work with OmniDriver versions v2.46 and v2.56, but not with older OmniDriver versions. Spectragryph version v1.2.8 and older worked only with OmniDriver version v.2.43.
* Even with OceanView installed, it might still not work. The 32bit driver package is required, as described above.

Can't connect to my Andor camera. There is a message about "VxD not loaded"?

Make sure to turn off Andor SOLIS software before connecting your camera with Spectragryph. Sometimes, an instance of SOLIS invisibly keeps running and prevents Spectragryph from successfully connecting. In these cases, use TaskManager to really close down the SOLIS software.
Supported camera types include at least: iDus, iVac, iXon, iStar, Newton, iKon, but probably more

Can't connect to my StellarNet spectrometer.
Make sure to quit SpectraWiz software before controlling your spectrometer module from Spectragryph. It would automatically connect to the Stellarnet module, preventing the ability to connect from Spectragryph. Also, when already connected in Spectragryph, the module won't connect at the same time with SpectraWiz.
In case there is no Stellarnet software installed, make sure to first install at least the Stellarnet drivers (32bit version!), as described on the Stellarnet website.
For error messages saying something about USB or "Invalid uHandle", just start Spectragryph once with admin permissions and it should work properly afterwards.
Supported device types include at least: GREEN-Wave, BLUE-Wave, BLACK-Comet, SILVER-Nova, HYPER-Nova, DWARF-Star, RED-Wave, Raman models

Can't connect to my Avantes spectrometer.
Make sure to quit AvaSoft before controlling your spectrometer module from Spectragryph. It would automatically connect to the Avantes module, preventing the ability to connect from Spectragryph. Also, when already connected in Spectragryph, the module won't connect at the same time with AvaSoft.
In case there is no Avantes software installed, make sure to first install at least the Avantes WinUSB drivers or the Avantes AvaSoft software, as described on the Avantes website. You may also just download the Avantes driver package from my website: http://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/support/dp_avaspec.exe (size: 9.4MB)
In case it says "MSVCP120.DLL is missing", please install the VC++ 2013 redistributable package (as 32bit version) from the Microsoft website first.
The software should work with all AvaSpec, AvaSpec-NIR, AvaSpec-HS and AvaSpec-Mini devices.

Can't connect to my Arcoptix spectrometer.
Make sure to quit ARCspectro software before attempting to connect to your Arcoptix spectrometer. It would prevent the ability to connect from Spectragryph, at least if it is connected to the spectrometer module. Also, when already connected in Spectragryph, the module probably won't connect at the same time with ARCspectro.
In case of no ARCspectro software installed, it is mandatory to have the arcoptix drivers installed (for download from here: https://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/support/Arcoptix_Drivers.zip).
In case it says something like "VCRUNTIME140_1.dll is missing" please install the Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2019 from here: https://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/support/vcredist_2015-2019_x64.exe

Can't connect to my Wasatch Photonics spectrometer.
Make sure to quit Enlighten software before connecting your spectrometer module from Spectragryph. It would automatically connect to the Wasatch module, such preventing the ability to connect from Spectragryph. Also, when already connected in Spectragryph, the module won't connect at the same time with Enlighten.
In case there is no Enlighten software installed, or if the 64bit software is installed, make sure to first install the 32bit version of Wasatch Photonic's .NET driver package from here: http://wasatchphotonics.com/binaries/drivers/Wasatch.NET/
- Spectragryph v1.2.13 and newer needs Wasatch driver version v2.0.27: https://www.effemm2.de/spectragryph/support/WasatchNET-2.0.27-Setup32.msi
- Spectragryph v1.2.11 and v1.2.12 work with driver v2.0.7: https://wasatchphotonics.com/binaries/drivers/Wasatch.NET/archives/WasatchNET-2.0.7-Setup32.msi.gz
- Spectragryph v1.2.9 and v1.2.10 needed a driver from the v1.x series.

Will the software also control my XY spectrometer?
No way, if its manufacturer is not listed here. For each new spectrometer type, it takes a considerable implementation effort, as all manufacturers have their own, special way of "talking" to their hardware. Therefore, controlling a previously unknown device type will never work by chance. I will at least need some kind of documentation (command set, interface DLL, ...) and such a device on my desk for implementing and testing.

Will the licensed version work with an offline computer?
It will work well on an offline computer. Usually, online access is required for the initial license activation step and re-verification every 90 days. There is an easy online way and a slightly more complicated offline way to do this.

1) online activation: Just click onto the "Activation" button during software startup and follow the instructions. Have the license key ready for this. Later on, it will ask for re-verification every 90 days, with a 14days grace period. For re-verification you need to be online, but the software does all the rest. All the time in between, no online interaction will happen.

2) offline activation: for the special case of a computer that never goes online, there is also a solution for both initial activation and re-verification. Just two more steps involved, with sending a file back an forth. Again, click the "Activation" button during software startup and follow the instructions for offline activation.