How to export Chromeleon data as .cdf and open it without Chromeleon

Chromeleon 7 has no one-click AIA export. Thermo's own guide takes two steps: export the data to Xcalibur .raw files, then convert those to ANDI .cdf with a program that comes with Xcalibur. The .cdf files open in Nagura Lab without Chromeleon.

What you need

• Chromeleon 7.2 or 7.3.
• Thermo Xcalibur software. Thermo says its Foundation version must match the one Chromeleon uses, to avoid conflicts between the two programs. Thermo describes where to download Xcalibur in its guide; if you are unsure which version you need, ask Thermo support.

Step 1: export from Chromeleon to .raw

1. In the Chromeleon Console, in the Data category, right-click the sequence (or a single injection) and choose Export.
2. In the Export window, select TIC as the channel and choose the parent folder where the .raw files should be saved. Tick Raw file format (*.raw) and click OK.
3. The Export Results list the files that were created. You can also check the folder you chose.

Step 2: convert .raw to .cdf with FileConverter

1. Open FileConverter.exe, which Xcalibur installs in C:\Xcalibur\system\programs.
2. Under Conversion source, set the source data type to Xcalibur Files *.raw and browse to the folder with your exported files.
3. Select the files you want (or Select All) and click Add Job(s).
4. Under Conversion destination, set the destination data type to ANDI Files *.cdf and choose an output folder.
5. Click Convert. When the status tab says the conversion succeeded, the .cdf files are in the output folder.

These steps follow Thermo's guide The Chromeleon Guide To: Export to .CDF. Menus can differ between versions.

Open the .cdf file

1. Open Nagura Lab and drop one or more .cdf files on the page, or use Open data and pick Files.
2. The chromatogram is plotted against time in minutes. Tick several runs to overlay them (up to eight).
3. Download CSV gives the plotted traces in columns, Download PNG gives the figure.

The file is decoded on your computer and never uploaded. For what an AIA file contains, what is supported and a Python example, see the general .cdf guide.

Check the result

• Compare against Chromeleon once. Thermo's guide selects the TIC channel for the export, so check that the trace you get matches the channel you expected, and that the units look right. Check the axis and peak sizes too.
• The signal, not the processing. An AIA file carries the raw trace, not Chromeleon's processing method or reports.

What this does not replace

• Integration and quantitation. Nagura Lab shows and exports the signal; it does not replace Chromeleon or your validated data system.
• Regulated work. Do not use an exported copy as the record for regulated decisions.