MSSTRING() and decimals

Ask or learn about how to use the software or troubleshoot problems
Post Reply
sundberg
Posts: 8
Joined: February 27th, 2017, 5:03 am

MSSTRING() and decimals

Post by sundberg »

Hi!
I'm trying to export a blob table which includes the mass spectra in text format using MSSTRING() with a CLIC-expression. It works, however it only exports the mz values with 1 decimal. I'm using the mzDecimal option, i.e. full command is MSSTRING("mzDecimal=4") as described in the manual. We're using GC Image 2.8, HRMS-edition. Mass spectra of pixels/blobs etc all show the correct mz values, data is collected on an Agilent 7200B QTOF. Any ideas?

THanks!
qtao
Posts: 209
Joined: October 7th, 2011, 10:16 am

Re: MSSTRING() and decimals

Post by qtao »

Try the following expression

Code: Select all

MSSTRING@peak("mzDecimal=4")
If m/z values have the correct decimal places, check if Configure > Settings > Multi-Channel > MS Data Binning settings are set to By Integer Intervals.

If m/z values still only have one decimal ".0", it is probably because there is no centroid data. You can double check the Point spectrum shown alongside Profile. There is no existing CLIC function that can be used to retrieve profile spectra. But, a script written in a CLIC plugin could get this done.
sundberg
Posts: 8
Joined: February 27th, 2017, 5:03 am

Re: MSSTRING() and decimals

Post by sundberg »

The m/z values show .0 as decimal, with MS Data Binning is set to Integer intervals. The data have been collected with in both profile and centroid mode, and we can see both when looking at blobs/pixels... Is there someway you can force import to only include the centroid spectra? I have attached screenshots of how it looks.
Attachments
190912-Peak_Profile_03.PNG
190912-Peak_Profile_03.PNG (5.53 KiB) Viewed 12173 times
190912-Peak_Profile_02.png
190912-Peak_Profile_02.png (21.53 KiB) Viewed 12173 times
190912-Peak_Profile_01.png
190912-Peak_Profile_01.png (45.51 KiB) Viewed 12173 times
qtao
Posts: 209
Joined: October 7th, 2011, 10:16 am

Re: MSSTRING() and decimals

Post by qtao »

The software always imports centroid data if it is available. If centroid data is not available, the software will import nominal spectra of profile data. From the screenshots, there are centroid spectra. So, the only problem is MS Data Binning setting.

By default, MSString() uses the Blob spectrum. Blob spectrum is the sum of all spectra of a blob. During summation, average m/z values are calculated based on the binning settings. Choosing a non-Integer option should resolve the problem. If you are not sure which option, choose Adaptive Bin with 0.5mu tolerance. You can find more details here.

Alternatively, you can use MSSTRING@peak("mzDecimal=4", "intensityDecimal=0") to get the peak spectrum. It will return the centroid spectrum at the apex of a blob. Since it is just a single spectrum, no binning is required.
Post Reply