How to Select Peaks in Chromperfect

YouTube Training Video - selecting peaks in Chromperfect Created in Chromperfect version 8 but identical in version 10 and above

Peak selection is a powerful feature in Chromperfect that gives you greater control over how your data is presented, processed, and reported. In this post, we’ll walk through different methods for selecting peaks, including manual selection, timed events, and custom reporting.

What Are Selected and Deselected Peaks?

Each peak in Chromperfect has a selection index property. By default, this value is zero, meaning the peak is unselected. A peak can be assigned a value between one and nine, placing it into one of nine selection categories.

It’s important to note that peak selection is entirely separate from peak identification or calibration. Instead, it’s a way to organize and highlight related peaks for easier analysis and reporting. Selected peaks can be visually emphasized in chromatograms and filtered into reports.

Peak Selection in Custom Reports

Chromperfect’s reporting tools allow you to filter peak tables so that only selected peaks are displayed. For example, one report may show only selected peaks, while another includes all peaks regardless of selection. This functionality makes reporting more flexible and ensures clarity in results.

Using Timed Events to Automatically Select Peaks

Peaks can also be selected during integration by using Seal Timed Events in the method file. This approach allows specific peaks, eluting at known retention times, to be automatically marked as selected.

Bound files produced during automatic processing will reflect these selections, ensuring consistency across analyses.

Manually Selecting Peaks in the Analysis Program

Manual selection provides flexibility when working interactively with chromatograms.

1. Open the Analyze program and choose Tools → Select Peaks.

2. Choose a selection index (1–9).

3. Decide whether to select individual peaks or multiple peaks.

   • Individual Peaks: Left-click on a peak to select it, then right-click to confirm.

   • Multiple Peaks: Click and drag to highlight a region, then right-click to confirm selection of all peaks within that region.

The selected peaks will be flooded with color, based on the chosen selection index. If you select a peak by mistake, simply left- and right-click again to deselect it.

While the Operation Assistant is available to guide you through this process, many users find the left-click (select) and right-click (confirm) approach faster and more intuitive.

Conclusion

Peak selection is a versatile feature within Chromperfect that helps users better manage their chromatographic data. Whether you’re filtering custom reports, setting up automatic timed events, or selecting peaks manually, Chromperfect provides flexible options to support your workflow.

For further guidance, watch the full video above and check the user manual for your specific version of Chromperfect.