Using Chromperfect Unite to Review Chromperfect, ChemStation, OpenLAB, and Third-Party Chromatography Data
- Chromperfect
- Jul 2
- 11 min read
Chromatography laboratories often need to work with data from more than one chromatography data system. A project may include current Chromperfect data files, archived Chromperfect results, Agilent ChemStation files, OpenLAB data, or chromatography files from another third-party system.
This creates a practical problem. The user may not want to maintain several separate chromatography data systems simply to review old project data. They may only need to open chromatograms, integrate peaks, review results, generate reports, or consolidate data from several sources into one workflow.
Chromperfect Unite was developed for this type of situation. It allows supported chromatography data files from other sources to be brought into the Chromperfect environment for review, processing, integration, and reporting.
What Is Chromperfect Unite?
Chromperfect Unite is a software option for working with chromatography data from third-party sources. It is especially useful when a laboratory has a mixture of Chromperfect files and files originally created by another chromatography data system.
For a visual introduction, this explainer vidoeo gives a useful overview of what Chromperfect Unite is and why it exists:
YouTube video: What is Chromperfect Unite?https://youtu.be/ZlOrgXdT1aw
The purpose of Chromperfect Unite is not to replace every function of the original third-party software. Instead, it provides a way to bring supported chromatography data into Chromperfect so that it can be reviewed and processed using Chromperfect tools.
This can be useful for historical archives, customer-supplied data, project files from another laboratory, method transfer work, or situations where a company wants to standardise the review of chromatography data from several sources.
Why Laboratories Need a Unified Review Workflow
Mixed chromatography data projects are common.
A laboratory may have used different chromatography systems over many years, or it may receive project files from customers, contractors, sister laboratories, or legacy instruments.
This can create several problems.
The data may exist in different formats.
Some files may require old software to open them.
Different systems may use different reporting styles.
Archived systems may no longer be installed on modern computers.
Even when the chromatography data itself is valid, the review process can become inefficient because the user has to move between separate applications.
Chromperfect Unite helps reduce this complexity by allowing supported external chromatography files to be processed within the Chromperfect workflow.
Using Chromperfect Unite With ChemStation and OpenLAB Data
One of the most common use cases for Chromperfect Unite is working with Agilent ChemStation and OpenLAB data.
Chromperfect Unite can read Agilent .CH files. These are native data files associated with ChemStation and OpenLAB workflows. This is important because it means that, for supported Agilent data, the user may be able to bring the chromatogram into Chromperfect Unite without first exporting it to a generic interchange format.
The following video shows a practical demonstration of using Chromperfect Unite with ChemStation and OpenLAB data files:
YouTube video: Using Chromperfect Unite with ChemStation and OpenLAB data files https://youtu.be/QQN7jJlTNRg
This demonstration is useful because it moves beyond the general concept and shows the workflow using real chromatography data files.
File Compatibility: What Can Chromperfect Unite Read?
File compatibility is one of the most important points to understand before purchasing or using Chromperfect Unite.
Chromperfect Unite is not a universal reader for every proprietary chromatography data format. It supports specific file types and workflows.
For Agilent ChemStation and OpenLAB data, Chromperfect Unite can read Agilent .CH files.
For most other third-party chromatography data systems, the expected route is through AIA/NetCDF export. These files normally use the .CDF extension. In this case, the original chromatography data system must be able to export the data in AIA or NetCDF format before Chromperfect Unite can import it.
This distinction is important.
If a laboratory has ChemStation or OpenLAB .CH files, Chromperfect Unite may be able to work directly with those supported files.
If a laboratory has data from another chromatography data system, such as Chromeleon or another vendor platform, the user should not assume that Chromperfect Unite can directly read that system’s native proprietary files. The third-party software would normally need to export the chromatogram as AIA/NetCDF first.
In practical terms, before starting a project, the user should confirm the actual file types available.
It is not enough to say that the data came from a particular chromatography data system. The important question is: what file format can be supplied to Chromperfect Unite?
Why AIA/NetCDF Export Matters
AIA/NetCDF was created as an interchange format for chromatography data. It provides a way for chromatography data to be exchanged between systems without requiring every software vendor to read every other vendor’s native proprietary file format.
For Chromperfect Unite, this means that many third-party data systems can potentially be supported if they can export the chromatogram to AIA/NetCDF .CDF.
However, the export must be created by the original third-party data system. Chromperfect Unite cannot invent an export file if the third-party system does not provide one. If the source software cannot export the data in a supported format, or if the export is incomplete, compatibility may be limited.
For this reason, users should confirm export capability before planning a project around third-party data files.
How Chromperfect Unite Handles Incoming Data
Chromperfect Unite operates within the Chromperfect ecosystem. Supported incoming files are brought into Chromperfect so that the chromatogram can be reviewed, integrated, analysed, and reported using Chromperfect tools.
A central part of this workflow is the Chromperfect Sentry Service. The Sentry Service can watch configured directories for incoming chromatography data files. When supported files appear in those directories, they can be converted and processed according to the method assigned to that directory.
This creates a practical workflow for project data. Files can be placed into the appropriate watched directory, and Chromperfect can process them using the configured method. Depending on the configuration, Chromperfect can generate processed results, reports, and associated output files.
Each watched directory can be associated with a different Chromperfect method. This allows different projects, file types, or processing requirements to be handled separately.
Raw Data, Processed Data, and Chromperfect Bound Files
When third-party chromatography data is brought into Chromperfect Unite, it should be understood as incoming raw chromatographic data. The chromatogram can then be integrated and analysed within Chromperfect.
After the chromatogram has been processed, the result is saved within the Chromperfect ecosystem. In most review workflows, the important file is the Chromperfect Bound file.
A Chromperfect Bound file contains the processed chromatogram together with the associated method, calibration, peak, and reporting information required to reproduce the processed result. This makes it useful for review, reporting, and archiving because it acts as a processed snapshot of the chromatogram.
This is particularly valuable when reviewing historical data or mixed project data because it avoids depending on separate method and calibration files that may later change.
Can Chromperfect Unite Be Used for a Short Project?
Chromperfect Unite can certainly be used for a defined project, such as reviewing a collection of existing Chromperfect files alongside supported third-party chromatography data files.
However, it should not be viewed as a temporary file viewer or a free conversion utility. In most cases, a user who wants to use Chromperfect Unite will still need to purchase a Chromperfect Unite license.
The positive point is that Chromperfect Unite is relatively inexpensive compared with purchasing a complete chromatography data system. For laboratories that only need to review or process existing data, rather than acquire new data from instruments, Unite can be a practical and cost-effective option.
This can make sense for a one-off archive review, a customer-supplied data project, a method transfer project, or a mixed collection of Chromperfect, ChemStation, OpenLAB, and AIA/NetCDF files.
The best approach is to confirm the data formats before purchase. If sample files can be supplied, the Chromperfect team can help confirm whether the files are suitable for use with Chromperfect Unite.
Providing a Windows 11 Platform for Historical Chromatography Data
Another important use case for Chromperfect Unite is providing a modern Windows 11, or later, platform for reviewing historical chromatography data.
Many laboratories have valuable chromatography archives that were created using older chromatography data systems. In some cases, the original software is no longer supported by the manufacturer. In other cases, the software may still exist, but it is not compatible with modern computers, modern Windows versions, or current IT security requirements.
This can create a serious long-term problem. To preserve access to historical data, organisations may find themselves maintaining obsolete PCs running older operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows 7, or unsupported Windows 10 installations. These computers may still be needed simply because they are the only systems capable of running the original chromatography software.
That approach can become a major risk. The entire data archive may depend on a single aging PC, an old hard drive, an unsupported operating system, or software that cannot easily be reinstalled. If that computer fails, the laboratory may lose practical access to years of historical chromatography data.
There are also compliance and IT concerns. Legacy computers may no longer receive security updates, may not meet internal IT policies, and may be difficult to back up or validate properly. Even if the system still works, it may represent an unacceptable weak point in the laboratory’s data review process.
Chromperfect Unite can help address this type of problem by allowing supported historical chromatography data to be brought into a current Chromperfect environment running on modern Windows platforms. Instead of depending on obsolete hardware and unsupported legacy software, the laboratory can create a more sustainable route for reviewing and processing supported archived data.
This does not mean that Chromperfect Unite becomes the original third-party data system, and it does not guarantee compatibility with every historical file format. However, where the data is available in a supported format, such as Agilent .CH files or AIA/NetCDF .CDF exports, Unite can provide a practical path away from aging, high-risk legacy computers.
For organisations with important chromatography archives, this can be one of the most valuable reasons to consider Chromperfect Unite. It reduces reliance on obsolete systems and helps move historical data review onto a more modern, maintainable platform.
Important Limitations
Chromperfect Unite should not be described as a universal reader, editor, or converter for every chromatography data format.
For Agilent ChemStation and OpenLAB workflows, Chromperfect Unite can read supported .CH files. For other third-party chromatography systems, the usual route is AIA/NetCDF .CDF export. This means the original third-party data system must be able to export the data in a suitable format.
Users should also understand that Chromperfect Unite exists within the Chromperfect ecosystem. It is not an extension of the original third-party chromatography data system.
For example, if data from ChemStation, OpenLAB, Chromeleon, or another chromatography system is opened through Chromperfect Unite, the data is brought into Chromperfect for processing and review. The user is not still working inside the original vendor’s software.
After the chromatogram has been integrated and analysed in Chromperfect, the processed result is saved in Chromperfect file formats, typically as a Chromperfect Bound file.
This means users should not expect to open third-party data in Chromperfect Unite, modify or integrate it, and then save it back into the native format of the original third-party system. Chromperfect Unite does not provide a round-trip workflow back into ChemStation, OpenLAB, Chromeleon, or another vendor’s proprietary software environment.
Chromperfect Unite also follows the same general scope as Chromperfect itself. It is intended for conventional chromatography data review, processing, integration, and reporting. It does not add support for mass spectrometry data, MS detector output, or multidimensional HPLC workflows. Users working with GC/MS, LC/MS, or multidimensional HPLC data should not assume that exporting the data to a supported file format makes the full detector output or multidimensional workflow compatible with Chromperfect Unite.
In simple terms, Chromperfect Unite allows supported third-party chromatography data to come into Chromperfect for processing and review. It does not convert processed Chromperfect results back into the original third-party format, and it does not extend Chromperfect into MS or multidimensional chromatography applications.
Extending the Value of an Incumbent Chromatography Data System
Another important use case for Chromperfect Unite is in laboratories where a particular chromatography data system is already established as the incumbent platform.
In many organisations, the choice of chromatography data system is not always made at the local laboratory level. A company may have made a large investment in a specific manufacturer’s software, or an enterprise-wide decision may have been made by corporate management, IT, or a central validation group. In these situations, the local laboratory manager may have limited authority to replace the existing system, even if the software does not provide the usability, flexibility, reporting tools, or processing features that the laboratory would prefer.
This can leave the laboratory in a difficult position. The incumbent system remains necessary for data acquisition because it is already installed, validated, and approved within the organisation. However, the local users may still want better tools for reviewing, integrating, analysing, comparing, and reporting chromatographic data.
Chromperfect Unite can provide a practical way to bridge this gap.
Instead of replacing the incumbent chromatography data system, the laboratory can continue using it for data acquisition while using Chromperfect Unite for supported downstream data review and processing. In this workflow, the original system remains in place to collect the data from the instrument, while supported data files are brought into Chromperfect for analysis, integration, reporting, and review.
This allows the laboratory to benefit from Chromperfect’s powerful processing and reporting features without requiring a full replacement of the enterprise-approved acquisition system.
This can be particularly useful where the local laboratory is satisfied with the instrument control or acquisition side of the incumbent system but finds the data review workflow restrictive. Chromperfect Unite gives the laboratory another route for working with the data after acquisition, provided the files are available in a supported format such as Agilent .CH files or AIA/NetCDF .CDF exports.
It is important to be clear that this does not make Chromperfect Unite an extension of the third-party data system. The incumbent system still performs acquisition. Chromperfect Unite provides a separate Chromperfect-based environment for supported data review, processing, and reporting.
In this way, Chromperfect Unite can help laboratories improve their day-to-day chromatography data workflow without challenging the wider corporate decision to retain an existing enterprise chromatography data system.
What Information Should You Provide Before Asking About Unite?
Before asking whether Chromperfect Unite is suitable, it helps to provide a clear description of the files and the project.
Useful information includes the source of the files, the file extensions, the chromatography data system that created them, and whether the original software can export AIA/NetCDF .CDF files.
It is also useful to confirm whether the requirement is review only, reprocessing, report generation, or data consolidation. The number of files and number of users should also be provided.
For example, a useful enquiry might say:
“I have a project that includes existing Chromperfect files and Agilent ChemStation .CH files. I would like to review and possibly reprocess these in one environment. Can you confirm whether Chromperfect Unite is suitable?”
Or:
“I have data from another chromatography data system. The system can export AIA/NetCDF .CDF files. Can Chromperfect Unite be used to process and review these files?”
These details help the Chromperfect team confirm the correct route and avoid confusion about unsupported native third-party file formats.
When Chromperfect Unite Is a Good Fit
Chromperfect Unite is a good fit when a laboratory needs to review or process supported chromatography data from multiple sources in a Chromperfect workflow.
Typical use cases include historical data review, customer project data, multi-site data consolidation, method transfer projects, ChemStation or OpenLAB archive review, and projects where third-party systems can export AIA/NetCDF .CDF files.
It is also useful when a user already understands Chromperfect and wants to avoid maintaining several legacy chromatography systems simply to review older chromatograms.
Summary
Chromperfect Unite provides a practical way to bring supported third-party chromatography data into a Chromperfect review and processing workflow.
For Agilent ChemStation and OpenLAB data, Chromperfect Unite can read supported .CH files.
For most other third-party chromatography systems, the practical route is AIA/NetCDF .CDF export, which must be created by the original third-party software.
The whiteboard explainer video gives a useful overview of what Chromperfect Unite is and why it exists:
The practical demonstration video shows Chromperfect Unite being used with ChemStation and OpenLAB data files:
For users with a short project, Chromperfect Unite can be a cost-effective option, but it normally still requires the purchase of a Unite license. It should be understood as a Chromperfect-based review and processing workflow, not a way to edit third-party data and save it back into the original vendor’s native format.
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