Proprietary formats

Many instruments record data into proprietary formats alongside PDF, reprocessible and raw data outputs. These files are usually vendor specific, and may only be readable using the vendor's own software. Typically, this means these files can only be opened on the PCs used to record the data, using the instrument control software. These files are usually in a binary file format with data being difficult to extract.

Where these files are recorded, they are made available for access, but these files are rarely useful for data analysis due to their lack of software compatibility.

We do not procure instruments which only provide proprietary data formats. All instrumentation supplied to Teaching Labs is required to provide PDF, raw and reprocessible formats.