How to extract raw data from GCMS Masshunter

Question

I would like to get the raw data from an unkown sample chromatogram which is in SCAN mode, so I can be able to build this 3-Dimensional plots, for example: In X axis there are all of the m/z values; in the Y axis the Retention Time and the results would show the intensity/abundance for every m/z in their respective RT.

I want to know if this is possible using Data Analysis Software or Mass Hunter. Besides it would be helpful to get a step by step guide.

I really would aprecciate it!

howard_sanford · Accepted Answer

Hi hectorhenriquez , Neither classic MSD ChemStation DA nor MassHunter offer a way to create 3D plots. There are, however, a few different open source utilities and programs that people have used to successfully create such plots. As always with open source programs, these are not supported or endorsed by Agilent, but here are two programs I have been able to use to take MassHunter data and create 3D plots. The first one you need is ProteoWizard . It installs several different utilities. If installed with default options, you will now have a right-click option from File Explorer to open a data file in MSConvertGUI. Once opened there, I made no changes to the default options. The output format needed for the next program is mzML, which is the default. Simply click the Start button to convert. The next program needed is MZmine 2 . Once extracted, run startMZmine-Windows.bat. Go to the Raw data methods menu, choose Raw data import and select the mzML file you just created. Then go to the Visualization menu and choose 3D visualizer. Enter the m/z range to plot or just click Auto range to plot the whole file. After clicking OK and adjusting the view a bit I have this 3D plot of the evaldemo2 data file You can also use the 2D Visualization and play around with settings to make something similar to the other plot. evaldemo2 is a pretty clean file so I had to adjust things quite a bit to make it look more 'interesting'. This was all done with default settings and just clicking through things without checking the documentation. I imagine if you spend some time with these or other such programs you can probably come up with much better results than what I show here. But it at least shows it can be done. Both programs seem to have pretty active websites, so if you have questions about either program I would definitely check their support and documentation links.

howard_sanford · Answer

Since Qual B.02.00 data can be exported in the mzData format. This is still the only 3D output format available in MassHunter. This is an open format, though according to this Wikipedia entry it has been made obsolete in favor of mzML. This is the format that ProteoWizard can create, and that program does appear to be capable of converting multiple files at once in batch mode. I would suggest having your Machine Learning Team examine each format and decide which they would like to work with. Then you can either export from MassHunter Qual for mzData, or use ProteoWizard in batch mode to produce mzML data, or whichever other open format they decide would work best for them. For MassHunter B.07.00 and prior it is done from the File menu In B.08.00 it is done in Navigator from the Export section under Method Automation In Version 10 it is done in Navigator view in the same method section. If they want to use the mzML, or any other open format, then I would refer you to the Documentation and Support section of ProteoWizard website for more information.

How to extract raw data from GCMS Masshunter

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