PyDespike

A Program to Grapically Despike Raman Data



About

PyDespike is a program to graphically process (ie. despike) Raman and other spectroscopic data. Removing spikes in data due to artificial background fluctuations can be a tedious and time-consuming process, and since no other software with these requirements was known to exist, PyDespike was created to make Raman data processing more efficient.

PyDespike is the brain child of Michael Vance (Department of Chemistry, Stanford University) and much thanks is given to him for supporting the development of a scientifically useful project and providing valuable feedback to the graphical interface of PyDespike in its beta stages. It was written using python and the python extensions to Qt and Qwt (PyQt and PyQwt), and thus, is cross-platform. It has only been tested on Windows XP and Gentoo Linux, but there is no reason for it not to be supported on any platform with python, PyQt, and PyQwt.

PyDespike can be cited however you feel appropriate, but I would recommend ONE of the following:
  1. Tenderholt, Adam L. PyDespike, Version 1.1, http://pydespike.sourceforge.net.
  2. Tenderholt, Adam L. "PyDespike: A Program to Graphically Despike Raman Data", Version 1.1, http://pydespike.sourceforge.net.
  3. Tenderholt, Adam L. PyDespike, Version 1.1. Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA.
Of course, citation format requirements may vary from journal to journal, so adjust the above suggestions as necessary.

Screenshots

Main pydespike window showing multiple raman data scans Using mouse to zoom in on anomalous data spikes
The main window, with 3 Raman scans imported. The main window can be zoomed in, and it zooms the individual scan windows.
Using the windows menu to choose an individual scan for despiking Individual scan window with brackets around the spike to be removed
Individual scans can be selected Once an individual scan is selected, a spike can be bracketed and then removed.

Links

Download PyDespike

Sourceforge Project Page

Bugs

It's probably that not every data file type can be opened with this since only tab-, space-, and comma-delimited text was needed when this was written. If you can't open your data, shoot me an email with the data file and I'll see what I can do.

Also, there has been limited testing aside from a few people, so if you find a bug PLEASE let me know. I'll try to fix it as soon as possible.

License

PyDespike is licensed under the GNU GPL with an exception to dynamically link to the non-commercial versions of Qt and PyQt/sip. As such, binary executables and source code is freely distributable, provided you adhere to the terms of the GPL for the PyDespike portion, and the Qt non-commercial license for Qt and PyQt/sip portions as appropriate (i.e. you cannot sell the windows executable of PyDespike as I have distributed it and need to repackage PyDespike using the commercial versions of Qt and PyQt/sip).

Most Linux distributions have pre-built, easy-to-install packages for python, PyQt, and PyQwt, and may even have most of these libraries installed. In this case, getting PyDespike to run is as simple as unzipping the source and executing the main python program. If you don't want the hassle of downloading python and the libraries in Windows, there is a pre-built windows executable. Simply unzip and run from that directory.


Last modified on 9/7/06
Adam Tenderholt
atenderholt at users dot sourceforge dot net

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