UWZ (5/17/01)

While there are various different ways of accomplishing this task (such as work up your spectra on the Varian platform and final process graphic files on your computer), I prefer to work up the data on the PC and use the Windows capability of copy/past to import the spectra. On my PC I use the program MestRe-C. The new version (2.3a) is much improved and overcomes the copy problems the older version had.

You can download the program free from http://qobrue.usc.es/jsgroup/MestRe-C/MestRe-C.html. On the same site you find a program SwaN-MR for Macintosh computers. After downloading the file to your computer clicking on the new file will unzip the file for you. Clicking on the new program item (mestrec23.exe) starts up the program.

You need to secure File Transfer (SSH Secure File Transfer) your spectrum file directory onto your computer. You do this in the following way:

• Double click on SSH Secure File Transfer on your computer
• File à Connect
• type spectrometer name for example i400.chem.indiana.edu
• type your login name
• type your password
• Click on the spectrum directory, fore example test.fid
• Operation à Download
• Choose directory location on your PC
• download

All files in that directory now will be placed onto your computer. When you are done with all spectra you need, finally

• File à Disconnect.

Start the program by double clicking on mestrec23.exe. Enjoy the nice mediaeval graphic. Then

• File à Open
• select the File type "Varian VXR-Unity"
• double click on your data directory (for example test.fid)
• click on "fid"
• click "open"

From now on you can either go by icons or use the menu:

• Process à Apodize or

• Process à Fourier Transform or

• Process à Phase Correction

• View à Set Limits or

In MestReC click

• Edit à Copy

Open up Power Point

• Edit à Paste

First you need to get your spectrum to match the paper. Set your view as small as possible (25%). Find the lower right corner of your spectrum. While holding the Shift key, drag the lower right corner towards the upper left corner until your spectrum fills the space on the page you like. Finally double click on the spectrum. Answer the question:

"This is an imported picture not a group. Convert it to a Microsoft Office Drawing?" with yes. Now you can apply all the tools of Power Point you like.

For example

• change the line width of the spectrum trace,
• change its color.
• "insert" a section of the spectrum by setting limits in MestReC and importing that section. Place it where you like and start modifying it.
• Annotate the plot to your desire.

Finally copy the spectrum plot into your Word document.

There is also a Version of MestReC that can be used on 2dimensional spectra.

MestReC can export the spectra as Ascii file.