Data Formats Working Group
Overview
As of early 2017, for new work, it is recommended to use the NXcanSAS (multi-dimensional) standard for both 1-D and n-D data to maximize the chance that other software will be able to read your data files.
We strongly encourage all authors of small-angle scattering related software to add support for NXcanSAS.
Latest News
Steve King: 2024-09 : Proposals for NXcanSAS 1.1 in development
Paul Butler: 2019-07 : Lots of discussion at canSAS-XI about metadata. Discussion and actions from the meeting are available canSAS-XI/DataFormats
Links
nD: NXcanSAS
standard for reduced small-angle scattering data of any dimension, using NeXus (HDF5)
- v1.1: Proposals in development
- v1.0: 2017-01-18
- Announced: 2017-06-06 (at canSAS-IX)
- Documentation: http://download.nexusformat.org/doc/html/classes/applications/NXcanSAS.html
- Examples: https://github.com/canSAS-org/NXcanSAS_examples
- GitHub (NeXus): https://github.com/nexusformat/definitions
- Poster: PDF
- CanSAS 2012 Discussion: 2012-07-31 Data formats discussion page
1D: cansas1d
standard for 1-D reduced small-angle scattering data, using XML (text)
- v1.1: 2013-03-29
- v1.0: 2009-05-12
- Documentation: http://www.cansas.org/formats/canSAS1d/1.1/doc/
- Examples: https://github.com/canSAS-org/1dwg/tree/master/examples
- GitHub: https://github.com/canSAS-org/1dwg
Members
- Andrew Jackson (ESS)- Chair
- Jeff Krzywon (NIST)
- Pete Jemian (APS)
- Steve King (ISIS)
- Andrew Nelson (ANSTO)
- Jan Ilavsky (APS)
- Lisa Debeer-Schmitt (ORNL)
Timeline
- 2007-12-31 agree on v1.0 format
- 2008-01-01 start implementing v1 at facilities
- 2008-06 representative sampling of data available for inter-facility comparison
- 2008-11-3 presentation of results at NOBUGS2008 meeting (http://www.nbi.ansto.gov.au/nobugs2008)
- 2009-05-12 tagged SVN changeset 67 as v1.0 since it has been unmodified since January
- 2009-09-17 agreed that v1.1 revision should be forthcoming with corrections/additions to be identified in TRAC tickets
- 2017-01 NXcanSAS 1.0 released
- 2015-12 multidim moved to github a while ago
Status
Jemian 11:10, 06 September 2008 (CDT) IgorPro GUI tool included in Irena Irena analysis suite
Jemian 13:08, 14 March 2008 (EDT) IgorPro tool to read cansas1d/1.0 XML files available
Jemian 13:38, 25 February 2008 (EST) starting to add case studies
Jemian 00:39, 21 December 2007 (EST) complete first draft (v0.1a) ready for comments from 1DWG
Jemian 12:00, 14 December 2007 (EST) draft status updated
Jemian 17:07, 12 May 2009 (EDT) changeset 67 tagged as v1.0
Examples and Usage
The following are example v1.1 compliant 1D data files containing [besides essential metadata] - right-click & save as to view, stylesheet is on the TRAC site:
SANS data only ISIS_SASXML_v1_1_SANS_Example.XML
Wavelength-dependent transmission ISIS_SASXML_v1_1_Transmission_Example.XML
Wavelength-dependent monitor spectrum ISIS_SASXML_v1_1_Monitor_Spectrum_Example.XML
Wavelength-dependent detector efficiency ratio ISIS_SASXML_v1_1_Det_Efficency_Example.XML
The files can be usefully displayed in many web browsers: Rendering_canSAS1D_in_Web_Browsers
Mailing List
The mailing list is now maintained by subscribing to this Google group:
Please address all questions and answers to this Google group.
