What is FTIRsearch: Overview

Why is this service so useful?

FTIRsearch.com is truly a revolutionary web site, offering FTIR and Raman spectroscopists a new resource with many benefits:

	24 hours a day / 7 days a week access to the highest quality infrared spectral databases and information in the industry.
	No long term commitment. You pay only for what you use, when you use it. Account setup is free, and there are no annual service fees or licenses.
	Complete web-based interface, so it is intuitive to use. All you need is a standard web browser to fully utilize FTIRSearch.com. There is no additional software to buy or learn.
	No waiting for delivery. Simply open an account and start using FTIRSearch.com.
	Answers when you need them. All the resources you need for spectral searching and interpretation are available on-line, all the time.
	Use your data files as they are. Almost every commercial FTIR and Raman data file format is automatically recognized – no "exporting" required.
	Always up to date. FTIRSearch.com will add new spectra, new tips, new features on a regular basis. There is no "upgrading" required - ever.

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Who should use it?

FTIRsearch.com was designed to meet the needs of smaller labs, researchers involved in short term projects and educational institutions. FTIRsearch.com is an ideal tool for anyone who:

	Has a limited budget

	Needs spectral identification infrequently

	Is working on a project with a limited time frame

	Would like to evaluate spectral libraries before purchasing

	Has a one time need to search against data that one does not currently have access to.

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How can it help me?

If you ever use FTIR or Raman spectroscopy in your lab, FTIRsearch.com can help you. Spectral library searching is a very effective way of performing qualitative identification of compounds based on digital matching of spectral signatures. It is used in a variety of applications in forensic, environmental, pharmaceutical and industrial research. Since FTIR and Raman spectroscopic signatures are based on molecular functional groups, even if the exact compound is not present in the libraries, the list of matching compounds from a spectral library search can often lead to identification or, at least, classification of the material.

Many FTIR and Raman instrument vendors offer spectral searching software and libraries. However, these are not always cost effective for smaller labs or individuals. The goal of FTIRsearch.com is to make the cost of spectral searching comparable to the relative level of usage it will get within your lab. In other words, you only pay for what you use, and nothing else.

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What do I get?

With an FTIRsearch.com account, you get access to over 71,000 FTIR and almost 16,000 Raman spectra in the Thermo Scientific and Sigma/Aldrich spectral libraries spanning many classes of compounds and industries. These libraries have been compiled and evaluated by Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the leading manufacturers of FTIR and Raman instrumentation. FTIRsearch.com offers the largest and broadest on-line collection of fully reviewed, high quality spectral data.

The Spectral Search capabilities of FTIRsearch.com are second to none. You simply submit a spectrum data file and choose your searching options. FTIRsearch.com compares your spectrum to its online libraries and returns a sorted list of the best matches. Spectral data files can be submitted in nearly any file format including files from all the major FTIR and Raman vendors' software packages. With Thermo Scientific SmartConvert technology built right in, there is no need to convert your files to JCAMP or ASCII (although FTIRsearch.com works with them just as well).

FTIRsearch.com also offers a Text Search option allowing you to look up FTIR and Raman spectra based on chemical name, CAS number, molecular formula, and nearly any other textual information stored in the online libraries.

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How do I pay for it?

FTIRsearch.com is a pay-per-use service. The search engine uses a debit system where a certain number of "credits" are deducted from your FTIRsearch.com account when you initiate a new database search. You can continually refine your settings for each search as many times as you like with no additional charges. You will always be notified before credits are deducted from your account and you can view your account balance at any time while you are logged in.

You can buy credits in various package sizes depending on the number of spectral searches you plan on performing. You can purchase more credits at any time while you are logged in to your account. Several of the available search packages offer large blocks of credits at discounted prices for high volume users.

The easiest method is to use your credit card to make purchases using secure online transactions. When purchased online, credits are immediately available in your account once your credit card is approved.

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How do I sign up?

Signing up is easy. Simply create a new account, purchase a credit package and start searching. All you need is a credit card and a web browser to immediately start using FTIRSearch.com to its full capacity. There is no software to buy or install, no dongles or security files, no annual service fees nor any other barriers to using some of the highest quality FTIR and Raman spectral libraries in the world.

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How is my personal information and data protected?

All information collected as part of the account sign up process or demo usage is kept completely private by the companies operating the FTIRsearch.com web site. Your information will not be sold or distributed.

In addition, all communications over the Internet while using the pay-per-search service are performed using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. SSL is used by a large number of online services ranging from banks and other financial institutions to online stores and e-commerce providers. This technology effectively creates a private link between your browser and the server and encrypts all information sent back and forth over the Internet.

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Can I try it out first?

There is a completely functional demonstration of the service available that works exactly like the pay-per-use service. The search demo uses a small selection of the spectral libraries available to you when you open an account. If you don't have immediate access to any spectral data files, use any of the example data files listed in both the Simple and Advanced Spectral upload pages of the Demo Mode. From these pages, click on any of the sample files to upload it for comparison to the demo database. These sample data files can also be downloaded, if you prefer to upload any of the sample files from your local hard drive.

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The spectral libraries and software technology used to run FTIRsearch.com are actually commercial products sold under the Thermo Scientific brand. The web site was designed around these products to offer you a unique opportunity to search large collections of spectra in a very cost effective manner for casual use. However, there are instances where purchasing libraries and software for in-house use makes sense:

	You perform library searches often; every sample you analyze needs to be verified.

	You always search a single library or certain class of materials.

	You need more control over your search results and spectra such as the ability to use them in data manipulations or in reports.

	Your company will not allow the distribution of proprietary data to an outside source. NOTE: FTIRsearch.com will never use your data or give it to anyone else at any time for any reason. However, we do save the details of each session, including the spectral file, for a specified time period in case of technical difficulties. See our privacy statement for more details.

The Thermo Scientific brand offers a broad selection of products to choose from that will allow you to construct an in-house spectral library searching system for your organization. More information on Thermo Scientific Spectral Libraries and Spectral Data Processing products is available.

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