Abstract: An apparatus for storing and retrieving data acts as an interface between modules such as data collection devices and data analysis tools. The apparatus provides the capability of maintaining a data standard so the number of translation tools needed to transfer data from one module to another is reduced. The apparatus maintains the data standard by means for storing a configuration data structure having table data structures. The configuration data structure and the table data structure define a data model. The data model is editable. Complex, as well as simple, items may be stored in the table data structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and retrieving data acts as an interface between modules such as data collection devices and data analysis tools. The apparatus comprises a means for storing a configuration data structure, the configuration data structure having a plurality of data items. The attributes of a data item are a name, a data type, a size, and a mapping parameter. The plurality of data items may contain administrative data, instrument identification data, global sample identification data, detection method data, raw unprocessed data, data peak processing method, data peak processing results, instrument calibration data, multicomponent sample calibration method, results from multicomponent sample calibration, sample sequence data, dimension data, control events for instrument data, reprocessing method data, and reprocessing results data. The apparatus provides the capability of maintaining a data standard so the number of translation tools needed to transfer data from one module to another is reduced.