Some components require external data files, e.g. lattice crystallographic definitions for Laue and powder pattern diffraction, absorption and reflectivity files, etc.
Such files distributed with McXtrace are located in the data sub-directory of the MCXTRACE library. Components that make use of the McXtrace file system, including the read-table library (see section A.2) may access all McXtrace data files without making local copies. Of course, you are welcome to define your own data files, and eventually contribute to McXtrace if you find them useful.
File extensions are not interpreted by McXtrace but help in identifying relevant files per application. Table 1.1 lists the current default file extensions.
| MCXTRACE/data | Description |
| *.lau | Laue pattern file, as issued from Crystallographica. For use with Single_crystal and PowderN. Data: [ h k l Mult. d-space 2Theta F-squared ] |
| *.laz | Powder pattern file, as obtained from Lazy/ICSD. For use with PowderN. |
| *.txt | General text file, containing ascii data. Currently used for elemental data extracted from NIST[Nis]. |
| Table 1.1.: | Data files of the McXtrace library. |
McXtrace itself generates both simulation and monitor data files, the structure of which is explained in the User Manual (see end of chapter ’Running McXtrace’).