Automating vibrational spectroscopy data preprocessing and multivariate analysis with MATLAB® Preface 1. Background 2. Overview 3. MATLAB desktop 4. Note on array indexing and the loop function: 4.1. Array indexing; 4.2. Loop function 5. Basic preprocessing operations: 5.1. Importing a spectrum; 5.2. Separate wavenumbers from intensity; 5.3. Perform the first derivation; 5.4. Select a specific spectral range; 5.5. Area normalization 6. Automating preprocessing for multiple spectral files 7. Automating preprocessing for multiple files contained in multiple subfolders 8. Performing multivariate analysis: 8.1. Principal component analysis; 8.2. Principal component linear discriminant analysis; 8.3. Support vector machine 9. PCA plotting 10. Turning features on and off 11. Note on MATLAB functions 12. Final note on how to best use the script 13. Common errors 14. Automating mean and standard deviations calculations: an example References. This Spotlight teaches the commands necessary to analyze spectroscopic data (Raman FTIR) using MATLAB. It explains how to build an analysis routine step by step and perform pre processing and multivariate analysis with a single click. The script for support vector machines (SVMs) is also briefly addressed so that readers can build a script tailored to their own laboratory routine