You can acquire a data file by using the Xcalibur data system. The data system computer automatically saves the acquired data to its hard drive. The data file size depends on several instrument method parameters, such as the data type, detector type, scan types, mass range, and more. For example, a proteomics data file can often be approximately 1 gigabyte per hour of acquisition in size.
For more information on how to acquire data using the Xcalibur data system, refer to the Xcalibur manuals.