Detailed suggestions for opening attached sequencing result files (July 23, 2004, Updated Jan, 2006)

We have started using a new sequencing machine, which runs on Windows PC computer platform and you may be experiencing compatibility issues.

Here are some suggestions from the ABI tech team or our own IT team. Once you have received the email with the attachments from us, follow the following procedures to open the files. If you have problems receiving these emails, such as no email arrives at all or the email arrives but the attachment(s) is/are missing, then let us know and we'll try to point you to appropriate support team.

All files are sent via email as compressed .sit archives which is a standard on Windows platform. You can un-zip them easily using Stuffit Expander under Mac OS9 and Mac OSX. Stuffit Expander is installed by default on any Mac running MacOSX 9.x and up. Under Windows XP you can un-zip them by right-clicking on the files and choosing "Extract All…" from the menu. Under all other versions of Windows (95, 98, NT, ME and 2000) you will need WinZip, Stuffit Expander or other zip utility to un-zip these files. Please consult your IT support if you need to install any of the above. Here are the links, they are commercial programs but both offer a free, limited versions:
http://www.aladdinsys.com/
http://www.winzip.com/

For MacOS9

If your Mac is running OS9 you will need to convert the sequencing files.

1. Download the conversion program from Applied Biosystems' website:
   http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/support/
   software/3100/conversion.cfm
2. Create a fold and save the attached .sit file to the folder on your desktop, usually by dragging its icon from your email program.
3. Unzip the file using Stuffit Expander. You will end up with a folder containing all the sequencing files.
4. Convert the entire unzipped folder (not individual files!) to Mac OS9 readable format by using the downloaded Applied Biosystems' conversion program ConvertSampleFileWintoMac:
• Double-click SampleFileWintoMac to start the conversion program.
• A dialog box opens, select the folder you have unzipped in the previous step by clicking "choose" in the bottom far right of the dialog box and then navigate to and select the folder.

Then, the text files (.seq) can be opened with Microsoft Word. If you still can't open the .abi file by double-clicking on its icon, open the application (EditView 1.0.1) and use the File-Open menu to open the file. If you can't open the text file (.seq) by double-clicking on it use the File-Open menu in MS Word to open it.

For MacOSX

Please go to: http://www.mekentosj.com/4peaks to download the free software program "4Peaks" for Mac OSX. Use the software to open the electropherogram file (.abi). Use MS Word or TextEdit to open the text file (.seq), and print it. If you can’t open the .abi file by double-clicking on its icon, make sure you have saved the file to a folder on your desktop and then open the application (FinchTV or 4Peaks) and use the File-Open menu to open the file. If you can't open the text file (.seq) by double-clicking on it make sure you have saved the file to a folder on your desktop then use the File-Open menu in MS Word or TextEdit to open it.

For Windows PC

For ABI's free software "Sequence Scanner", go to https://products.appliedbiosystems.com:443/ab/en/US/adirect/ab;jsessionid
=DQ4PnQQKL4Hv03k1FztHGh1MYy2QTHJvnbmq7121L3bWfQjWKVvX!144494
1111?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=600583

Go to http://www.geospiza.com/finchtv/download/index.html to download free software FinchTV for Windows. Use this software to open the electropherogram files (.abi). Use MS Word or Wordpad to open the text file (.seq), and print. If you can’t open the text file (.seq) by double-clicking on it make sure you have saved the file to a folder on your desktop then use the File-Open menu in MS Word or Wordpad to open it. If you can't open the .abi file by double-clicking on its icon, make sure you have saved the file to a folder on your desktop and then open the application (FinchTV) and use the File-Open menu to open the file.

Diana and Berrin
DNA Sequencing Core Facility at NYU Medical Center