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Command Line: Creating Maps of DNA Sequences

  • Updated

How can I create SnapGene map images using the command line?

Ensure SnapGene is not running before you attempt to start the executable from the command line.

To create a map image the input must be a DNA sequence in a SnapGene .dna file.

-createPreview options

-s --size (apparent size in pixels at specified pixels per inch)

-p --ppi  (pixel density in pixels per inch. If not specified, SnapGene will use the native monitor ppi setting)

-t --transparent (adds transparency layer, applies to png)

-q --quality (applies to jpg)

-w --no-watermark (don't add the SnapGene watermark)

Create a Single Map

To generate a SnapGene map image in PNG format from the command line, type:

/path/to/SnapGene --createPreview \
                  --size 1000,1000 \
                  --ppi 72 \
                  --transparent
                  --input ~/Downloads/pUC19.dna \
                  --output ~/Desktop/test.png
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Example Windows:

"%ProgramFiles%"\SnapGene\SnapGene.exe" --createPreview -s 1000,1000 -ppi 72 -i %UserProfile%/Desktop/pUC19.dna -o %UserProfile%/Desktop/pUC19.png
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Example macOS:

/Applications/SnapGene.app/Contents/MacOS/SnapGene --createPreview -s 1000,1000 -ppi 72  -i ~/Desktop/pUC19.dna -o ~/Desktop/pUC19.png
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Example Ubuntu

/opt/gslbiotech/snapgene/snapgene.sh --createPreview -s 1000,1000 -ppi 72  -i ~/Desktop/pUC19.dna -o ~/Desktop/pUC19.png
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To generate a SnapGene map image in JPEG format, replace "png" with "jpg".

Create Maps in Batch

To generate two or more SnapGene map images from the command line, type:

/path/to/SnapGene --createPreview \
                  --size 300,300 \
                  --input-list listOfInputFiles.txt \
                  --output-list listOfOutputFilenames.txt
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Configure Map Options

It is possible to configure the image size, quality, resolution and watermark. To see the full set of options, type:

/path/to/SnapGene --help
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