We have as of today retired the PeakTrace FTP service. This service has been superseded by Auto PeakTrace RP. To establish a PeakTrace RP account please contact us.
Auto PeakTrace 5.91 Released
A minor update to correct a problem that can occur if your DNA sequencer’s system time is wrong. If the time on the ABI sequencer is not correct then the traces can fail to be processed by PeakTrace. If the time is significantly out of alignment a new error Clock on sequencer computer wrong will now appear. We have found that some customers do not realise that the sequencer computer time is wrong and are not checking if the time wrong. This is a problem for all downstream user of the .ab1 files and not just PeakTrace since users rely on the time recorded in the file to know when it was generated. If you get this error please check the time on your sequencer computer.
This update is available from our downloads page and also via the automatic updates.
How to Upgrade to PeakTrace 5.90
If you want to upgrade to the PeakTrace 5.90 series (the most recent release in this series is 5.92) there are a few steps that you need to do first.
- Check if you are running a version of PeakTrace prior to 5.70. The version number is shown at the top of the options window of Auto PeakTrace or use peaktrace -v if you are using the PeakTrace command line version. If your version is after 5.70 (or you are using Auto PeakTrace RP) then you can skip straight to Step 7.
- If you are running a version of PeakTrace before 5.70 then you will need to obtain a free update for your license. You will need to generate a license request file and email it to Nucleics (or your local supplier). Nucleics will update the license and send it back to you. If you have received an license update in since April 2015 then you can also skip this step.
- Update your CodeMeter Runtime to the latest version (6.30 as of July 2016).
- Update the PeakTrace USB Key Firmware to the latest version (2.04 as of July 2016).
- Update the PeakTrace USB Key Time.
- Install the updated license file you have received from Nucleics (or your local supplier).
- Download the latest version of Auto PeakTrace (or peaktrace for linux) from the Nucleics Downloads page. You will need a password to access the downloads page which will be supplied to you with the updated license file.
- Install Auto PeakTrace by double clicking on the installer and following the prompts.
- Once installed check the Auto PeakTrace Option settings. It is a good idea to also read through the supplied help manual as there are new features and changes that will likely be of interest to you. If you are unsure of what settings to use then just use the defaults and/or get in contact with Nucleics (or your local supplier) for advice on what is best for your needs.
Auto PeakTrace 5.90 Released
We have released Auto PeakTrace 5.90 (the Auto PeakTrace:Box version). This is a major update that supports many new run conditions and includes improved base calling for many previously supported run conditions. Both the Windows and Linux versions are available on our Download page. If you are currently running a version of PeakTrace before 5.70 you will need an update to your current license. Please contact Nucleics or your local supplier to obtain the free license update.
- New Feature. Support added for the following run conditions:
- ABI 3500 Ultra Rapid Run POP 7 BigDye 3
- ABI 3500 Ultra Rapid Run POP7 BigDye 1
- ABI 3500 POP 6 BigDye 3
- ABI 3500 Ultra Rapid Run POP 6 BigDye 3
- ABI 3500 Ultra Rapid Run POP 6 BigDye 1
- ABI 3100/3730 POP 7 BigDye 1 (11 to 12.5 kV)
- ABI 3100/3730 POP 7 BigDye 1 (11 to 12.5 kV)
- ABI 3100/3730 POP 4 Rapid BigDye 3
- ABI 3100/3730 POP 4 Rapid BigDye 1
- ABI 310 30cm array POP 4 Rapid BigDye 1
- ABI 310 30cm array POP 6 Rapid BigDye 3
- ABI 310 30cm array POP 6 Rapid BigDye 1
- ABI 310 36cm array POP 6 Rapid BigDye 3
- ABI 310 36cm array POP 6 Rapid BigDye 1
- ABI 310 50cm array POP 6 Rapid BigDye 3
- ABI 3730 36cm array POP 7 ET
- New Feature. New error condition: No raw peak data
- New Feature. A new warning when the software becomes obsolete.
- New Feature. Build date of Auto PeakTrace is now shown on the Licensing Code Window.
- New Feature. -ha switch which limits simultaneous access to USB Key (command line only).
- Improved support for ABI 310, ABI 3500 and MegaBACE traces.
- Improved basecalling and trace processing.
- Many bug fixes and improvements.
How to generate the PeakTrace License request file
The process for generating a PeakTrace License Request File is straightforward. It can be done as many times as required without affecting your license, however each time a license request file is generated it invalidates all past request files. If you are asked to provide a PeakTrace license request file please make sure you generate a new file and send this. Please do not send an old request file since once a new license file is created the old file becomes inactive.
1. Open the CodeMeter Control Center from Run > All Programs > CodeMeter. Please make sure that the PeakTrace USB Key supplied by Nucleics is plugged into your computer.
2. Click on the License Tab and then click on the License Update button.
3. This will open the CmFAS Assistant. This allows you to generate a license upgrade request file to sent to Nucleics or your local supplier. Press Next.
4. Select Create license request and press Next.
5. Select Extend existing license and press Next.
6. Make sure that Nucleics is selected as the producer and press Next.
6. Choose the file name and location to save the request file. The default values should normally be fine. Just make sure to note where you have saved the request file before pressing Commit.
7. Press Finish.
8. Open the folder where you saved the PeakTrace request file. You now need to email this file (circled) to Nucleics or your local supplier. Note that the file you need to send has a green up arrow.
9. Nucleics will generate an update file and email it to you or your local supplier. Save the update file in a suitable location. Note that the update file will have a green down arrow (see circled file above) and the name will end in a U.
Please see how to update your PeakTrace license to add the new license to your USB Key.
How to update the PeakTrace USB Key Firmware
This is a simple to do once you know how. The process is shown step-by-step below:
1. Open the CodeMeter Control Center from Run > All Programs > CodeMeter. Please make sure that the USB Key supplied by Nucleics is plugged into your computer.
2. Click on the circled arrow icon. The CmStick/T firmware version should be 2.02.
3. Press OK to Execute the Firmware Update. This will take some time. If an error occurs check that you have Internet access on computer. If you don’t then move the USB Key to a computer that has Internet access.
4.The firmware version should now be updated to 2.04 or higher.
Auto PeakTrace 5.81 Released
Auto PeakTrace 5.81 has been released for both Windows and Linux. This release has improves the robustness of PeakTrace to processing, especially when used with remote directories. It is highly recommended that all Auto PeakTrace users upgrade to the version. If you are currently using a version prior to 5.70 you will need to contact us or your local supplier to obtain a license update before upgrading.
The full list of changes for 5.81 are:
- New Feature. The peakTrace.exe version can now create the required sub-folders when the “mirror directory structure in output” option is selected.
- New Feature. Traces that cause a recoverable crash are copied to the output folder into a sub-folder called “crash”.
- Improved robustness when using slow or unreliable networks and/or remote shared drives.
- Input and Output paths of up to 4096 characters now supported (command line version only).
- TraceTuner basecalling now an optional extra install.
- Slightly faster processing (~5%).
- Bug fixes and help manual updates.
This update can be obtained from our downloads page and if you are using a version of Auto PeakTrace after 5.70 the automatic update should let you know an update is available. You will need to update the CodeMeter runtime (5.21) and firmware (2.04) to the latest to use 5.81. The instructions for doing this are in the latest Auto PeakTrace Help Manual.
Auto PeakTrace 5.80 released
It has been a busy year so far and we have just released another new update for Auto PeakTrace (5.80). The changes are
- New Feature. Check for updates can be user controlled from within Options.
- New Feature. The license code is now user accessible.
- Improved checking of input and output paths at runtime.
- Improve browsing for remote share input and output folders.
- Bug fixes.
It is recommend that anyone using 5.70 immediately update to this version (it is available as always on our Downloads page). If you are using a version of Auto PeakTrace before 5.70 you will need a free license update. To obtain this license update please contact us.
PeakTrace 5.71 Linux x86_64 Released
The Linux version of PeakTrace 5.71 has been released. We have discontinued support for REHL 5 due to changes in the CodeMeter runtime requirements. PeakTrace is available for REHL 6 (CentOS 6.6+) only.
This update is available from the Nucleics Downloads page and it is highly recommended for all Linux PeakTrace users upgrade to this release. The full list of changes:
- New Feature. Auto selection of the best first peak location.
- Improved fusing of traces containing large repeat regions.
- Improved trimming of low quality bases from trace ends.
- Improved basecalling of mixed signal traces.
- Improved detection of duplicate files in the input folder.
- Improved processing of mixed signal traces.
- New check for system and CodeMeter times.
- Improved error messages.
- Updated. CodeMeter requirements to runtime 5.21 and firmware 2.04.
- Bug fixes.
Auto PeakTrace 5.70 Released
Auto PeakTrace 5.70 has been released. The list of changes and improvements in this release are:
- New Feature. Auto selection of the best first peak location.
- Improved fusing of traces containing large repeat regions.
- Improved trimming of low quality bases from trace ends.
- Improved basecalling of mixed signal traces.
- Improved detection of duplicate files in the input folder.
- Improved processing of mixed signal traces.
- Prevention of more than one copy of Auto PeakTrace being open at a time.
- New check for system and CodeMeter USB key times.
- Improved error messages.
- Updated CodeMeter runtime (5.21) and firmware (2.04) requirements.
- Bug fixes.
The update is available from the Nucleics downloads page. This is a major update that requires the latest CodeMeter runtime, firmware and an upgraded license to use. Please contact us to obtain the license update.
Further updates to the other version of PeakTrace will be available over the coming days.