set.dir

set.dir allows you to redirect the output files created by mothur, or set the directory where mothur will look for input files. You can also set a default location for mothur to look if it can’t find your files in the input location. This allows you to keep your reference files in one location.

input

mothur > set.dir(input=../inputFiles)
Changing input directory to /Users/Work/Desktop/inputFiles/

You can set multiple locations for mothur to look for input files by separating the locations with ‘;’.

mothur > set.dir(input=/Users/swestcott/Desktop/release;/Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothurbugs)
Mothur's directories:
inputdir=
    /Users/swestcott/Desktop/release/
    /Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothurbugs/

output

If output directory does not exist mothur will create it for you.

mothur > set.dir(output=../outputFiles)
Changing output directory to /Users/Work/Desktop/outputFiles/

tools

Mothur’s commands use several external tools. Default location=mothur’s executable location. The vsearch, uchime, prefetch and fasterq_dump executables can be placed in a central location like /usr/bin/. You can tell mothur where to find them by setting MOTHUR_TOOLS=/usr/bin/ in the makefile. Alternatively, you can run this command within mothur:

mothur > set.dir(tools=/usr/bin/)

You can set multiple locations for mothur to look for external programs by separating the locations with ‘;’.

mothur > set.dir(tools='/usr/bin;/Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothur/tools')
Mothur's directories:
mothurtools=
    /usr/bin/
    /Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothur/tools/

mothurfiles

By default mothurfiles=mothur’s executable location.

mothur > set.dir(mothurfiles=../referenceFiles)
Changing default directory to /Users/Work/Desktop/referenceFiles/

You can set multiple locations for mothur to look for files by separating the locations with ‘;’.

mothur > set.dir(mothurfiles='/Users/swestcott/Desktop/release;/Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothurbugs')
Mothur's directories:
mothurfiles=
    /Users/swestcott/Desktop/release/
    /Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothurbugs/

mothurhome

The mothurhome keyword can be used as a shortcut for paths. Let’s assume mothur’s executable is located in a folder on my desktop called mothur. The full path to my mothur executable is /Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothur/mothur.

mothur > set.dir(tools='mothurhome/tools;/usr/bin/')
Mothur's directories:
mothurtools=
	/Users/swestcott/Desktop/mothur/tools/
	/usr/bin/

debug

The debug flag is used to indicate you want extra output to the screen and logfile. It will help you spot file format issues that cause mothur crashes.

mothur > set.dir(debug=t)

inputdir && outputdir

mothur allows you to change the input and output directories globally in any command. For example:

mothur > summary.seqs(fasta=amazon.fasta, inputdir=../inputFiles)

modifynames

The modifynames flag is used to indicate how you want mothur to treat sequence names containing ‘:’ characters. Default=t, meaning if your sequence names contain ‘:’ change them to ‘_’ to avoid issues while making trees. modifynames=F will leave sequence names as they are.

Order of searching

When mothur is trying to find a file without a full path here are the order of searches.

1. Input directory
2. Output directory
3. Default path
4. mothur's executable location
5. mothur tools location

Revisions

  • 1.26.0 - added debug parameter
  • 1.31.0 - added modifynames parameter. - https://forum.mothur.org/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2324&p=6360#p6360
  • 1.36.0 - if output directory does not exist mothur will create it for you.
  • 1.36.0 - By default tempdefault is set to mothur’s executable location.
  • 1.39.0 - Adds blastdir parameter.
  • 1.44.0 - Adds tools parameter. #682
  • 1.45.0 - Removes requirement for inputdir to be writable #747
  • 1.47.0 - Removes BLAST from mothur. #801
  • 1.47.0 - Allows for multiple saved locations for input, tools and mothurfiles parameters. #799
  • 1.47.0 - Changes tempdefault parameter name to mothurfiles for clarity. #799
  • 1.47.0 - Adds mothurhome key word. #800
  • 1.47.0 - Removes blastlocation parameter. #801