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