FAQ

In general, the answer is yes. Sequencher 4.10.1 and later versions will automatically install 64 bit drivers on 64 bit operating systems.  Versions of Sequencher prior to 4.10.1 will not install any drivers on 64 bit operating systems. Please download and install the 64 bit compatible drivers.

The minimal requirement to run DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq Tools is 580 MB of free hard disk space.  

Working with DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq data requires an additional 8 GB RAM.  For GSNAP, at least 16 GB is recommended. 

The minimal hard disk space requirement for Sequencher on Windows is 280 MB.  

The minimal memory requirement to run Sequencher on Windows is 3 GB RAM.  

The minimal requirement to run DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq Tools on Mac is 320 MB of hard disk space.  

The minimal memory requirement to run Sequencher on Mac is 8 GB RAM.  Working with DNA-Seq Tools for NGS data requires an additional 6 GB RAM.  For GSNAP, at least 16 GB is recommended. 

Yes.

The current Sequencher KeyServer Server release supports OS 10.7 through 10.12 and will serve Sequencher 5.2 and newer.  It will not serve a license to older versions of Sequencher.  The legacy Sequencher Server, 6.2.1 (which also requires a Network hardware key), is available to support older versions of Sequencher and will install and run on Mac OS 10.4 through 10.8.  You can find this version on our legacy support page.

The current Sequencher RLM Server release supports OS 10.5 through 10.9 and will serve Sequencher 5.2 and newer and does not require a Network hardware key.

In Sequencher 5.1 and previous versions, a pre-programmed hardware key was required in order to obtain a license to run Sequencher.  Starting with Sequencher 5.2, all users of Sequencher will need a valid license file that gives them the ability to run Sequencher.  The license in the license file is tied to a Gene Codes provided hardware key, a specific computer, or a Sequencher license server.

Sequencher licenses are perpetual, so you can always use the latest version of Sequencher that you are licensed for.  In addition, you will recieve upgrades to the latest version of Sequencher for as long as you are a member of the maintenance program.  

For short-term projects or if you have a need for surge capacity, then 6 month and 12 month project licenses are available.  

A software license doesn’t require having a hardware key attached to your computer.  Instead, Sequencher uses a license file located on your computer to validate it’s a licensed copy.  

An activation key is a unique 16 or 20 character key that encodes the details of your purchased license.  An activation key is sent to you when you purchase Sequencher.  Once an activation key has been created, it is used to provide your customized license for validating your purchased copy of Sequencher. 

If you don’t currently have a standalone license, you’ll get the Sequencher License Manager dialog when you launch Sequencher.  From this dialog, you can choose the option:

‘Evaluate Sequencher’ if you want to try a 15-day evaluation of Sequencher.  The License Manager will put up a contact information form for you to fill out and submit.  Your evaluation license will be installed automatically for you at which point you have the ‘Start Sequencher’ option to start using Sequencher immediately or the ‘Quit’ option to exit Sequencher now.  If the automatic activation of your Evaluation license fails, you will be provided with a 5-day Viewer license.

‘Activate Sequencher’ if you want to ‘Activate Sequencher’ with a 16-digit Activation Key you received from Gene Codes or ‘Install License’ using a Sequencher license file that was provided to you.  The Sequencher License Manager will walk you through these processes.

If you already have a standalone license installed and you are upgrading your license to allow you to use more recent versions of Sequencher, you should have received a 20-digit UPGR Activation Key from Gene Codes. If your existing license is locked to a hardware key, plug in the hardware key. Select the Sequencher License Manager menu item from the Help (Windows) or Sequencher (Mac) menu and then enter in your 16-digit Activation Key and select Activate Sequencher.  Proceed with activation and installation of your new upgraded license.  If you had a key locked license, you’ll be asked whether or not you want to keep the key.  If you decide to, the new license will be tied to the hardware key.  Otherwise, it’ll be tied to this computer.

You can use a virtual machine as your KeyServer-based Sequencher License Server.

You cannot use a virtual machine with a standalone license that is locked to the virtual machine.

You can use a virtual machine with a standalone license that is locked to a hardware key.

You can use a virtual machine with an RLM or KeyServer-based client license.

Sequencher can launch or go into Viewer Mode (no printing, saving, copying, exporting, reporting) for any of the following reasons:

If your automatic evaluation license of Sequencher fails.  

If you have a standalone license and your license is tied to a USB hardware key and Sequencher has lost communication with the key, then you’ll be switched to Viewer Mode. Check to make sure that the key is still plugged in and lit.  Try restarting Sequencher.

If you have a network license and either your license was revoked by an administrator or the Sequencher Server shut down or lost network communication with your workstation, rather than quit, Sequencher switched to Viewer Mode.  Check with your server administrator to inquire about your license issue.

If you attempt to launch to get a network license and all licenses are in use.  You will be asked to be added to the queue and if you respond affirmatively, you will be notified when a license is available. 

If there is still a problem validating your license, please contact Gene Codes Technical Support.

RLM is a license management application available from Reprise Software.  The network version of Sequencher requires a Sequencher Server license file on the Sequencher Server computer with each client computer requiring a client license file in order for the License Server to serve licenses.

You need to install the server software and license files.  See the Sequencher RLM and Sequencher KeyServer install guides at the following location:

http://genecodes.com/support/sequencher-server-download

If you would like help, please contact Gene Codes Technical Support.

Sequencher RLM Server will run on Mac OS 10.5.8 and higher.

Sequencher KeyServer will run on Mac OS 10.7 and higher, Intel only. 

Unlimited Sequencher technical support is available to all current members of the Maintenance Program by email and by phone. We encourage you to phone us, but if you prefer email, please complete the form on the Request Tech Support page, describing your problem as completely as possible. Include your full contact information and your registration number, or the original purchaser's name. 

We also have a troubleshooting section as part of this FAQ that could answer many of your questions as well. 

Gene Codes maintenance plan for Sequencher is an annual plan that provides you with valuable benefits such as unlimited technical support and all of the upgrades available throughout the year. When you are covered under the maintenance plan, there are no charges for overnight shipping of replacement CDs, technical consulting for sequencing projects, or rearrangement of your network configuration.

When you purchase Sequencher, you receive the first year's maintenance free of charge.

You need a valid Sequencher license in order to launch Sequencher.  If you see this dialog, it could be due to one of the following reasons.

- No license exists in the expected location.  For information on activating Sequencher, see the FAQ “How do I get a standalone license and how does it get installed? ”

- The license is not compatible with the Sequencher product you are using.  For example, your current license has expired or is for a different version of Sequencher.

You can contact Gene Codes support at support@genecodes.com for assistance.

If you have Sequencher 5.2 or later and you received a license that is locked to the hardware key, you must also install the license file as well as move the key to the new computer.  For information on activating Sequencher using your license file, see the FAQ “How do I get a standalone license and how does it get installed?” If you have the original activation key, select the 'I have an activation key...', and follow through with the license installation. 

The firewall in Windows will not allow a remote client to log onto the server unless you open specific TCP/UDP ports.  The ports that need to be opened are TCP/UDP 5053, TCP port 5054, TCP port 50541.

Certainly, we’ll be glad to send you another copy of your original license file or help determine what happened to the file.  Simply contact Gene Codes Technical Support or your Sales representative and explain the situation.  We’ll take it from there.

The prompt is from your Macintosh operating system. When you install an application on OSX the operating system insures that you have administrative privileges by requiring a password.

If you wish to use a restriction enzyme that is not in the default set of enzymes supplied with Sequencher, open a project and highlight the fragments or contigs for which you wish to specify a new enzyme.  Select the Specify Restriction Enzymes option from the Window menu and check the Allow changes checkbox.  You can then use the New Enzyme button to create a new enzyme record.  Click the Done button when you are finished. 

Sequencher imports all GenBank features with a defined range, including joined features, as editable features in Sequencher. To import any individual or concatenated sequence into Sequencher, use the IMPORT > SEQUENCES command.

This error message is possible for both standalone and network versions of Sequencher Licenses. Although the underlying causes differ greatly between the two license types, the error triggers because Sequencher is unable to obtain a license from either a hardware key attached to the machine running the program, or from a Sequencher License Server or KeyServer network.