Hei all,

I've heard that many of the ones using Genemapper have got problems with the program as I do. I have written to the technical support and since it might be of general interest, here's the answer I have recieved from them (most importantly: the bug cannot be fixed, the only longterm solution is to get the upgrade Genemapper 4.0, but of course it's not for free...).

Hei Hei,
Julia.



Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:37:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Nordic Technical Support" <nordbiosupp@eur.appliedbiosystems.com>
Reply-To: "Nordic Technical Support" <nordbiosupp@eur.appliedbiosystems.com>
Cc: jussi.vanhatalo@eur.appliedbiosystems.com
To: julia.schregel@oulu.fi
Subject: Genemapper bug [Incident: 070322-000137]

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 Subject
Genemapper bug
 
 Discussion Thread
 Response (Jussi V.)03/23/2007 04:37 AM
Hei Julia,
This is a GeneMapper v.3.7 bug and I assume that this the GeneMapper version you have. It's quite odd one because it has been very sporadical issue. I most likely links to things like Windows language and settings and how different users use GeneMapper. It's not a really a database error or a projectr specific error I have reported this bug to our developmemt year 2005 and it seems to be fixed in GeneMapper version 4.0.

So, actually the best long term solution would be getting version 4.0. which unfortunately is not free upgrade, but has price tag of around 500e / licence. However, it has some really good new features (client-server support) and improvements.
https://products.appliedbiosystems.com/ab/en/US/adirect/ab?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=600798
I'll check with local sales if there is option to give some discount because you have problems with sw bug...

By the way, we have now also a free fragment sizing software available. It could be useful for some small sizing only projects and when optimizing things. It's called a PeakScanner:
https://products.appliedbiosystems.com/ab/en/US/adirect/ab?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=603624

Finally, if you want to try to get rid of this error on you GeneMapper 3.7 install, please try these:
- As you have done, export delete projects and also all other settings using GeneMapper manager. Also export and delete all panels and binsets. After that restart whole computer and import in only the seetings you need. Use "the database defaults settings" as start point (D:\AppliedBiosystems\GeneMapper\Database Defaults). If possible create panels from scratch or if they are big7complex, import only the ones you need.
- Again as you have done chcek that computer has regional seetings of English US (decimal dot and comma as thousands seprator).
- Try also to create new Windows username (and remember to check regional options since they are user specific).
- As a last resort, you could reinstall whole GeneMapper sw. When doing that, make sure that Regional options are English US also during installation!

The trick part with this bug is that most users never see it, but those who have it seems to return easily.Ževen after reinstallation.

I'm sorry that you have had this bad experince with GeneMapper.

Have a nice weekend,
-jussi

Jussi Vanhatalo

Applied Biosystems
Nordic Molecular Biology Helpdesk
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Julia Schregel
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