Tips to open ABI file

Can't open the ABI file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ABI files as well as a list of programs that support ABI files.

ABI file extension

File Name DNA Chromatogram Format
File Category Data Files

The ABI file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ABI files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ABI file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ABI file?

The ABI file has been categorized as Data Files. Data Files consists of 1326 similar files. DNA Chromatogram Format is supported by 3 operating systems. These systems consist of Linux, Mac OS, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The SnapGene application is recommended to open the file. It was released by GSL Biotech. Alternatively, you can use 8 other programs. You can use BioEdit, ChromasPro, DNA Baser, QualTrace in case SnapGene cannot be used.

How to open ABI file?

The most common problem when using DNA Chromatogram Format is that a specific ABI is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that ABI files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ABI file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install SnapGene

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that SnapGene is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name SnapGene into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file ABI with SnapGene. Below you will find a list of applications that support ABI files.

Step 2. Create association of SnapGene with ABI files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the ABI file still does not use the SnapGene program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the ABI file with the SnapGene application.

Step 3. Update SnapGene to the latest version

If, however, after binding SnapGene with DNA Chromatogram Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the GSL Biotech website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ABI file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

The ABI file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to ABI files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file ABI or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected ABI files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of ABI file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged ABI files. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted ABI files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the ABI file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file ABI to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.