Tips to open BCL file
Can't open the BCL file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open BCL files as well as a list of programs that support BCL files.
BCL file extension
| File Name |
Illumina Base Call Format |
| File Developer |
Illumina |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The BCL file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the BCL files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the BCL file on each system platform.
What is BCL file?
The file with the extension BCL is the Data Files file type. It was designed by Illumina. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. Illumina Base Call Format is supported by 1 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. The main program that supports this format is CASAVA. This was created by Illumina, Inc.. This file type can also be opened by 1 other programs. The BCL Converter programs will also handle the file when the CASAVA program does not fulfill its role.
How to open BCL file?
The main problem with Illumina Base Call Format is that the BCL file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that BCL files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the BCL 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 CASAVA
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that CASAVA is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name CASAVA into the system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open BCL files.
Programs to open BCL file
Remember to download programs supporting BCL files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of CASAVA with BCL files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the BCL file still does not use the CASAVA 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. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the CASAVA application as the default for handling the BCL file.
Step 3. Update CASAVA to the latest version
If, despite the association of the CASAVA program with the Illumina Base Call Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Illumina, Inc. page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the BCL file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:
The BCL file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the BCL file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our BCL file. However, remember that not every infected BCL file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the BCL file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged BCL files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Illumina
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file BCL except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. It is best to move BCL to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file BCL to close. However, some background programs may block the BCL file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.
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