Tips to open FA file
Can't open the FA file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open FA files as well as a list of programs that support FA files.
FA file extension
| File Name |
FASTA Formatted Sequence Format |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The FA file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the FA files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the FA file on each system platform.
What is FA file?
The FA file has been categorized as Data Files. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. FASTA Formatted Sequence Format is most often found on 3 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Linux, Mac OS, Windows. It is recommended to use SnapGene to handle this file. This is a program created by GSL Biotech. There are also 4 alternative programs to handle the FA file. 4Peaks, SeqVerter, EMBOSS abiview will apply when it is not possible to use SnapGene.
How to open FA file?
An often recurring problem with FASTA Formatted Sequence Format is that FA is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file FA to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the FA 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. This can be achieved by typing SnapGene into the operating system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open FA files.
Programs to open FA file
Remember to download programs supporting FA files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of SnapGene with FA files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the FA file to open in the SnapGene application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. 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 SnapGene application as the default for handling the FA file.
Step 3. Update SnapGene to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the SnapGene program, it is possible that FASTA Formatted Sequence Format requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the GSL Biotech page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the FA file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the FA file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the FA file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected FA files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of FA file may not always be supported by the latest software version. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair FA file corruption. 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 FA files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
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 FA to a different directory.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the FA file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the FA file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the FA file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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