We've now released a Gap4 database viewer and the Trev trace viewing program for free download for all supported platforms (including MS Windows). The database viewer can display the contents of any Gap4 database and allows use of most non-editing Gap4 functions, including the Contig Editor and Template Display.
For more information, check the README file in the ftp site or follow the links from the downloads page.
We've issued an RFC (Request For Comments) on the latest SCF specification. The differences are mainly just clarifications for the existing format, based on the various queries we've had over the years. If you make use of the SCF trace file format, please read the new spec and send in responses by the end of July.
A new release of io_lib has now been put in the public ftp server. It may be found in ftp://ftp.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/pub/staden/io_lib/. The new release (1.8.4) contains new support for reading and writing CTF and TTFF files. These are two newer trace files dedicated to efficient use of disk space.
We've also made precompiled binaries of convert_trace (a program bundled with io_lib) for the Digital Unix, Solaris (sparc), Linux (x86) and MS Windows systems.
The new release of the package incorporates a software licencing system which can limit the use of the package in a variety of ways. This licencing system has enabled us to produce demonstration versions of the programs which can be switched to full capability by an appropriate licence key. We are therefore able to make the software available via ftp so that anyone can obtain and try it in demo mode. If they like it they can apply for a licence key to switch it to full capability. As before, academic users will not be charged for a full licence, but commercial users will be required to pay.
Licences are available here.
We have overhauled the package documentation (partly to prepare a version for the Windows NT release) and consider it much improved. The main manual is now 500 A4 pages when printed. To enable prospective users to get an overview of the package we have written a condensed (45 pages) version of the manual which we are calling the Mini manual. This is available for download or can be browsed on our WWW site.