+/***********************************************************************/
+inline bool isBlank(string fileName){
+
+ ifstream fileHandle;
+ fileHandle.open(fileName.c_str());
+ if(!fileHandle) {
+ mothurOut("Error: Could not open " + fileName); mothurOutEndLine();
+ return false;
+ }else {
+ //check for blank file
+ gobble(fileHandle);
+ if (fileHandle.eof()) { fileHandle.close(); return true; }
+ }
+ return false;
+}