]> git.donarmstrong.com Git - mothur.git/blobdiff - mothur.h
fixed bugs for 1.8
[mothur.git] / mothur.h
index e5d1113790decbacf45913e7d6ce11d2826de598..74d71caed4df23c2472b7b9b8c229e315721a424 100644 (file)
--- a/mothur.h
+++ b/mothur.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 #include <iomanip>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
+#include <signal.h>
+
 
 //exception
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <ctime>
 #include <limits>
 
-using namespace std;
+/***********************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-       #define exp(x) (exp((double) x))
-       #define sqrt(x) (sqrt((double) x))
-       #define log10(x) (log10((double) x))
-       #define log2(x) (log10(x)/log10(2))
-       #define isnan(x) ((x) != (x))
-       #define isinf(x) (fabs(x) == std::numeric_limits<double>::infinity())
-#else
+#if defined (__APPLE__) || (__MACH__) || (linux) || (__linux)
        #include <sys/wait.h>
        #include <unistd.h>
+       
+       #ifdef USE_READLINE
+               #include <readline/readline.h>
+               #include <readline/history.h>
+       #endif
+
+       //#include <readline/readline.h>
+       //#include <readline/history.h>
+#else
+       #include <conio.h> //allows unbuffered screen capture from stdin
+       #include <direct.h> //get cwd
 #endif
 
+using namespace std;
 
-typedef unsigned long long ull;
+#define exp(x) (exp((double) x))
+#define sqrt(x) (sqrt((double) x))
+#define log10(x) (log10((double) x))
+#define log2(x) (log10(x)/log10(2))
+#define isnan(x) ((x) != (x))
+#define isinf(x) (fabs(x) == std::numeric_limits<double>::infinity())
+
+typedef unsigned long ull;
 
 struct IntNode {
        int lvalue;
@@ -69,6 +83,9 @@ struct IntNode {
        int rcoef;
        IntNode* left;
        IntNode* right;
+       
+       IntNode(int lv, int rv, IntNode* l, IntNode* r) : lvalue(lv), rvalue(rv), left(l), right(r) {};
+       IntNode() {};
 };
 
 struct ThreadNode {
@@ -77,6 +94,27 @@ struct ThreadNode {
        IntNode* right;
 };
 
+/************************************************************/
+struct clusterNode {
+       int numSeq;
+       int parent;
+       int smallChild; //used to make linkTable work with list and rabund. represents bin number of this cluster node
+       clusterNode(int num, int par, int kid) : numSeq(num), parent(par), smallChild(kid) {};
+};
+/************************************************************/
+struct seqDist {
+       int seq1;
+       int seq2;
+       float dist;
+       seqDist() {}
+       seqDist(int s1, int s2, float d) : seq1(s1), seq2(s2), dist(d) {}
+       ~seqDist() {}
+};
+//********************************************************************************************************************
+//sorts lowest to highest
+inline bool compareSequenceDistance(seqDist left, seqDist right){
+       return (left.dist < right.dist);        
+} 
 /***********************************************************************/
 
 // snagged from http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/misc-technical-issues.html#faq-39.2
@@ -96,6 +134,7 @@ inline void convert(const string& s, T& x, bool failIfLeftoverChars = true){
        if (!(i >> x) || (failIfLeftoverChars && i.get(c)))
                throw BadConversion(s);
 }
+
 //**********************************************************************************************************************
 
 template<typename T>
@@ -117,7 +156,7 @@ inline bool convertTest(const string& s, T& x, bool failIfLeftoverChars = true){
        char c;
        if (!(i >> x) || (failIfLeftoverChars && i.get(c)))
        {
-               cout << "'" << s << "' is unable to be converted into an integer.\n";
+               cout << "unable to be converted into an integer.\n" << endl;
                return false;
        } 
        return true;
@@ -153,8 +192,20 @@ string toString(const T&x, int i){
        
     return output.str();
 }
+/***********************************************************************/
 
+inline int openOutputFileAppend(string fileName, ofstream& fileHandle){
+       
+       fileHandle.open(fileName.c_str(), ios::app);
+       if(!fileHandle) {
+               cout << "Error: Could not open " <<  fileName << endl; 
+               return 1;
+       }
+       else {
+               return 0;
+       }
 
+}
 /***********************************************************************/
 
 inline void gobble(istream& f){
@@ -166,6 +217,99 @@ inline void gobble(istream& f){
 }
 /***********************************************************************/
 
+inline string getline(ifstream& fileHandle) {
+       try {
+       
+               string line = "";
+               
+               while (!fileHandle.eof())       {
+                       //get next character
+                       char c = fileHandle.get(); 
+                       
+                       //are you at the end of the line
+                       if ((c == '\n') || (c == '\r') || (c == '\f')){  break; }       
+                       else {          line += c;              }
+               }
+               
+               return line;
+               
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "Error in mothur function getline" << endl;
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void mothurOut(string message) {
+       try{
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               cout << message;
+               out << message;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "Error in mothur class mothurOut" << endl;
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void mothurOut(string message, string precision) {
+       try{
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               cout << precision << message;
+               out << precision << message;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "Error in mothur class mothurOut" << endl;
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void mothurOutEndLine() {
+       try {
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               cout << endl;  
+               out << endl;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "error in mothur mothurOutEndLine" << endl;
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void errorOut(exception& e, string object, string function) {
+       
+               mothurOut("Error: ");
+               mothurOut(toString(e.what()));
+               mothurOut(" has occurred in the " + object + " class function " + function + ". Please contact Pat Schloss at mothur.bugs@gmail.com, and be sure to include the mothur.logFile with your inquiry.");
+               mothurOutEndLine();
+       
+}
+
+/***********************************************************************/
+
 inline bool isTrue(string f){
        
        if ((f == "TRUE") || (f == "T") || (f == "true") || (f == "t")) {       return true;    }
@@ -249,11 +393,18 @@ inline string getSimpleName(string longName){
  
        string simpleName = longName;
        
-       if(longName.find_last_of("/") != longName.npos){
-               int pos = longName.find_last_of('/')+1;
-               simpleName = longName.substr(pos, longName.length());
-       }
+       size_t found;
+       found=longName.find_last_of("/\\");
 
+       if(found != longName.npos){
+               simpleName = longName.substr(found+1);
+       }
+       
+               //if(longName.find_last_of("/") != longName.npos){
+               //      int pos = longName.find_last_of('/')+1;
+               //      simpleName = longName.substr(pos, longName.length());
+               //}
+       
        return simpleName;
 }
 
@@ -282,13 +433,28 @@ inline string getPathName(string longName){
  
        string rootPathName = longName;
        
-       if(longName.find_last_of('/') != longName.npos){
-               int pos = longName.find_last_of('/')+1;
+       if(longName.find_last_of("/\\") != longName.npos){
+               int pos = longName.find_last_of("/\\")+1;
                rootPathName = longName.substr(0, pos);
        }
-
+       
        return rootPathName;
 }
+/***********************************************************************/
+
+inline string hasPath(string longName){
+       
+       string path = "";
+       
+       size_t found;
+       found=longName.find_last_of("/\\");
+
+       if(found != longName.npos){
+               path = longName.substr(0, found+1);
+       }
+       
+       return path;
+}
 
 /***********************************************************************/
 
@@ -303,43 +469,190 @@ inline string getExtension(string longName){
        
        return extension;
 }
-
 /***********************************************************************/
-
-inline int openInputFile(string fileName, ifstream& fileHandle){
-
+inline bool isBlank(string fileName){
+       
+       ifstream fileHandle;
        fileHandle.open(fileName.c_str());
        if(!fileHandle) {
-               cerr << "Error: Could not open " << fileName << endl;
-               return 1;
+               mothurOut("Error: Could not open " + fileName);  mothurOutEndLine();
+               return false;
+       }else {
+               //check for blank file
+               gobble(fileHandle);
+               if (fileHandle.eof()) { fileHandle.close(); return true;  }
        }
-       else {
-               return 0;
+       return false;
+}
+/***********************************************************************/
+
+inline string getFullPathName(string fileName){
+       
+       string path = hasPath(fileName);
+       string newFileName;
+       int pos;
+       
+       if (path == "") { return fileName; } //its a simple name
+       else { //we need to complete the pathname
+               // ex. ../../../filename 
+               // cwd = /user/work/desktop
+                               
+               string cwd;
+               //get current working directory 
+               #if defined (__APPLE__) || (__MACH__) || (linux) || (__linux)   
+                       if (path.rfind("./") == -1) { return fileName; } //already complete name
+                       else { newFileName = fileName.substr(fileName.rfind("./")+2); } //save the complete part of the name
+                       
+                       char* cwdpath;
+                       size_t size;
+                       cwdpath=getcwd(cwdpath,size);
+                       cwd = cwdpath;
+               
+                       //rip off first '/'
+                       string simpleCWD;
+                       if (cwd.length() > 0) { simpleCWD = cwd.substr(1); }
+                       
+                       //break apart the current working directory
+                       vector<string> dirs;
+                       while (simpleCWD.find_first_of('/') != -1) {
+                               string dir = simpleCWD.substr(0,simpleCWD.find_first_of('/'));
+                               simpleCWD = simpleCWD.substr(simpleCWD.find_first_of('/')+1, simpleCWD.length());
+                               dirs.push_back(dir);
+                       }
+                       //get last one              // ex. ../../../filename = /user/work/desktop/filename
+                       dirs.push_back(simpleCWD);  //ex. dirs[0] = user, dirs[1] = work, dirs[2] = desktop
+                               
+                       int index = dirs.size()-1;
+                               
+                       while((pos = path.rfind("./")) != -1) { //while you don't have a complete path
+                               if (path[(pos-1)] == '.') { //you want your parent directory ../
+                                       path = path.substr(0, pos-1);
+                                       index--;
+                                       if (index == 0) {  break; }
+                               }else if (path[(pos-1)] == '/') { //you want the current working dir ./
+                                       path = path.substr(0, pos);
+                               }else if (pos == 1) { break; 
+                               }else {  mothurOut("cannot resolve path for " + fileName); mothurOutEndLine(); return fileName; }
+                       }
+               
+                       for (int i = index; i >= 0; i--) {
+                               newFileName = dirs[i] +  "/" + newFileName;             
+                       }
+                       
+                       newFileName =  "/" +  newFileName;
+                       return newFileName;
+                               
+               #else
+                       if (path.rfind(".\\") == -1) { return fileName; } //already complete name
+                       else { newFileName = fileName.substr(fileName.rfind(".\\")+2); } //save the complete part of the name
+                                               
+                       char *cwdpath = NULL;
+                       cwdpath = getcwd(NULL, 0); // or _getcwd
+                       if ( cwdpath != NULL) { cwd = cwdpath; }
+                       else { cwd = "";  }
+                       
+                       //break apart the current working directory
+                       vector<string> dirs;
+                       while (cwd.find_first_of('\\') != -1) {
+                               string dir = cwd.substr(0,cwd.find_first_of('\\'));
+                               cwd = cwd.substr(cwd.find_first_of('\\')+1, cwd.length());
+                               dirs.push_back(dir);
+       
+                       }
+                       //get last one
+                       dirs.push_back(cwd);  //ex. dirs[0] = user, dirs[1] = work, dirs[2] = desktop
+                               
+                       int index = dirs.size()-1;
+                               
+                       while((pos = path.rfind(".\\")) != -1) { //while you don't have a complete path
+                               if (path[(pos-1)] == '.') { //you want your parent directory ../
+                                       path = path.substr(0, pos-1);
+                                       index--;
+                                       if (index == 0) {  break; }
+                               }else if (path[(pos-1)] == '\\') { //you want the current working dir ./
+                                       path = path.substr(0, pos);
+                               }else if (pos == 1) { break; 
+                               }else {  mothurOut("cannot resolve path for " + fileName); mothurOutEndLine(); return fileName; }
+                       }
+               
+                       for (int i = index; i >= 0; i--) {
+                               newFileName = dirs[i] +  "\\" + newFileName;            
+                       }
+                       
+                       return newFileName;
+                       
+               #endif
        }
        
 }
+/***********************************************************************/
+
+inline int openInputFile(string fileName, ifstream& fileHandle, string m){
+       
+       //get full path name
+       string completeFileName = getFullPathName(fileName);
 
+       fileHandle.open(completeFileName.c_str());
+       if(!fileHandle) {
+               return 1;
+       }else {
+               //check for blank file
+               gobble(fileHandle);
+               return 0;
+       }       
+}
 /***********************************************************************/
 
-inline int openOutputFile(string fileName, ofstream& fileHandle){
+inline int openInputFile(string fileName, ifstream& fileHandle){
+       //get full path name
+       string completeFileName = getFullPathName(fileName);
        
-       fileHandle.open(fileName.c_str(), ios::trunc);
+       fileHandle.open(completeFileName.c_str());
        if(!fileHandle) {
-               cerr << "Error: Could not open " << fileName << endl;
+               mothurOut("Error: Could not open " + completeFileName);  mothurOutEndLine();
                return 1;
        }
        else {
+               //check for blank file
+               gobble(fileHandle);
+               if (fileHandle.eof()) { mothurOut(completeFileName + " is blank. Please correct."); mothurOutEndLine();  return 1;  }
+               
                return 0;
        }
+       
+}
+/***********************************************************************/
 
+inline int renameFile(string oldName, string newName){
+       
+       ifstream inTest;
+       int exist = openInputFile(newName, inTest, "");
+       
+#if defined (__APPLE__) || (__MACH__) || (linux) || (__linux)          
+       if (exist == 0) { //you could open it so you want to delete it
+               inTest.close();
+               string command = "rm " + newName;
+               system(command.c_str());
+       }
+                       
+       string command = "mv " + oldName + " " + newName;
+       system(command.c_str());
+#else
+       remove(newName.c_str());
+       int renameOk = rename(oldName.c_str(), newName.c_str());
+#endif
+       return 0;
 }
+
 /***********************************************************************/
 
-inline int openOutputFileAppend(string fileName, ofstream& fileHandle){
+inline int openOutputFile(string fileName, ofstream& fileHandle){
+
+       string completeFileName = getFullPathName(fileName);
        
-       fileHandle.open(fileName.c_str(), ios::app);
+       fileHandle.open(completeFileName.c_str(), ios::trunc);
        if(!fileHandle) {
-               cerr << "Error: Could not open " << fileName << endl;
+               mothurOut("Error: Could not open " + completeFileName);  mothurOutEndLine();
                return 1;
        }
        else {
@@ -348,7 +661,6 @@ inline int openOutputFileAppend(string fileName, ofstream& fileHandle){
 
 }
 
-
 /***********************************************************************/
 
 inline int getNumSeqs(ifstream& file){
@@ -358,7 +670,16 @@ inline int getNumSeqs(ifstream& file){
        return numSeqs;
 
 }
+/***********************************************************************/
 
+inline bool inVector(string member, vector<string> group){
+       
+       for (int i = 0; i < group.size(); i++) {
+               if (group[i] == member) {  return true;         }
+       }
+       
+       return false;
+}
 /***********************************************************************/
 
 //This function parses the estimator options and puts them in a vector
@@ -377,14 +698,9 @@ inline void splitAtDash(string& estim, vector<string>& container) {
                container.push_back(estim);
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtDash");
                exit(1);
        }
-
 }
 
 /***********************************************************************/
@@ -404,14 +720,9 @@ inline void splitAtDash(string& estim, set<string>& container) {
                container.insert(estim);
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtDash");
                exit(1);
        }
-
 }
 /***********************************************************************/
 //This function parses the line options and puts them in a set
@@ -433,14 +744,9 @@ inline void splitAtDash(string& estim, set<int>& container) {
                container.insert(lineNum);
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtDash");
                exit(1);
        }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtDash. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-
 }
 /***********************************************************************/
 //This function parses the a string and puts peices in a vector
@@ -459,11 +765,7 @@ inline void splitAtComma(string& estim, vector<string>& container) {
                container.push_back(estim);
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtComma. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtComma. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtComma");
                exit(1);
        }
 }
@@ -482,14 +784,9 @@ inline void splitAtComma(string& prefix, string& suffix){
 
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtComma. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtComma. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtComma");
                exit(1);
        }
-
 }
 /***********************************************************************/
 
@@ -507,14 +804,9 @@ inline void splitAtEquals(string& key, string& value){
                }
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function splitAtEquals. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
-               exit(1);
-       }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function splitAtEquals. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "splitAtEquals");
                exit(1);
        }
-
 }
 /**************************************************************************************************/
 
@@ -526,11 +818,62 @@ inline bool inUsersGroups(string groupname, vector<string> Groups) {
                return false;
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function inUsersGroups. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "inUsersGroups");
                exit(1);
        }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function inUsersGroups. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+}
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void mothurOutJustToLog(string message) {
+       try {
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               out << message;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "mothurOutJustToLog");
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+
+inline void mothurOut(float num) {
+       try {
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               cout << num;  
+               out << num;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "Error in mothur class mothurOut float" << endl;
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
+/***********************************************************************/
+inline void mothurOut(double value) {
+       try {
+               ofstream out;
+               string logFileName = "mothur.logFile";
+               openOutputFileAppend(logFileName, out);
+               
+               cout << value;  
+               out << value;
+               
+               out.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               cout << "Error in mothur class mothurOut double" << endl;
                exit(1);
        }
 }
@@ -564,7 +907,7 @@ inline bool anyLabelsToProcess(string label, set<string>& userLabels, string err
                                orderFloat.push_back(-1.0);
                                userMap["unique"] = -1.0;
                        }else {
-                               if (errorOff == "") {  cout << *it << " is not a valid label." << endl;  }
+                               if (errorOff == "") {  mothurOut(*it + " is not a valid label."); mothurOutEndLine();  }
                                userLabels.erase(*it); 
                                it--;
                        }
@@ -582,11 +925,11 @@ inline bool anyLabelsToProcess(string label, set<string>& userLabels, string err
                        if (orderFloat[i] < labelFloat) {
                                smaller = true;
                                if (orderFloat[i] == -1) { 
-                                       if (errorOff == "") { cout << "Your file does not include the label unique." <<  endl; }
+                                       if (errorOff == "") { mothurOut("Your file does not include the label unique."); mothurOutEndLine(); }
                                        userLabels.erase("unique");
                                }
                                else {  
-                                       if (errorOff == "") { cout << "Your file does not include the label "; }
+                                       if (errorOff == "") { mothurOut("Your file does not include the label "); mothurOutEndLine(); }
                                        string s = "";
                                        for (it2 = userMap.begin(); it2!= userMap.end(); it2++) {  
                                                if (it2->second == orderFloat[i]) {  
@@ -596,7 +939,7 @@ inline bool anyLabelsToProcess(string label, set<string>& userLabels, string err
                                                        break;
                                                }
                                        }
-                                       if (errorOff == "") { cout << s << ". I will use the next smallest distance. "  <<  endl; }
+                                       if (errorOff == "") { mothurOut(s + ". I will use the next smallest distance. "); mothurOutEndLine(); }
                                }
                        //since they are sorted once you find a bigger one stop looking
                        }else { break; }
@@ -606,16 +949,97 @@ inline bool anyLabelsToProcess(string label, set<string>& userLabels, string err
                                                
        }
        catch(exception& e) {
-               cout << "Standard Error: " << e.what() << " has occurred in the mothur class Function anyLabelsToProcess. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "anyLabelsToProcess");
                exit(1);
        }
-       catch(...) {
-               cout << "An unknown error has occurred in the mothur class function anyLabelsToProcess. Please contact Pat Schloss at pschloss@microbio.umass.edu." << "\n";
+}
+
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+inline void appendFiles(string temp, string filename) {
+       try{
+               ofstream output;
+               ifstream input;
+       
+               //open output file in append mode
+               openOutputFileAppend(filename, output);
+               openInputFile(temp, input);
+               
+               while(char c = input.get()){
+                       if(input.eof())         {       break;                  }
+                       else                            {       output << c;    }
+               }
+               
+               input.close();
+               output.close();
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "appendFiles");
                exit(1);
        }
-
 }
 
+/**************************************************************************************************/
+inline string sortFile(string distFile){
+       try {   
+               string outfile = getRootName(distFile) + "sorted.dist";
+               
+               //if you can, use the unix sort since its been optimized for years
+               #if defined (__APPLE__) || (__MACH__) || (linux) || (__linux)
+                       string command = "sort -n -k +3 " + distFile + " -o " + outfile;
+                       system(command.c_str());
+               #else //you are stuck with my best attempt...
+                       //windows sort does not have a way to specify a column, only a character in the line
+                       //since we cannot assume that the distance will always be at the the same character location on each line
+                       //due to variable sequence name lengths, I chose to force the distance into first position, then sort and then put it back.
+               
+                       //read in file line by file and put distance first
+                       string tempDistFile = distFile + ".temp";
+                       ifstream input;
+                       ofstream output;
+                       openInputFile(distFile, input);
+                       openOutputFile(tempDistFile, output);
+
+                       string firstName, secondName;
+                       float dist;
+                       while (input) {
+                               input >> firstName >> secondName >> dist;
+                               output << dist << '\t' << firstName << '\t' << secondName << endl;
+                               gobble(input);
+                       }
+                       input.close();
+                       output.close();
+               
+       
+                       //sort using windows sort
+                       string tempOutfile = outfile + ".temp";
+                       string command = "sort " + tempDistFile + " /O " + tempOutfile;
+                       system(command.c_str());
+               
+                       //read in sorted file and put distance at end again
+                       ifstream input2;
+                       openInputFile(tempOutfile, input2);
+                       openOutputFile(outfile, output);
+               
+                       while (input2) {
+                               input2 >> dist >> firstName >> secondName;
+                               output << firstName << '\t' << secondName << '\t' << dist << endl;
+                               gobble(input2);
+                       }
+                       input2.close();
+                       output.close();
+               
+                       //remove temp files
+                       remove(tempDistFile.c_str());
+                       remove(tempOutfile.c_str());
+               #endif
+               
+               return outfile;
+       }
+       catch(exception& e) {
+               errorOut(e, "mothur", "sortFile");
+               exit(1);
+       }
+}
 /**************************************************************************************************/
 #endif