# Error in rule align: argument '--jobs' **URL:** \ **Category:** Help and Getting Started\ **Created:** [February 17, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334 "2023-02-17T20:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leocaserta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leocaserta](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/leocaserta)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/1 "2023-02-17T20:36:00Z")
Hello, I was receiving a warning message of duplicate sequences, but after removing the duplicates, I’m still receiving error message about rule align. The log fiiles of align\_references.txt and align\_custom\_data.txt shos the following message: error: Found argument ‘–jobs’ which wasn’t expected, or isn’t valid in this context ``` If you tried to supply `--jobs` as a value rather than a flag, use `-- --jobs` ``` USAGE: nextalign [OPTIONS] For more information try --help is there anything that I could fix to avoid this error? Thank you ---
**Author:** ![trs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/nextstrain.discourse.group/trs/32/5_2.png) [@trs](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/trs)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/2 "2023-02-17T21:27:44Z")
Hi @leocaserta. That error message implies something is going wrong with the command generation for those workflow rules. Possibly a configuration and/or shell escaping/quoting issue. It’s hard to debug without more information, however. Can you share the workflow you’re running, your config, and the entire output of running it (incl. the full error)? ---
**Author:** ![leocaserta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leocaserta](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/leocaserta)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/3 "2023-02-17T22:28:33Z")
\*\*Hi @trs , thank you for your response. \*\* **I’m running the SARS-CoV-2 workflow. I’m not sure if there is a way of sharing .txt files here, but here’s the content of my builds.yaml file:** ```yaml inputs: - name: "custom_data" metadata: data/CCTL_sequencing/Nextstrain_metadata_test.tsv sequences: data/CCTL_sequencing/All_CCTL_cat_02-16-23.fasta - name: "references" metadata: data/references_metadata.tsv sequences: data/references_sequences.fasta builds: All_CCTL_sequences_clear-name_02-16-23: subsampling_scheme: all colors: my_profiles/colors_all_WTD.tsv filter: "custom_data": min_length: 25000 skip_diagnostics: True run_pangolin: True use_nextalign: true traits: All_CCTL_sequences_clear-name_02-16-23: sampling_bias_correction: 2.5 columns: ["division", "location"] skip_travel_history_adjustment: True auspice_config: "my_profiles/my_auspice_config.json" description: "my_profiles/my_description.md" include: "defaults/include.txt" colors: "my_profiles/colors_all_WTD.tsv" frequencies: min_date: 2020-01-01 max_date: 2022-09-01 ``` **And here is the entire output:** ```auto Your config specifies 'skip_travel_history_adjustment=True'. This is now always the case, and thus this parameter can be removed. Building DAG of jobs... Using shell: /usr/bin/bash Provided cores: 64 Rules claiming more threads will be scaled down. Job counts: count jobs 1 add_branch_labels 1 adjust_metadata_regions 2 align 1 all 1 ancestral 1 annotate_metadata_with_index 1 build_align 1 calculate_epiweeks 1 clades 1 combine_input_metadata 1 combine_samples 1 combine_sequences_for_subsampling 1 diagnostic 1 distances 1 emerging_lineages 1 export 1 filter 1 finalize 1 include_hcov19_prefix 1 index 1 join_metadata_and_nextclade_qc 1 logistic_growth 1 make_pangolin_node_data 1 mask 1 mutational_fitness 1 recency 1 refine 1 rename_emerging_lineages 1 run_pangolin 1 subsample 1 tip_frequencies 1 traits 1 translate 1 tree 35 [Fri Feb 17 17:10:03 2023] Job 37: Aligning sequences to defaults/reference_seq.fasta - gaps relative to reference are considered real python3 scripts/sanitize_sequences.py --sequences data/references_sequences.fasta --strip-prefixes hCoV-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ --output /dev/stdout 2> logs/sanitize_sequences_references.txt | nextalign --jobs=8 --reference defaults/reference_seq.fasta --genemap defaults/annotation.gff --genes ORF1a,ORF1b,S,ORF3a,E,M,ORF6,ORF7a,ORF7b,ORF8,N,ORF9b --sequences /dev/stdin --output-dir results/translations --output-basename seqs_references --output-fasta results/aligned_references.fasta --output-insertions results/insertions_references.tsv > logs/align_references.txt 2>&1; xz -2 -T 8 results/aligned_references.fasta; xz -2 -T 8 results/translations/seqs_references*.fasta [Fri Feb 17 17:10:03 2023] Job 34: Combining metadata files results/sanitized_metadata_custom_data.tsv.xz results/sanitized_metadata_references.tsv.xz -> results/combined_metadata.tsv.xz and adding columns to represent origin python3 scripts/combine_metadata.py --metadata results/sanitized_metadata_custom_data.tsv.xz results/sanitized_metadata_references.tsv.xz --origins custom_data references --output results/combined_metadata.tsv.xz 2>&1 | tee logs/combine_input_metadata.txt [Fri Feb 17 17:10:03 2023] Job 36: Aligning sequences to defaults/reference_seq.fasta - gaps relative to reference are considered real python3 scripts/sanitize_sequences.py --sequences data/CCTL_sequencing/All_CCTL_cat_02-16-23.fasta --strip-prefixes hCoV-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ --output /dev/stdout 2> logs/sanitize_sequences_custom_data.txt | nextalign --jobs=8 --reference defaults/reference_seq.fasta --genemap defaults/annotation.gff --genes ORF1a,ORF1b,S,ORF3a,E,M,ORF6,ORF7a,ORF7b,ORF8,N,ORF9b --sequences /dev/stdin --output-dir results/translations --output-basename seqs_custom_data --output-fasta results/aligned_custom_data.fasta --output-insertions results/insertions_custom_data.tsv > logs/align_custom_data.txt 2>&1; xz -2 -T 8 results/aligned_custom_data.fasta; xz -2 -T 8 results/translations/seqs_custom_data*.fasta Activating conda environment: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/conda/4875685a Activating conda environment: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/conda/4875685a Activating conda environment: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/conda/4875685a [Fri Feb 17 17:10:10 2023] Error in rule align: jobid: 37 output: results/aligned_references.fasta.xz, results/insertions_references.tsv, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF1a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF1b.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.S.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF3a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.E.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.M.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF6.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF7a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF7b.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF8.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.N.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_references.gene.ORF9b.fasta.xz log: logs/align_references.txt (check log file(s) for error message) conda-env: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/conda/4875685a shell: python3 scripts/sanitize_sequences.py --sequences data/references_sequences.fasta --strip-prefixes hCoV-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ --output /dev/stdout 2> logs/sanitize_sequences_references.txt | nextalign --jobs=8 --reference defaults/reference_seq.fasta --genemap defaults/annotation.gff --genes ORF1a,ORF1b,S,ORF3a,E,M,ORF6,ORF7a,ORF7b,ORF8,N,ORF9b --sequences /dev/stdin --output-dir results/translations --output-basename seqs_references --output-fasta results/aligned_references.fasta --output-insertions results/insertions_references.tsv > logs/align_references.txt 2>&1; xz -2 -T 8 results/aligned_references.fasta; xz -2 -T 8 results/translations/seqs_references*.fasta (one of the commands exited with non-zero exit code; note that snakemake uses bash strict mode!) [Fri Feb 17 17:10:10 2023] Error in rule align: jobid: 36 output: results/aligned_custom_data.fasta.xz, results/insertions_custom_data.tsv, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF1a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF1b.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.S.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF3a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.E.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.M.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF6.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF7a.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF7b.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF8.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.N.fasta.xz, results/translations/seqs_custom_data.gene.ORF9b.fasta.xz log: logs/align_custom_data.txt (check log file(s) for error message) conda-env: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/conda/4875685a shell: python3 scripts/sanitize_sequences.py --sequences data/CCTL_sequencing/All_CCTL_cat_02-16-23.fasta --strip-prefixes hCoV-19/ SARS-CoV-2/ --output /dev/stdout 2> logs/sanitize_sequences_custom_data.txt | nextalign --jobs=8 --reference defaults/reference_seq.fasta --genemap defaults/annotation.gff --genes ORF1a,ORF1b,S,ORF3a,E,M,ORF6,ORF7a,ORF7b,ORF8,N,ORF9b --sequences /dev/stdin --output-dir results/translations --output-basename seqs_custom_data --output-fasta results/aligned_custom_data.fasta --output-insertions results/insertions_custom_data.tsv > logs/align_custom_data.txt 2>&1; xz -2 -T 8 results/aligned_custom_data.fasta; xz -2 -T 8 results/translations/seqs_custom_data*.fasta (one of the commands exited with non-zero exit code; note that snakemake uses bash strict mode!) Parsed 2 metadata TSVs custom_data (results/sanitized_metadata_custom_data.tsv.xz): 3057 strains x 10 columns references (results/sanitized_metadata_references.tsv.xz): 1 strains x 38 columns Combined metadata: 3058 strains x 40 columns [Fri Feb 17 17:10:10 2023] Finished job 34. 1 of 35 steps (3%) done Shutting down, this might take some time. Exiting because a job execution failed. Look above for error message Complete log: /local/workdir/lcc88/Nextstrain/ncov/.snakemake/log/2023-02-17T171003.442033.snakemake.log ``` Thank you ---
**Author:** ![rneher](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/nextstrain.discourse.group/rneher/32/20_2.png) [@rneher](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/rneher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/4 "2023-02-18T23:00:30Z")
Job 37 above generates the command > [@leocaserta](#): > > `...ences.txt | nextalign --jobs=8 --reference defau...` but for quite some time now, `nextalign` requires the subcommand `run`. Could it be that you are running a rather old workflow but have recently updated nextalign? ---
**Author:** ![leocaserta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leocaserta](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/leocaserta)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/5 "2023-02-19T03:00:04Z")
Hi @rneher, I think that’s exactly what happened. I was having trouble running the first step of the installation of nextrain-ncov (curl -fsSL --proto ‘=https’ [https://nextstrain.org/cli/installer/linux](https://nextstrain.org/cli/installer/linux) | bash), so I coppied an old nextstrain conda environment. I’m wondering, is it possible to just download a copy of the ncov repository containing the workflow and install the environment by running “mamba env create -f nextstrain.yaml” ? (using the file inside of /workflow/envs) ---
**Author:** ![corneliusroemer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/nextstrain.discourse.group/corneliusroemer/32/175_2.png) [@corneliusroemer](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/corneliusroemer)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/6 "2023-02-20T16:49:58Z")
Hi @leocaserta Yes, you should be able to install a recent nextstrain conda base environment using for example: ```auto mamba create -n nextstrain -c nextstrain nextstrain-base ``` Maybe you also have to specify extra channels `-c conda-forge -c bioconda`. However, would you be able to let us know what the trouble is you are facing when running `curl -fsSL --proto ‘=https’ https://nextstrain.org/cli/installer/linux | bash`? This _should_ work, if not, it’s a bug and we’d be happy to investigate and fix it, not just for you but also for others who may encounter the same issue. ---
**Author:** ![leocaserta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leocaserta](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/leocaserta)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/7 "2023-02-20T22:40:19Z")
I’m not sure why, but this time the installation went perfect, it was installed in my home directory. I think before I had some environment activated and it was giving error mesages because of that, not sure. Thank you all for your help! ---
**Author:** ![trs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/nextstrain.discourse.group/trs/32/5_2.png) [@trs](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/u/trs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://nextstrain.discourse.group/t/error-in-rule-align-argument-jobs/1334/8 "2023-02-28T18:58:51Z")
@leocaserta Glad to hear it’s sorted out for you now. If you encounter the issue again, we’d be keen to hear about it so we can fix it for good for others too. 🙂