Integration between the Lasergene applications

The Lasergene modules of SeqBuilder, GeneQuest, PrimerSelect, Protean and MegAlign are able to share the same data by synchronous updating and opening and saving documents in cross-application formats.
Synchronous Updating

To utilize synchronous updating, simply open the same file in more than one application. Any edits that would affect the presentation of that sequence in the other application will appear when you bring the other application to the front (i.e. in focus).
Following are examples for three different situations:

Example I: Opening a file in MegAlign and SeqBuilder simultaneously

Example II: Opening a file in GeneQuest and PrimerSelect simultaneously

Example III: Opening and saving files in more than two applications
Example I - Opening a file in MegAlign and SeqBuilder simultaneously

Open a MegAlign document, for example MyAlignment.meg, in MegAlign. Upon review of the sequence, you notice a sequence in the alignment that should be edited.
MegAlign screenshot
Open the same MegAlign document, MyAlignment.meg, in SeqBuilder. When first opening, SeqBuilder will provide the list of sequences as pictured below. Pick one or multiple sequences to be opened.
Sequence list screenshot
In this example, you select Trypanosoma to be edited in SeqBuilder as seen below.
Change in SeqBuilder screenshot
NOTE: Only the sequence has been updated, which may affect the alignment. The alignment is NOT automatically updated. Therefore after editing, running the alignment again is recommended.

Also, performing File-Save from either application, MegAlign or SeqBuilder, will save the changes back to the original MegAlign document, MyAlignment.meg. If File-Save As is selected and you rename the file or change the file format, the link between these two applications will be broken so that synchronous updating will no longer occur.
Example II - Opening a file in GeneQuest and PrimerSelect simultaneously
In this example, the same sequence is opened in both GeneQuest and PrimerSelect. In GeneQuest, this sequence file is opened by selecting File-New. In PrimerSelect, this sequence will be entered using the File-Enter Sequences menu option. A New Feature is created in GeneQuest as seen below.
GeneQuest screenshot
Once PrimerSelect is brought back to the front (in focus), this New Feature will be listed with other features when choosing Conditions-Sequence Positions and Limits-From the Feature Table.
PrimerSelect screenshot
NOTE: As soon as this sequence file is saved as anything but the original .seq file, the synchronous updating between GeneQuest and PrimerSelect would be lost. In addition, saving back as a sequence file (.seq) will NOT retain any of the methods applied in GeneQuest or any primer data in PrimerSelect. See the next section, Opening and Saving files in cross-application formats, to understand the best way to see and retain your data.
Example III - Opening and saving a file in two or more applications
Examples I and II demonstrate the same file opened in two Lasergene applications simultaneously. In fact, the same file could be opened in four different applications. If Example I is expanded, the MegAlign document, MyAlignment.meg, could be opened simultaneously: in SeqBuilder to edit the sequence; in MegAlign to align against other sequences; in GeneQuest to further analyze a region of conservation; and in PrimerSelect to develop primers for that region. Refer to Situation III of Opening and Saving documents section to understand the appropriate menu options needed to save the data you desire.