# Get representative sequence without distance matrix?
**URL:** https://forum.mothur.org/t/get-representative-sequence-without-distance-matrix/1728
**Category:** Commands in mothur
**Created:** [February 28, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/get-representative-sequence-without-distance-matrix/1728 "2014-02-28T16:32:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@glecleir](https://forum.mothur.org/u/glecleir)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/get-representative-sequence-without-distance-matrix/1728/1 "2014-02-28T16:32:24Z")
I was wondering if it is possible to get a representative sequence for all phylotypes without having a .dist file? I’ve been forced to use the phylotype method for my illumina sequencing because our paired reads don’t fully overlap, creating a ridiculously large distance matrix. I would really like to get a representative sequence for each phylotype, but it appears like I am required to have a distance file. Can you suggest any way around this requirement? I really appreciate your help!
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### Author:  [@westcott](https://forum.mothur.org/u/westcott)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/get-representative-sequence-without-distance-matrix/1728/2 "2014-02-28T20:58:23Z")
The get.oturep command has two methods for finding a representative: distance and abundance. The distance method is the default and requires and distance matrix, but the abundance method just requires a name or count file. [http://www.mothur.org/wiki/Get.oturep](http://www.mothur.org/wiki/Get.oturep)