# how to modify group names during analysis

**URL:** <https://forum.mothur.org/t/how-to-modify-group-names-during-analysis/1029>\
**Category:** Commands in mothur\
**Created:** [September 4, 2012, 10:01am UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/how-to-modify-group-names-during-analysis/1029 "2012-09-04T10:01:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FM\_Kerckhof](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/fm_kerckhof/32/32_2.png) [@FM\_Kerckhof](https://forum.mothur.org/u/FM_Kerckhof)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 10:01am UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/how-to-modify-group-names-during-analysis/1029/1 "2012-09-04T10:01:47Z")

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Hi,

Is there an easy way to modify the group names from within mothur during an analysis? Or should I change them in the oligos file and rerun everything?  
I know that I might just modify the groups file externally (e.g. with shell commands or a text editor) but I would prefer to avoid this.

Kind regards,

FM Kerckhof

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pschloss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/pschloss/32/4_2.png) [@pschloss](https://forum.mothur.org/u/pschloss)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/how-to-modify-group-names-during-analysis/1029/2 "2012-09-04T11:41:24Z")

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I’d probably opt for changing the groups file directly - alternatively, you could also try merge.groups where you “merge” the group name to a new group name.