# Problem with groupfile in unifrac.weighted

**URL:** <https://forum.mothur.org/t/problem-with-groupfile-in-unifrac-weighted/1044>\
**Category:** mothur bugs\
**Created:** [September 13, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/problem-with-groupfile-in-unifrac-weighted/1044 "2012-09-13T21:19:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![terryhbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@terryhbell](https://forum.mothur.org/u/terryhbell)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/problem-with-groupfile-in-unifrac-weighted/1044/1 "2012-09-13T21:19:32Z")

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Hello,

I have had no issues previously with using the OTU commands to generate diversity metrics etc. I am now trying to use Unifrac through the mothur platform, but keep getting name errors that end my session.

My input is:

mothur \> unifrac.unweighted(distance=lt, random=F, tree=file.final.phylip.tre, name=file.final.names, group=file.final.groups)

When I run the command, I receive the following message:

Name: ZYEY6 is not in your groupfile, and will be disregarded.  
Name: is not in your groupfile, and will be disregarded.  
error with lc  
Name: 8I3I6 is not in your groupfile, and will be disregarded.  
Name: Q595G is not in your groupfile, and will be disregarded.  
ZYEY6 is not in your name file, please correct.  
logout

[Process completed]

For some reason it is asking for partial names - only the first 5 letters. I have looked at the three input files, and all of my names are written in the format ‘ZYEY6:664:576’, and are separated by commas. None are only the first 5 letters as the message suggests. I have had no difficulty with other commands.

Any help would be appreciated!

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**Author:** ![westcott](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/westcott/32/18_2.png) [@westcott](https://forum.mothur.org/u/westcott)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/problem-with-groupfile-in-unifrac-weighted/1044/2 "2012-09-14T14:12:00Z")

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The ‘:’ character is a special character in trees used to indicate a branch length will follow. Try replacing the ‘:’ characters in your sequence names.

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**Author:** ![terryhbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@terryhbell](https://forum.mothur.org/u/terryhbell)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/problem-with-groupfile-in-unifrac-weighted/1044/3 "2012-09-14T14:55:17Z")

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That was the issue. I really appreciate the quick reply!

Thanks.