differences between "-title database_title" and "-out database_name" for "makeblastdb" of Blast

Question

[qwzhang0601]

Hello:

I found these two parameters for "makeblastdb" ("-title database_title" and "-out database_name"). I wonder what is the difference between them?

Thanks

Answer 1

[Joe]

If I remember rightly, -out is the basename of the actual output files, e.g. mydatabase.phr, mydatabase.pin... and the several other files made. They share the same base name but not the same extension.

-title is the title of the database internally if you inspect the files I believe, I've not found it to be very necessary so if I use it, I usually make it the same as the -out. Perhaps some others know if there is a functional use for it that I've never found.

[qwzhang0601]

Thank you for your explanation!

Answer 2

[h.mon]

The comment answer by jrj.healey is a perfect answer, so I will just illustrate here:

makeblastdb -dbtype nucl -in seq.fas -title "This is only an example" -out db_a
blastdbcmd -info -db db_a

Database: This is only an example 1 sequences; 2,515 total bases

Date: Aug 30, 2017 12:03 PM Longest sequence: 2,515 bases

Volumes: /user/work/270024/db_a

makeblastdb -dbtype nucl -in seq.fas -out db_b
blastdbcmd -info -db db_b

Database: seq.fas 1 sequences; 2,515 total bases

Date: Aug 30, 2017 12:03 PM Longest sequence: 2,515 bases

Volumes: /user/work/270024/db_b