Download ArkMAP: our desktop Map Drawing Tool (Java Web Start)
ArkMAP is a desktop application that allows users to draw genetic maps. The maps of interest are selected and downloaded from the ArkDB database by browsing the available maps by species, analysis, chromosome etc. Gene-annotated chromosome assemblies may also be downloaded from Ensembl Biomart. Local mapping data may also be loaded and displayed by the user. This tool replicates and improves the functionality of the applet used by the web site to draw maps.
Full help documentation describing launching and using ArkMAP is available.
ArkMAP is downloaded as a Java WebStart application. This works best if your web browser is Java enabled (with Java Runtime Environment (JRE) of at least version 1.6 also known as 6.0) and recognizes Java WebStart applications. This will probably be true for most non-Mac users, if you can see the 'Launch' button in the yellow box below simply click on that! If the button is 'Get Java' you need to install JRE 1.6 and probably restart your browser. If you can't see a button in the yellow box read 'No Launch Button?' below.
On clicking the 'Launch' button ArkMAP is downloaded and started automatically. Java stores ArkMAP on your local machine and should create a desktop shortcut and an 'ArkDB' program group to run ArkMAP in the future. When you run ArkMAP in the future any updates to the application will automatically be downloaded. You will also be able to run the ArkMAP 'offline', but only to look at any map files that you may have available locally (for example any maps that you have saved previously).
You can check which version of Java JRE that your browser currently has enabled via the button below. If you do not have JRE 1.6 or higher you will have to download and install it using the appropriate button. It is not necessary to have Jave enabled in the browser to download ArkMAP but your operating system must have java installed and enabled to run the application.
Apple Mac Users
Running ArkMAP requires Java JRE version 1.6. to be installed on your machine. Unfortunately this version of Java is only available for modern Intel 64 bit processor machines (OS X 10.5). After installing Java 1.6 you will have to change your Java preferences to make this the default run time environment for Java applications. [Navigate: Applications --> Utilities --> Java --> Java Preferences: in the lower panel move Java 1.6 to the top of the list.] You may be able to configure your browser to use JRE 6 too if it is compatible.
Still Not Working?
If you still have problems after installing JRE 1.6 is possible that your system administrator has zealously disabled automatic recognition of WebStart files, if this is the case you should ask them to re-associate '.jnlp' file types with javaws (a program bundled with the JRE). Or you can run ArkMAP in a terminal/console as 'javaws path-to-download/arkmap.jnlp' (or by pointing directly at the URL 'javaws http://www.thearkdb.org/webstart/arkmap.jnlp'
No Launch Button?
If you cannot see a 'Launch' or 'Get Java' button in the yellow box your browser does not have Javascript enabled. You should consider enabling Javascript via your browser preferences, as in common with many websites ArkDB requires this for full interactivity (help). If you cannot enable Javascript and still cannot see the 'Launch' button above, check that you have Java 1.6 installed and install if necessary using the buttons above and then launchthe application from the 'Fallback Launch' button below.
Still confused?
Read about Java and JavaScript on the web.
Feedback
Please report any problems with ArkMAP via the link below, and feel free to provide feedback on any problems, usability issues or enhancements that you think could improve the value of this tool.