---
name: "NEXUSvalidator"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncl-tools"
version: "2.1.21+git20210811.b1213a7-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/NEXUSvalidator"
---

# NEXUSvalidator(1)

validate NEXUS file

## NAME

NEXUSvalidator - validate NEXUS file

## DESCRIPTION

NEXUSvalidator takes reads a file and exits with a success (return code 0) if the file is valid.

### The most common usage is simply:

-

  NEXUSvalidator \<path to NEXUS file\>

## OPTIONS

**-h** on the command line shows this help message

**-q** suppress NCL status messages while reading files

**-l**\<path\> reads a file and treats each line of the file as a path to NEXUS file

**-a** output AltNexus (no translation table in trees)

**-x** do NOT validate internal labels in trees as taxa labels

**-X** do NOT treat numbers in trees as taxon numbers, treat them as arbitrary

-

  labels (should not be used with NEXUS files).

**-s**\<non-negative integer\> controls the NEXUS strictness level.

-

  the default level is equivalent to **-s2** invoking the program with **-s3** or a higher number will convert some warnings into fatal errors. Running with **-s1** will cause the parser to accept dangerous constructs, and running with **-s0** will cause the parser make every attempt to finish parsing the file (warning about very serious errors).

-

  Note that when **-s0** strictness level is used, and the parser fails to finish, it will often be the result of an earlier error than the error that is reported in the last message.

**-f**\<format\> specifies the input file format expected:

- **-fnexus**

  NEXUS (this is also the default)

- **-faafasta**

  Amino acid data in fasta

- **-fdnafasta**

  DNA data in fasta

- **-frnafasta**

  RNA data in fasta

-

  The complete list of format names that can follow the **-f** flag is:

-

  nexus\
   dnafasta\
   aafasta\
   rnafasta\
   dnaphylip\
   rnaphylip\
   aaphylip\
   discretephylip\
   dnaphylipinterleaved\
   rnaphylipinterleaved\
   aaphylipinterleaved\
   discretephylipinterleaved\
   dnarelaxedphylip\
   rnarelaxedphylip\
   aarelaxedphylip\
   discreterelaxedphylip\
   dnarelaxedphylipinterleaved\
   rnarelaxedphylipinterleaved\
   aarelaxedphylipinterleaved\
   discreterelaxedphylipinterleaved\
   dnaaln\
   rnaaln\
   aaaln\
   phyliptree\
   relaxedphyliptree\
   nexml\
   dnafin\
   aafin\
   rnafin

## AUTHOR

This manpage was written by Andreas Tille for the Debian distribution and can be used for any other usage of the program.