# Waiting for psf files

**URL:** <https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170>\
**Category:** HADDOCK\
**Created:** [July 4, 2024, 5:06am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170 "2024-07-04T05:06:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 19\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 5:06am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/1 "2024-07-04T05:06:53Z")

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Dear BioExcel team,

We are new to protein protein docking and Haddock. We followed the haddock tutorials for the installation of the software. We are using only two pdb files. We generated the run file and initiated docking, but it is taking too long to generate the psf files. The program has been running for 4 days and it keeps displaying “Waiting for psf files”.

Since we are new to this, we are unsure of the time that it takes to generate the psf files. Is there any pointers that we can look into so as to speed up the process?

Also in the begin folder, the genreate\_X.out file contains the message “runs\_runX\_generate\_X.job: line 8: protocols/cns1: Is a directory”  
Is there any steps that we did incorrectly?

Would really appreciate any inputs.

Thanks &Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VGPReys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/vgpreys/32/960_2.png) [@VGPReys](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/VGPReys)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 6:58am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/2 "2024-07-04T06:58:29Z")

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> [@DAn](#):
>
> The program has been running for 4 days and it keeps displaying “Waiting for psf files”.

The generation of `.psf` files should be a matter of seconds only, there must be an issue somewhere.

My best guess would be that your CNS installation is not entirely functional.

Also, what version of HADDOCK are you using ? 2.4, 2.5 or 3.0 ?

In case you are not familiar with HADDOCK, I would suggest to start with the [haddock2.4 webserver](https://rascar.science.uu.nl/haddock2.4/), which will spare you some trouble shooting of installing it (given it is for non-commercial use)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/3 "2024-07-04T07:21:53Z")

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Thank you for your reply.

We are using haddock 2.5.  
When we initiate CNS, we get the same result as given in this tutorial: [CNS Installation — haddock3 3.0.0 documentation](https://www.bonvinlab.org/haddock3/CNS.html)

Is there any cns executable file for ubuntu or can we use the windows .exe file itself?

Thanks &Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VGPReys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/vgpreys/32/960_2.png) [@VGPReys](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/VGPReys)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:35am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/4 "2024-07-04T07:35:50Z")

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> [@DAn](#):
>
> When we initiate CNS, we get the same result as given in this tutorial: [CNS Installation — haddock3 3.0.0 documentation](https://www.bonvinlab.org/haddock3/CNS.html)

Ok, that’s great !

> [@DAn](#):
>
> Is there any cns executable file for ubuntu or can we use the windows .exe file itself?

A CNS executable is both Operating System (OS) and Hardware dependent. You need to compile one for the system you are working on.

Your issue may come from somewhere else.

I will try to figure it out and post a new answer asap

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VGPReys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/vgpreys/32/960_2.png) [@VGPReys](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/VGPReys)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:50am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/5 "2024-07-04T07:50:12Z")

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> [@DAn](#):
>
> Also in the begin folder, the genreate\_X.out file contains the message “runs\_runX\_generate\_X.job: line 8: protocols/cns1: Is a directory”  
> Is there any steps that we did incorrectly?

Be sure that the path `protocols/cns1` is a copy of (or a link to) the `CNS` executable (and not to the installation directory of CNS)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 7:52am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/6 "2024-07-04T07:52:08Z")

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When defining the CNS executable in run.cns point to the executable and not only the directory where it resides

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 10:06am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/7 "2024-07-04T10:06:46Z")

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Thank you.

Now we are getting a new error: “Error in the topology generation: prot\_psf\_mol1 could not be created”

Could you tell us what went wrong?

Thanks & Regards  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VGPReys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/vgpreys/32/960_2.png) [@VGPReys](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/VGPReys)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 10:15am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/8 "2024-07-04T10:15:12Z")

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> [@DAn](#):
>
> Now we are getting a new error:

Great ! One step at a time

> [@DAn](#):
>
> Now we are getting a new error: “Error in the topology generation: prot\_psf\_mol1 could not be created”

Probably an issue with your PDB file that could not be properly understood.

Is it a standard protein with only natural amino acids? DNA/RNA ? Small molecule ?

Without the input file that you provided, it is difficult to judge.  
Can you send it ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 11:04am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/9 "2024-07-04T11:04:41Z")

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Check the corresponding .out file in the begin directory.  
Look at the end of it for error messages.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/10 "2024-07-04T12:12:27Z")

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"%AUTOAN error encountered: exceeded MXRTT (RTF) parameter → recompile program  
(CNS is in mode: SET ABORT=NORMal END)

* * *

ABORT mode will terminate program execution.

* * *

Program will stop immediately."  
This is the error we are getting in the generate\_X.out file.

[1F0N-clean.pdb](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/uploads/short-url/9meqXukKRaJs1fyHB2pXMExLIdU.pdb) (333.8 KB)  
[3FZU-clean.pdb](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/uploads/short-url/6kitVOu2jGSV4UbU4W9jqY336Zc.pdb) (513.4 KB)

These are the cleaned PDB files that we provided as input.

Thanks & Regards  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/11 "2024-07-04T12:44:31Z")

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Did you recompile CNS using the cns code provided with HADDOCK?

If not better do it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/12 "2024-07-05T05:17:19Z")

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We already patched cns with haddock custom files by following the tutorial present here:  
[https://www.bonvinlab.org/haddock3/CNS.html](https://www.bonvinlab.org/haddock3/CNS.html)

But the same error is popping up. Is there anything that we should check on?

Thanks & Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 6:41am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/13 "2024-07-05T06:41:11Z")

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Did you try to run one of the examples?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 10:56am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/14 "2024-07-08T10:56:10Z")

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We tried running protein-protein example but got the same error. Should we recompile CNS and try from beginning?

Thanks & Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/15 "2024-07-08T11:11:25Z")

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Best thing to try indeed

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/16 "2024-07-08T12:04:26Z")

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During the process of recompiling CNS, we encountered many errors, stating: “Type mismatch in argument”  
The final message is as follows:  
make[3]: Target ‘…/bin/cns\_solve’ not remade because of errors.  
make[2]: \*\*\* [Makefile:59: cns\_solve] Error 2  
make[1]: \*\*\* [Makefile:64: cns\_solve] Error 2

Thanks & Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DAn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@DAn](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/DAn)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 7:27am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/17 "2024-07-09T07:27:22Z")

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We are using Haddock2.5 for our studies. But the instruction given for cns installation is for Haddock3.0. Are there any updates in the script files that execute cns within Haddock from v2.5 to v3.0 ? Since the error that is being generated is : “Type mismatch in argument”

Thanks & Regards,  
DAn

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VGPReys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/vgpreys/32/960_2.png) [@VGPReys](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/VGPReys)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 7:37am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/18 "2024-07-09T07:37:39Z")

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CNS is the same between haddock versions

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amjjbonvin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/ask.bioexcel.eu/amjjbonvin/32/23_2.png) [@amjjbonvin](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/u/amjjbonvin)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 7:47am UTC](https://ask.bioexcel.eu/t/waiting-for-psf-files/5170/19 "2024-07-09T07:47:29Z")

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There is no different version of CNS for different haddock versions.

So the instructions are fine. The only change is the location of the directory where you will find the cns code provided with haddock.

Make sure that your CNS executable works.  
And define it in run.cns (or the config file - redoing the configuration). What should be defined is the executable with full path (and not only the path to it)
