# fasta file begins with carat (\>) and not @

**URL:** <https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/fasta-file-begins-with-carat-and-not/8946>\
**Category:** usegalaxy.org support\
**Tags:** fastqsanger, datatype\
**Created:** [November 1, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/fasta-file-begins-with-carat-and-not/8946 "2022-11-01T22:44:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 2:41am UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/fasta-file-begins-with-carat-and-not/8946/2 "2022-11-02T02:41:02Z")

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Hi @abhay03

`Fasta` files start with a **\>** on the title line for each sequence. These data do not have quality scores (what most of the **FastQC** modules profile with statistics). [Datatypes - Galaxy Community Hub](https://galaxyproject.org/learn/datatypes/#fasta)

The tool **Fasta Statistics** can generate statistics and do some basic QA.

The FAQs here might help → [datatypes](https://training.galaxyproject.org/training-material/faqs/galaxy/#datatypes). That entire page can be browser searched with keywords like datatypes. You can also search this forum.

This quote from one of those FAQs describes one way to convert `fasta` to `fastqsanger`:

> If your data is _FASTA_, but you want to use tools that require FASTQ input, then use the tool **Combine FASTA and QUAL**. This tool will create “placeholder” quality scores that fit your data. On the output, click on the pencil icon galaxy-pencil to reach the **Edit Attributes** form. In the center panel, click on the “Datatype” tab, enter the datatype `fastqsanger`, and save.

Whether any of that is needed depends on the content of the original data, what your analysis goals are, and the tool(s) that are rejecting the `fasta` as a valid input. **FastQC** results would not be very meaningful for a `fasta` file converted to `fastq` except to generate a few basic statistics that don’t involve quality scores.

And, this recent Q&A is how to check what datatypes a tool is expecting as valid input: [fastq unavailable -- Tool does not recognize inputs? How to check why - #2 by jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/fastq-unavailable-tool-does-not-recognize-inputs-how-to-check-why/8925/2)

If you want to explain more about your goals and target tools, we can help more 🙂

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