# Targetfinder encountering error because it "uses more memory than allowed" (I don't think this is true); other strategies?

**URL:** <https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/targetfinder-encountering-error-because-it-uses-more-memory-than-allowed-i-dont-think-this-is-true-other-strategies/13479>\
**Category:** usegalaxy.org support\
**Tags:** exceeds-memory-error, tool-help, targetfinder\
**Created:** [September 18, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/targetfinder-encountering-error-because-it-uses-more-memory-than-allowed-i-dont-think-this-is-true-other-strategies/13479 "2024-09-18T15:52:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@tana](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/tana)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/targetfinder-encountering-error-because-it-uses-more-memory-than-allowed-i-dont-think-this-is-true-other-strategies/13479/1 "2024-09-18T15:52:32Z")

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Hello! I am trying to map a small RNA database to a transcript in order to find sRNAs that may have originated from the transcript (identifying phasiRNAs). I am using 2.4GB total for both sets of data. I am trying to use Target finder to map these small RNAs to the target, but keep getting the error that it is using more memory than allowed; is there a way around this? Is there an alternative system to try?

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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:** [September 18, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/targetfinder-encountering-error-because-it-uses-more-memory-than-allowed-i-dont-think-this-is-true-other-strategies/13479/2 "2024-09-18T16:19:06Z")

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Welcome, @tana

First, this is some general information about this error type with any tool.

> [@error with Picard's MarkDuplicates - This job was terminated because it used more memory than it was allocated.](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/error-with-picards-markduplicates-this-job-was-terminated-because-it-used-more-memory-than-it-was-allocated/13008/2):
>
> Whenever this error is reported
> 
> > This job was terminated because it used more memory than it was allocated.
> 
> The message means that there is one of these going on
> 
> 1. some input or parameter problem should be adjusted before the rerun
> 2. or, the work is actually too large to process at the Galaxy server where it was run
> 
> The public computational resources are significant, so the first case is much more common. But these do have practical limits.
> 
> If you think your job is actually running out of processing memory resources, the solution can be to try at a different server. Please see the directory here for choices → [Public Galaxy Servers](https://help.galaxyproject.org/docs?topic=10860).
> 
> Note: The computational processing memory utilized for job execution is unrelated to storage space (quota) for your account.

* * *

Given that context: the first items to check are the input datasets and parameter choices. This tool happens to have great examples down in the Help section of the form, plus links to tutorial examples.

I would suggest comparing your run to those examples, making adjustments, and trying reruns. If you need help with this or get stuck, we can try to help more here and will need to review what you have so far to offer advice. How to share your work is in the banner topic at this forum, or please see here directly → [How to get faster help with your question](https://help.galaxyproject.org/docs?topic=11469).

Let’s start there, thanks! 🙂