# Why HISAT2 indexer builder requires gtf but not gff in the advanced indexing option? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [June 3, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/why-hisat2-indexer-builder-requires-gtf-but-not-gff-in-the-advanced-indexing-option/1461 "2019-06-03T13:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**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:** [June 3, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/why-hisat2-indexer-builder-requires-gtf-but-not-gff-in-the-advanced-indexing-option/1461/2 "2019-06-03T18:00:59Z")
Hi @YONG_JIA Many of the underlying tools wrapped for Galaxy require GTF reference annotation format and do not support GFF3. Converting GFF3 to GTF is very tricky to do correctly. Galaxy does not have a tool yet for this yet, although it has been discussed. You could try the tool `gffread Filters and/or converts GFF3/GTF2 records` however please do note that is deprecated and may not create a GTF with all of the proper annotation tags created (will not meet the formatting requirements that tools need). Your best way forward is to find a current source of GTF annotation that matches your genome. If your preferred source only offers GFF3, then you could write to them and ask for options. Maybe they would be willing to create/make one publically available (many data sources already have in response to requests). Related Q&A: - [Reference genome import from main to local server](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/reference-genome-import-from-main-to-local-server/1223) - [How to upload locally built reference genome to galaxy cloud server](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/how-to-upload-locally-built-reference-genome-to-galaxy-cloud-server/1458) --- _[View the full topic](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/why-hisat2-indexer-builder-requires-gtf-but-not-gff-in-the-advanced-indexing-option/1461)._