Getting started and latest improvements

CLC Genomics Workbench includes an extensive Help function, which can be found in the Help menu of the program's Menu bar (or by pressing F1).

In the Help menu you will also find a number of tutorials to help you get started using CLC Genomics Workbench.

We also recommend our Online presentations where a product specialist demonstrates our software. This is a very easy way to get started using the program. Read more about video tutorials and other online presentations here: http://tv.qiagenbioinformatics.com/.

Finally, CLC Genomics Workbench is being constantly developed and improved. A detailed list of new features, improvements, bug fixes, and changes for the current version of CLC Genomics Workbench can be found at http://www.qiagenbioinformatics.com/products/latest-improvements/.

History of the CLC Workbenches

In November 2005, CLC bio releases two Workbenches: CLC Free Workbench and CLC Protein Workbench. CLC Protein Workbench is developed from the free version, giving it the well-tested user friendliness and look & feel with a range of more advanced analyses.

In March 2006, CLC DNA Workbench (formerly CLC Gene Workbench) and CLC Main Workbench are added to the product portfolio of CLC bio. Like CLC Protein Workbench, CLC DNA Workbench builds on CLC Free Workbench. It shares some of the advanced product features of CLC Protein Workbench, and has additional advanced features. CLC Main Workbench holds all basic and advanced features of the CLC Workbenches.

In June 2007, CLC RNA Workbench is released as a sister product of CLC Protein Workbench and CLC DNA Workbench. CLC Main Workbench now also includes all the features of CLC RNA Workbench.

In March 2008, CLC Free Workbench changes name to CLC Sequence Viewer.

In June 2008, the first version of the CLC Genomics Workbench is released due to an extraordinary demand for software capable of handling sequencing data from all new high-throughput sequencing platforms such as Roche-454, Illumina and SOLiD in addition to Sanger reads and hybrid data.

In December 2006, CLC bio releases a Software Developer Kit which makes it possible for anybody with a knowledge of programming in Java to develop plugins. The plugins are fully integrated with the CLC Workbenches and the Viewer and provide an easy way to customize and extend their functionalities.

In April 2012, CLC Protein Workbench, CLC DNA Workbench and CLC RNA Workbench are discontinued. All customers with a valid license for any of these products are offered an upgrade to the CLC Main Workbench.

In February 2014, CLC bio expands the product repertoire with the release of CLC Drug Discovery Workbench, a product that enables studies of protein-ligand interactions for drug discovery.

In April 2014, CLC bio releases CLC Cancer Research Workbench, a product that contains streamlined data analysis workflows with integrated trimming and quality control tailored to meet the requirements of clinicians and researchers working within the cancer field.

In April 2015, CLC Cancer Research Workbench is renamed to Biomedical Genomics Workbench to reflect the inclusion of tools addressing the requirements of clinicians and researchers working within the hereditary disease field in addition to the tools designed for those working within the cancer field.

In June 2017, Viewing Mode is introduced in all commercial CLC Workbenches. This mode is available when a Workbench is launched without a valid license. In this mode, data can be viewed and some basic analyses equivalent to those available in the free CLC Sequence Viewer, can be run.

In January 2018, CLC Drug Discovery Workbench is discontinued.

In November 2018, the Biomedical Genomics Analysis plugin is released for use with CLC Genomics Workbench. With the Biomedical Genomics Analysis plugin installed, CLC Genomics Workbench becomes the delivery mechanism for all biomedical analyses previously delivered by Biomedical Genomics Workbench and some associated plugins. Biomedical Genomics Workbench is correspondingly discontinued, and all customers with valid licenses for Biomedical Genomics Workbench can use them for CLC Genomics Workbench.