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Learning Hub
Access our full suite of manuals and documentation:
- 'A Quick Guide to PRIMER'
- 'Change in Marine Communities, 3rd edition'
- 'PRIMER v7: User Manual / Tutorial'
- 'PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods'
- 'Should I Use PRIMER or R?'
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my PRIMER 6 workspace files in PRIMER 7?
Yes. PRIMER 7 can load PRIMER 6 workspace files. When working in PRIMER 7, you can also save your files in a PRIMER 6 workspace format. However, if you used any of the new features in PRIMER 7 that are not available in PRIMER 6, then you will not have full access to those particular results if you save the file in a PRIMER 6 workspace format and load it into PRIMER 6.
Will my version of PERMANOVA+ used with PRIMER 6 work with PRIMER 7?
Yes. PERMANOVA+ works seamlessly with both PRIMER 6 and PRIMER 7. If you currently have a licence for PRIMER 6 with PERMANOVA+ and you purchase an upgrade to obtain a PRIMER 7 licence, you will automatically get PERMANOVA+ with it.
Are there any updates or security patches for PRIMER 6?
We don’t provide updates or security patches for PRIMER 6. We encourage anyone using PRIMER 6 to upgrade to PRIMER 7 (with or without PERMANOVA+).
Does the software require Java or Corretto?
No.
Can I run PRIMER 7 and PERMANOVA+ on a Mac?
No, PRIMER 7 cannot currently be installed natively on a Mac computer. However, using PRIMER on a Mac is still possible through dual-booting or by running PRIMER within Windows virtualization software written for a Mac.
How do I install, re-install and update the software?
Please refer to the documentation provided to you with your purchase. Visit our Learning Hub for our technical troubleshooting guide, or email us at primer@primer-e.com for assistance.
What are the system requirements needed to run PRIMER 7 (and PERMANOVA+)?
- Operating system: Windows XP or later (this includes Windows 11). Note that PRIMER will not run natively on Apple Mac OSX, but it is possible to use it via virtualization software.
- CPU: Modern Intel or AMD processor
- RAM: Enough to run the operating system
- Hard-disk space: 100 MB or more
Please note that these are the minimum requirements to run PRIMER. As PRIMER runs numerical analyses, a faster CPU and more RAM and storage will positively affect the performance of PRIMER on larger datasets and/or more complex analyses.
Additionally, it is helpful to have:
- Excel 2000 or later installed if you want to use Excel files with PRIMER
- A pdf reader for examining the manuals