--- a/macros.xml	Sat Mar 16 11:32:14 2024 +0000
+++ b/macros.xml	Fri Aug 16 09:01:18 2024 +0000
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <macros>
     <token name="@TOOL_VERSION@">2.8.6</token>
-    <token name="@VERSION_SUFFIX@">1</token>
+    <token name="@VERSION_SUFFIX@">2</token>
     <token name="@PROFILE@">22.01</token>
     <xml name="header">
         <xrefs>
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 
     <token name="@SAVE_METADATA_LIST@"><![CDATA[
                 classes <- sapply(data\$metadata, class)
+                data\$metadata[is.na(data\$metadata)] <- "NA" ##the comparison below fails if NA values are present, see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7355187/error-in-if-while-condition-missing-value-where-true-false-needed
                 for(name in names(data\$metadata)){
                     ## check if it is the column containing the sample names
                     ## the additional column in the ist file can the be used