Instructions for using Chime to view molecules on these pages
Configuring your browser for molecule viewing using Chime
3-D molecular models presented on this course's pages can be viewed and
manipulated using the MDL Chime
plug-in for Netscape or for Internet Explorer on a PC or on a
Mac. You will need to register (they don't send you any annoying
e-mail). Follow the instructions for your particular
environment. [note: if you have more than one installation of
Netscape (as I do), the Chime files are installed automatically in only
one of the "plugins" directories. You can just copy them to other
plugins directories to get Chime to work with all of your
installations.]
Follow the installation instructions at the link.
Because of their simplicity and power, you will find Chime displays in
increasing use in a number of courses and at a number of technical
sites.
Note that Rasmol is the name of the stand-alone program that originated
the set of 3-D molecule displaying functions that are implemented for
the
network with Chime. Rasmol
(now Protein Explorer) is free for academic use and you may want to
install
it for looking at molecular structures other than those we present
through
this course's pages.
How to manipulate the image
To manipulate the orientation of the 3-D images (once you see them, of
course), place the arrow of your mouse on the figure, click the button
(left on a PC) and drag across the figure. This tumbles the molecule in
a controlled way, once you get used to the effect.
To change the appearance of the image (including automatic spinning,
colors, and various modes of representing molecular structures), use
the
right button on a PC (hold down the button on a Mac) and a menu of
options
will appear.
To change the size of the image, hold down the "shift" key along
with
the mouse button (left on a PC) and drag the cursor down for
enlargement
and up for diminution.
To drag the image laterally or up or down (particularly useful for
looking
at a particular part of an enlarged image):
on a Mac, move the cursor over the picture while holding down the
"option"
key along with the mouse button.
on a PC, move the cursor over the picture while holding down the
"control"
key along with the right mouse button.
Many more controls over the appearance of the molecular display are
available
- experiment with them.
l-mets@uchicago.edu