software for molecular modeling and manipulation of 3d images

[Brent L. Bates TAD/TAB ms294 x42854]

     Personally, I don't like sliders, they are too slow and cumbersome.
I use the mouse buttons in conjuction with the mouse. If I hold the left
mouse button down while moving the mouse I get 2 rotations corresponding
to the xy movement of the mouse. I use the right mouse button for xy
translation. Finally, I use the middle button for zooming, a 3rd rotation,
and for changing the perspective angle (I use a key toggles to change
what the middle mouse does.)
     I usually move the object as a wire frame, then toggle on shadeing
and z-buffering for the final orientation.  This makes orienting the
object very fast.  I am currently using a 3130, so this method is a
necessity.  However, I have done a quick port to a Personal Iris, and
found I could easily and quickly move the object with double-buffered
z-buffering.  It was slower than the 3130 in wire frame, but lightning
fast in z-buffer mode compared to the 3130.  If I had had more time to
work on the Personal Iris version, I probably could have speeded up the
z-buffered image.
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	Brent L. Bates
	NASA-Langley Research Center
	M.S. 294
	Hampton, Virginia  23665-5225
	(804) 864-2854
	E-mail: blbates at aero4.larc.nasa.gov or blbates at aero2.larc.nasa.gov