[chimera-dev] 3d File formats

[Elaine Meng]

On Jun 30, 2005, at 9:33 AM, peter allen wrote:

> Hello,
> Does your software have any way of exporting 3d file formats.
>
> DXF  OBJ  3DS  IGES  STL  DWG   etc
>
> Many Thanks
>
> Peter Allen

Hi Peter,
Other than the standard molecular coordinate format (PDB), there are
currently two possibilities:

(1) Surfaces can be exported as VRML (File... Export Surfaces in recent  
versions),
see http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/1.2129/docs/UsersGuide/export.html

(2) More generally, Chimera can write out the models in X3D format.
This is done with the x3dsave  command.  Manual page:
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/1.2129/docs/UsersGuide/midas/ 
x3dsave.html

X3D is the immediate successor to VRML.  Unfortunately, few programs  
currently
support this format.  Chimera outputs the XML version of X3D, so XML  
translation
tools could be used to convert it to your preferred format.  All of the  
geometry is in
the X3D file. There is a known bug with non-flat ribbons.
I hope this helps,
Elaine
-----
Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D.                          meng at cgl.ucsf.edu
UCSF Computer Graphics Lab and Babbitt Lab
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco
                      http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/meng/index.html