[chimerax-users] Trying to open .py files on Windows gives cPickle error

[Elaine Meng]

Hi Jason,
I am mystified by "their only option to save modified files"... if you mean a modified atomic structure, ChimeraX can write .pdb and .cif (mmCIF), as well as save ChimeraX session files (.cxs).  These can be done with the "save" command or menu: File... Save and choosing file type in the dialog.

Maybe that person is using Chimera instead and is saving a Chimera session file (.py) but they would also have the option of writing a PDB file from Chimera, if it is an atomic structure.

In other words, I don't understand why somebody is saying that their only option to save modified files is python, especially if they are really using ChimeraX rather than Chimera!  So there shouldn't be any reason why you need to open their python file in ChimeraX.  If they are really using Chimera, there is an option to export to ChimeraX that provides a python file, but your opening such a file in ChimeraX should not give that error.  As far as I know, this has nothing to do with Mac vs. PC.

Best,
Elaine
-----
Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D.                       
UCSF Chimera(X) team
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

> On Aug 9, 2021, at 4:14 PM, Carnes, Jason via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users at cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> I am collaborating with someone using ChimeraX on a Mac. Their only option to save modified files results in a .py file extension. When I try to open .py files on my Windows install of ChimeraX I get an error:
>  
> “ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'cPickle'”
>  
> Is there a way to manually install cPickle on my Windows computer that will allow me to open the .py files, or are Mac & PC not compatible?
> Thanks,
> Jason