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Software USA 3 #11
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About MacAtoms 3.2.0
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MacAtoms V3.2.0
MacAtoms is a program for making realistic pictures of atomic
structures. The program is designed to give you interactive control over
the parameters that determine the appearance of the picture. For
example, you can change the viewpoint by just moving the mouse and
observing the effect. You can also change the radius and color of groups
of atoms by moving the mouse.
MacAtoms lets you select atoms or groups of atoms using the usual point
and click technique. The selected atoms can be moved independently of
the other atoms. You can use this feature to move some atoms aside in
order to see inside a structure. Or you can use it to make stereo pairs
to help visualize things in depth.
MacAtoms lets you combine selected atoms into groups and then combine
the groups to make more complex groups. You can use this to build
molecules out of simpler components or to organize the atoms so that
clicking on one atom of a group causes the entire group to be selected.
MacAtoms supports multiple windows, and it is possible to cut and paste
atoms between windows. The program takes its data for each window from a
simple text file that describes the atom positions, radii, and colors.
Each window can have a separate data file. You can use these features in
many ways. For example, you can compare similar data sets by displaying
each one in a different window. Or, you can have one window that
contains a library of useful molecules, and another window that contains
a complex structure built from the molecules copied from the first
window.
MacAtoms places essentially no limits on the number of windows, the
number of atom types, the number of atoms of each type, or the number of
groups of atoms, beyond the obvious limitations imposed by memory. While
it is at its best on the Macintosh II line of computers, the program can
also generate realistic pictures on older Macintoshes that do not
support gray scale and color displays, such as the Macintosh 512K or SE.
However you will be a bit constrained for memory on the smaller
machines.
MacAtoms can produce hardcopy prints on any printer, including color
printers. The print quality may not be very satisfactory on low
resolution printers such as the ImageWriter, but on most printers the
images are quite realistic. MacAtoms can also drive several other types
of recording devices, such as video tape recorders and optical disks.
MacAtoms can be made to run freely, reading data from a data file and
plotting the results on a recording device, all without human
intervention. You can use this technique to make movies.
MacAtoms is distributed with a manual written using MacWrite V4.6. You
can also read the manual using Microsoft Word by starting up Word and
choosing the Open menu item. Most other word processors should be able
to read the manual using the same approach.
This version of MacAtoms is being offered as "Freeware", which means you
don't have to pay me for it unless you just want to. However, the
program is not in the public domain, and I retain all rights to it. I am
encouraging users to distribute the program widely, subject to a few
restrictions. If you do use MacAtoms, send me a postcard so I can
keep you up to date when new versions come out.
Version 3.2.0 provides a major improvement in printing. In particular,
it now produces high quality prints on all kinds of printers, including
those that do not use PostScript. It also works with color printers.
This release also fixes a number of bugs. For more information about
changes in this version, read the release notes in the manual.
Hilary D. Jones
364 Princeton Ln.
Danville CA 94526
510-837-8958
Sandia National Laboratories
PO Box 969, Department 1952
Livermore CA 94551-0969
510-294-2892
CompuServe: 74666,167
ARPANET: hilary@california.sandia.gov