[Chimera-users] Can I use "Chimera" to measure length of a VRML file?

[Elaine Meng]

Hi Masako,
You cannot measure distances on the VRML object directly in Chimera.

However, you could use the Volume Path Tracer tool to place markers  
at the ends of the object, then measure the distance between the  
markers.

Volume Path Tracer:
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/ 
volumepathtracer/framevolpath.html

measuring distances:
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/ 
structuremeas/structuremeas.html#distances

Or, for an indication of scale rather than a measurement, you could  
use the Scale Bar tool:
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/scalebar/ 
scalebar.html

All these ways will show numbers based on the units of the VRML  
input.  So you would need to know whether those units were angstroms,  
nanometers, or something else.
I hope this helps,
Elaine

On Sep 7, 2006, at 6:11 PM, Masako Terada wrote:

> Hi.  I have a VRML file, which was created with different  
> softwares.  Is
> there anyway I can use Chimera to measure length of this tube-like
> structure?
>
> Thanks, in advance!
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Masako Terada
>
> National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
> Center for Research in Biological Systems
> University of California, San Diego
> (858)534-7968
> mterada at ncmir.ucsd.edu
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Chimera-users mailing list
> Chimera-users at cgl.ucsf.edu
> http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/listinfo/chimera-users

-----
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