[Chimera-users] Chimera with 3d (6-axis) mouse?

[Tom Goddard]

Hi Mario,

  We haven't distributed any game controller support in Chimera.  Conrad 
Huang in our lab recently tried head tracking with a Wii remote.  We've 
tried Wii remote control of Chimera using just mouse emulation.  We've 
tried a force feedback device called a Phantom (from Sensable) for 
placing markers in density maps.  That was distributed with Chimera on 
Windows in the past but is not currently working, though I am just now 
fixing it.  Greg Couch in our lab has experimented with a game pad API 
and a consumer device.

  So we have some interest in alternative input devices but it is mostly 
just in the tinkering stage.

    Tom



Mario J. Borgnia wrote:
> This reminds me that several years ago Alwyn Jones introduced the use 
> of gamepads to control the display. Is this available in Chimera?
> Tom Goddard wrote:
>> Hi Lee,
>>
>>   I added Chimera support for the Space Navigator 6-degree-of-freedom 
>> input device (costs only $60) for Mac and Windows.
>>
>>     http://www.3dconnexion.com/
>>
>> I expect it will work with other 3dconnexion devices such as your 
>> Space Explorer.  If you download the current Chimera daily build
>>
>>     http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/alpha-downloads.html
>>
>> for Windows or Mac OS and have the 3dconnexion driver installed, the 
>> device will move and rotate Chimera models.
>>
>>   I have only two button assignments:  Button1 or Fit centers the 
>> models and scales them to fit in the window, Button2 toggles a mode 
>> allowing simultaneous rotation and translation (default off is called 
>> "dominant" mode by 3dconnexion).  The Windows Control Panel or Mac OS 
>> System Preferences lets you change the assignments of the device 
>> buttons.  You may not have any assigned to be "Button2" unless you 
>> change those settings.
>>
>>   There are also a few keyboard shortcuts that change modes.  
>> Shortcuts or Accelerators are turned on with menu entry Tools / 
>> General Controls / Accelerators On.  Shortcut "nf" turns on "fly 
>> through" mode.  Instead of the device behaving as if you are holding 
>> the models it is used to control the viewer position (ie. pushing 
>> forward flies you forward rather than pushing the models away from 
>> you).  It is hard to control -- needs more programming work.  
>> Shortcut "na" allows the device to move both inactive (frozen) and 
>> active models.  This can be useful if you are docking a molecule into 
>> a map with the mouse and changing view points of both molecule and 
>> map using the space navigator.  Shortcut "nd" toggles 
>> translate/rotate only mode (i.e. "dominant" mode).  I just added that 
>> today so it won't be in Chimera until tonight's builds.
>>
>>     Tom