[Chimera-users] Is it possible to translate single selected marker when many other models are still active, using constrained move function?

[Elaine Meng]

Hi Jun Ha Song,
Unfortunately the Movement Mouse Mode (selected atoms only) and Constrained Move tools don’t cooperate as one would like… I’ve confirmed this in my own tests: when constrained move is turned on, the whole model translates even if only one atom (marker) is selected. Whether it is a fixable bug or unfixable limitation, I cannot say.  The developer of these features is away but may be able to provide a more useful answer after he returns in about a week. 

I was surprised that there isn’t a more general mechanism for locking the axis of dragging on a Mac.  There is something called “drag lock” on a Mac, but it is not related to axis locking.  Different applications that run on Macs seem to have their own specific mechanisms for axis locking.
Sorry about the inconvenience,
Elaine
----------
Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. 
UCSF Chimera(X) team
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

> On Jul 8, 2017, at 4:02 PM, Jun Ha Song <junhasong at berkeley.edu> wrote:
> 
> Perhaps this information can help any other fellow Windows user, who is in need of exact kind of task I am performing (and definitely for some other activity other than UCSF Chimera)
> 
> The download link to the program I mentioned above, DragLock, is http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/#DragLock, and the application is only 421KB.
> 
> Also, the code for the "DragLock" can also be accessed, using the following link http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/DragLock/DragLock.ahk
> 
> Now, one thing I think I should mention is that the application is written in what's called AutoHotKey, and AutoHotKey (as I mentioned in previous question) only allow .exe file to be made, and cannot be used in Mac (or as far as I am concerned).
> 
> If there is a way to use the code in Chimera, it would be wonderful for Mac users as well.
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 9:26 AM, Jun Ha Song <junhasong at berkeley.edu> wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> <image.png>
> 
> I am looking at my map, which I have zoned one flat plane of it, not from the top, but at inclined angle of 10˚ from above.
> 
> My goal is to move markers that are at the far side of this plane from left to right (Red Arrow), without the marker going out of the plane. Because I am looking at my plane not from the top, any movement of my mouse in y-axis of my view, will cause my marker to go outside of the plane. The only way to move the marker, using Movement Mouse mode, is to solely translate my mouse in x-axis using xy-translation (Middle Mouse Button).
> 
> Because it is impossible to solely move my mouse in x-axis only, I tried to use Constrained Movement tool to limit my translation in one axis only, but I soon discovered that constrained movement is applied to all active models in the session.
> 
> Is it ever possible to use constrained movement only for the marker that I have selected, which will move due to Movement Mouse mode being set at "Move Selection"?
> 
> I was actually fortunate enough to find a little utility called "DragLock", which literally locks the axis of drag translation in either x-axis or y-axis, "DragLock" is only functional for Windows, not for Mac.
> 
> Any method to limit my mouse translation in x-axis only would suffice, and I know constrained movement already provide exactly that; if only I can move one marker of my selection, not entire active models.
> 
> Any advice would be helpful!
> 
> Sincerely,
> Jun Ha Song.
> 
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