Save image to desktop: permission denied

[kdamico@…]

The following bug report has been submitted:
Platform:        Windows-10-10.0.19041
ChimeraX Version: 1.2.5 (2021-05-24 04:13:57 UTC)
Description
trying to take a picture with the Snapshot tool results in a failure. The line says:

Save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3
Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png

Is there ANY way I can change the saving location? trying to save an image from the command line gives the same error

Log:
UCSF ChimeraX version: 1.2.5 (2021-05-24)  
© 2016-2021 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.  
How to cite UCSF ChimeraX  

> open "E:\KD Mac items\Dsl1Figures.mrc" format mrc

Opened Dsl1Figures.mrc as #1, grid size 400,400,400, pixel 1.16, shown at
level 0.0564, step 2, values float32  

> view front

Expected an objects specifier or a view name or a keyword  

> view front #1

Expected an objects specifier or a view name or a keyword  

> volume #1 level 0.1047

> ui tool show "Hide Dust"

> surface dust #1 size 6.96

> surface dust #1 size 6.96

> open "E:/KD Mac items/Dsl1Figures.mrc"

Opened Dsl1Figures.mrc as #2, grid size 400,400,400, pixel 1.16, shown at
level 0.0564, step 2, values float32  

> close #2

> open "E:/KD Mac items/081922_real_space_refined.pdb"

Summary of feedback from opening E:/KD Mac items/081922_real_space_refined.pdb  
---  
warnings | Ignored bad PDB record found on line 1744  
TER  
  
Ignored bad PDB record found on line 2479  
TER  
  
Ignored bad PDB record found on line 8204  
TER  
  
Ignored bad PDB record found on line 13814  
TER  
  
Ignored bad PDB record found on line 19123  
TER  
  
1 messages similar to the above omitted  
  
Chain information for 081922_real_space_refined.pdb #2  
---  
Chain | Description  
A | No description available  
B | No description available  
C | No description available  
D | No description available  
E | No description available  
  

> hide atoms

> show cartoons

> volume #1 level 0.0866

> surface dust #1 size 6.96

> surface dust #1 size 43.42

> volume #1 level 0.1199

> volume #1 level 0.1199

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png supersample 3

Permission denied writing file C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png  

> save "C:\Users\Kevin DAmico/Desktop/image1.png"

Directory "C:\Users\Kevin DAmico/Desktop" does not exist  




OpenGL version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 512.15
OpenGL renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650/PCIe/SSE2
OpenGL vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Model: Z390 GAMING X
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (Build 19044)
Memory: 34,289,602,560
MaxProcessMemory: 137,438,953,344
CPU: 8 Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700KF CPU @ 3.60GHz
OSLanguage: en-US
Locale: ('en_US', 'cp1252')
PyQt5 5.15.2, Qt 5.15.2
Installed Packages:
    alabaster: 0.7.12
    appdirs: 1.4.4
    Babel: 2.9.1
    backcall: 0.2.0
    blockdiag: 2.0.1
    certifi: 2020.12.5
    cftime: 1.5.0
    chardet: 3.0.4
    ChimeraX-AddCharge: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-AddH: 2.1.6
    ChimeraX-AlignmentAlgorithms: 2.0
    ChimeraX-AlignmentHdrs: 3.2
    ChimeraX-AlignmentMatrices: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Alignments: 2.1
    ChimeraX-AmberInfo: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Arrays: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Atomic: 1.13.2
    ChimeraX-AtomicLibrary: 3.1.3
    ChimeraX-AtomSearch: 2.0
    ChimeraX-AtomSearchLibrary: 1.0
    ChimeraX-AxesPlanes: 2.0
    ChimeraX-BasicActions: 1.1
    ChimeraX-BILD: 1.0
    ChimeraX-BlastProtein: 1.1
    ChimeraX-BondRot: 2.0
    ChimeraX-BugReporter: 1.0
    ChimeraX-BuildStructure: 2.5.2
    ChimeraX-Bumps: 1.0
    ChimeraX-BundleBuilder: 1.1
    ChimeraX-ButtonPanel: 1.0
    ChimeraX-CageBuilder: 1.0
    ChimeraX-CellPack: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Centroids: 1.1
    ChimeraX-ChemGroup: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Clashes: 2.1
    ChimeraX-ColorActions: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ColorGlobe: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ColorKey: 1.2.1
    ChimeraX-CommandLine: 1.1.4
    ChimeraX-ConnectStructure: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Contacts: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Core: 1.2.5
    ChimeraX-CoreFormats: 1.0
    ChimeraX-coulombic: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-Crosslinks: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Crystal: 1.0
    ChimeraX-CrystalContacts: 1.0
    ChimeraX-DataFormats: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Dicom: 1.0
    ChimeraX-DistMonitor: 1.1.3
    ChimeraX-DistUI: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Dssp: 2.0
    ChimeraX-EMDB-SFF: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ExperimentalCommands: 1.0
    ChimeraX-FileHistory: 1.0
    ChimeraX-FunctionKey: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Geometry: 1.1
    ChimeraX-gltf: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Graphics: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Hbonds: 2.1
    ChimeraX-Help: 1.1
    ChimeraX-HKCage: 1.3
    ChimeraX-IHM: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ImageFormats: 1.1
    ChimeraX-IMOD: 1.0
    ChimeraX-IO: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Label: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ListInfo: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-Log: 1.1.2
    ChimeraX-LookingGlass: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Maestro: 1.8.1
    ChimeraX-Map: 1.0.2
    ChimeraX-MapData: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapEraser: 1.0
    ChimeraX-MapFilter: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapFit: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapSeries: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Markers: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Mask: 1.0
    ChimeraX-MatchMaker: 1.2.1
    ChimeraX-MDcrds: 2.2
    ChimeraX-MedicalToolbar: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Meeting: 1.0
    ChimeraX-MLP: 1.1
    ChimeraX-mmCIF: 2.3
    ChimeraX-MMTF: 2.1
    ChimeraX-Modeller: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-ModelPanel: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-ModelSeries: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Mol2: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Morph: 1.0
    ChimeraX-MouseModes: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Movie: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Neuron: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Nucleotides: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-OpenCommand: 1.5
    ChimeraX-PDB: 2.4.1
    ChimeraX-PDBBio: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PDBLibrary: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-PDBMatrices: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PickBlobs: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Positions: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PresetMgr: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-PubChem: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-ReadPbonds: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Registration: 1.1
    ChimeraX-RemoteControl: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ResidueFit: 1.0
    ChimeraX-RestServer: 1.1
    ChimeraX-RNALayout: 1.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibMgr: 2.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsDunbrack: 2.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsDynameomics: 2.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsRichardson: 2.0
    ChimeraX-SaveCommand: 1.4
    ChimeraX-SchemeMgr: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SDF: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Segger: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Segment: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SeqView: 2.3
    ChimeraX-Shape: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Shell: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Shortcuts: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ShowAttr: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ShowSequences: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SideView: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Smiles: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-SmoothLines: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SpaceNavigator: 1.0
    ChimeraX-StdCommands: 1.3.1
    ChimeraX-STL: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Storm: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Struts: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Surface: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SwapAA: 2.0
    ChimeraX-SwapRes: 2.1
    ChimeraX-TapeMeasure: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Test: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Toolbar: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-ToolshedUtils: 1.2
    ChimeraX-Tug: 1.0
    ChimeraX-UI: 1.7.6
    ChimeraX-uniprot: 2.1
    ChimeraX-UnitCell: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ViewDockX: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Vive: 1.1
    ChimeraX-VolumeMenu: 1.0
    ChimeraX-VTK: 1.0
    ChimeraX-WavefrontOBJ: 1.0
    ChimeraX-WebCam: 1.0
    ChimeraX-WebServices: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Zone: 1.0
    colorama: 0.4.3
    comtypes: 1.1.7
    cxservices: 1.0
    cycler: 0.10.0
    Cython: 0.29.21
    decorator: 5.0.9
    distlib: 0.3.1
    docutils: 0.16
    filelock: 3.0.12
    funcparserlib: 0.3.6
    grako: 3.16.5
    h5py: 2.10.0
    html2text: 2020.1.16
    idna: 2.10
    ihm: 0.17
    imagecodecs: 2020.5.30
    imagesize: 1.2.0
    ipykernel: 5.3.4
    ipython: 7.18.1
    ipython-genutils: 0.2.0
    jedi: 0.17.2
    Jinja2: 2.11.2
    jupyter-client: 6.1.7
    jupyter-core: 4.7.1
    kiwisolver: 1.3.1
    line-profiler: 2.1.2
    lxml: 4.6.2
    lz4: 3.1.0
    MarkupSafe: 2.0.1
    matplotlib: 3.3.2
    msgpack: 1.0.0
    netCDF4: 1.5.4
    networkx: 2.5
    numexpr: 2.7.3
    numpy: 1.19.2
    numpydoc: 1.1.0
    openvr: 1.14.1501
    packaging: 20.9
    ParmEd: 3.2.0
    parso: 0.7.1
    pickleshare: 0.7.5
    Pillow: 7.2.0
    pip: 21.0.1
    pkginfo: 1.5.0.1
    prompt-toolkit: 3.0.18
    psutil: 5.7.2
    pycollada: 0.7.1
    pydicom: 2.0.0
    Pygments: 2.7.1
    PyOpenGL: 3.1.5
    PyOpenGL-accelerate: 3.1.5
    pyparsing: 2.4.7
    PyQt5-commercial: 5.15.2
    PyQt5-sip: 12.8.1
    PyQtWebEngine-commercial: 5.15.2
    python-dateutil: 2.8.1
    pytz: 2021.1
    pywin32: 228
    pyzmq: 22.0.3
    qtconsole: 4.7.7
    QtPy: 1.9.0
    RandomWords: 0.3.0
    requests: 2.24.0
    scipy: 1.5.2
    setuptools: 50.3.2
    sfftk-rw: 0.6.7.dev1
    six: 1.15.0
    snowballstemmer: 2.1.0
    sortedcontainers: 2.2.2
    Sphinx: 3.2.1
    sphinxcontrib-applehelp: 1.0.2
    sphinxcontrib-blockdiag: 2.0.0
    sphinxcontrib-devhelp: 1.0.2
    sphinxcontrib-htmlhelp: 2.0.0
    sphinxcontrib-jsmath: 1.0.1
    sphinxcontrib-qthelp: 1.0.3
    sphinxcontrib-serializinghtml: 1.1.5
    suds-jurko: 0.6
    tables: 3.6.1
    tifffile: 2020.9.3
    tinyarray: 1.2.3
    tornado: 6.1
    traitlets: 5.0.5
    urllib3: 1.25.11
    wcwidth: 0.2.5
    webcolors: 1.11.1
    wheel: 0.36.0
    wheel-filename: 1.3.0
    WMI: 1.5.1

[Eric Pettersen]

Reported by Kevin DAmico

[Tom Goddard]

It appears your desktop is the Public desktop and in Windows you can't write to the public desktop

C:\Users\Public\Desktop\image1.png

I believe the reason that happens is because you use Microsoft OneDrive which replaces your desktop with the Public desktop. And then it uses some other Desktop directory like OneDrive/.... ChimeraX does not know about OneDrive.

You can save an image to another folder instead of the desktop using a command or menu File / Save As... and choose file type PNG or JPEG. The command would look like

save C:\Users\yourusername\Documents\myimage.png

[Tom Goddard]

ChimeraX was changed more than a year ago so it will not set the current directory to the Windows Public/Desktop since that directory is not writable. But that still requires that the user figure out where they are allowed to write files and use either the File / Save... dialog or a typed command. The toolbar snapshot button that saves to the Desktop will not work with Microsoft OneDrive. This is a know limitation that may one day be fixed if Microsoft provides a way for the code to find the OneDrive desktop.