Moving and Rotating

    You can move or rotate a selected structure.

    Select the part of the structure you wish to move and to

    Move the selection:

    1. Move the mouse pointer toward the center of the selected structure until a blue rectangle appears.(You can also use the Space key to change between transformation modes.)

    2. Translate the selection by dragging the mouse.

      Rotate the selection:

    3. Move the mouse pointer toward the outline of the molecule until a blue gear appears.(You can also use the Space key to change between transformation modes.)

    4. Rotate the selection by dragging the mouse.

      Rotate the selection in 3D:

    Rotation in 3D of the following structural parts is possible

    • all compounds on the canvas,

    • selected fragments,

    • selected groups.

    The axis of the 3D rotation for selected objects can be determined in the Edit > Transform > Rotate in 3D menu (or from the contextual menu) by choosing from the following list:

    • Around an arbitrary axis defined by two atoms: in this case you are asked to select the bond prior to the rotation.

    • Around x axis: horizontal axis in the plane of the canvas

    • Around y axis: vertical axis in the plane of the canvas

    • Around z axis: axis perpendicular to the plane of the canvas

    • Free 3D rotation: the rotation follows the movement of the mouse (click&drag).

    • (Note: 3D rotation mode until version 5.3.x: pressing the Space key 3 times initiates the free 3D rotation.)

    • Group Rotate: available only for a selected group in a molecule. The connecting bond(s) is recognized between the selected and unselected parts of the structure and selects the rotation axis accordingly.

    The rotations are visualized by the fog effect: parts of the molecule behind the canvas are of lighter colour than the parts on the canvas. To see best the 3D view, use white background ( View > Colors > White Background ).

    Customized tool: 3D plane:

    1. Select 3 atoms in the molecule.

    2. Click the 3D Plane button or select Edit > Transformation > 3D Plane.

    The selected 3 atoms will lie in the plane of the canvas. The coordinates are changed, not only the view of the structure

    {info} Currently 3D coordinates of brackets (e.g. monomer, component type groups) are not correctly updated when rotating the molecule in 3D mode.