Using the Mouse in the Graphics Window

The graphics display window is labeled OpenGL Display and contains a display of the various molecules and other graphical objects, like the axes, which make up the scene. When the mouse cursor is located inside the graphics display window, it may be used to perform the following actions:

• Rotate, translate, or scale the displayed molecules
• `Pick' atoms or other objects. That is, select them in order to move them around, label them etc.
• Move the lights
• Translate and rotate a set of atoms
• Apply a force (acceleration) to a set of atoms

There are also hot keys, or keyboard accelerators, available when the mouse is in the graphics display window. These hot keys are bound to some VMD text commands, which are executed when a hot key is pressed. VMD has several built-in hot key commands (see Tables 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4), and the user can add new ones as well (overriding the built-in ones if desired).