From omar#* at *#malena.crs4.it  Thu Mar  4 10:40:43 1993
Message-Id: <9303040840.AA20668 %-% at %-% malena.crs4.it>
To: chemistry %-% at %-% ccl.net
Subject: Re: Molecular Visualization 
Date: Thu, 04 Mar 93 09:40:43 +0100
From: Omar G. Stradella <omar # - at - # malena.crs4.it>



Your message dated: Tue, 02 Mar 93 13:23:57 CST

> To whom it may concern:
>
>  I am looking for public-domain software for visualizing
>  molecules and solids. I would like each atom to be
>  represented by a sphere (preferably directionally
>  shaded), and also to have the possibility of putting
>  sticks between the spheres (ball-and-stick models) 
>  when I choose. Preferably, the software should run
>  on SGI and IBM Risc machines with X-windows, 
>  but if it only runs on
>  SGI machines that is still useful.

>  Thank you,
>  Anders Carlsson

Take a look to SciAn, is a very nice (and free) scientific visualization
package. It can do what you want and much more. From the README file:

SciAn is a scientific visualization and animation program for Silicon
Graphics and IBM RISC/Sytem 6000 workstations.  It was developed at the
Supercomputer Computations Research Institute at Florida State University
to help meet the daily visualization needs of our scientists.

SciAn is primarily intended to do 3-D visualizations of data in an
interactive environment with the ability to generate animations using
frame-accurate video recording devices.  A user manual, on-line help, and
technical notes will help you use the program.

As a research institution, we have always relied upon the availability of
free software to meet our needs, and we wanted to give something back to the
research community in return.  For this reason, we are making SciAn
available at no charge.

SciAn currently runs on two platforms:
  1) Silicon Graphics 4D workstations
  2) IBM RISC/System 6000 workstations

Beginning with version 0.60, SciAn should run on all Silicon Graphics Power
Series, Personal IRIS, and Indigo workstations with Z-buffer capability.  It
will not run on very old workstations, such as the 1000, 2000, and 3000
series.

SciAn will run only on IBM RISC/System 6000 workstations that have 3-D
graphics accelerators that provide GL compatibility.  SciAn also requires
a Z-buffer.  If there is any question about whether your hardware provides
this, please get in touch with your system manager or IBM sales
representative.  (IBM makes a bewildering variety of hardware, and I can't
keep up, but the magic words are Z-buffer and 3-D GL compatibility.)

On all workstations, SciAn ABSOLUTELY REQUIRES a Z-buffer.  If you try
to run it on a workstation that does not have a Z-buffer, you will get
strange results.



You can get it from: ftp.scri.fsu.edu, look into the directory pub/SciAn/release,
the last version is scian0742.tar.Z. The documentation is in 
pub/SciAn/documentation.

Omar
--
****************************************************************************
* Dr. Omar G. Stradella    -    Omar.Stradella -A_T- crs4.it                     *
* CRS4 - Centro di Ricerca, Sviluppo e Studi Superiori in Sardegna         *
*      - Centre for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia *
* -------------------------+----------------------------+----------------- *
* Casella Postale 488      |    Via Nazario Sauro, 10   | 39 13' 19" North *
* 09100 Cagliari CA        |    09123 Cagliari CA       |  9  6' 17" East  *
* Italy                    |    Italy                   |                  *
* -------------------------+----------------------------+----------------- *
* Phone: +39 70 27 96 415       FAX: +39 70 27 96 400 or +39 70 24 10 18   *
****************************************************************************