Hi referring to my previous mail... what I am really doing is to write some kind of database interface. I see there basically three approaches - the first two are basically short-time workarounds ( I have decided to use the first one) there third would be the "real stuff" first) My plugin accesses the db and creates a temporary file - then it tells chimera to load it. Advantage chimera can use it native (and probably fast) reading routines... second) The plugin fetches the data form the db and builds up the molecule in chimera by use of the python-interface... third() I tell chimera to access the database X, use password Y, and run select / or call a stored procedure. the stored-procedure or (for older mysql a linked extension function) could build up an input-format chimera understands from the actual data. the select-version would be a bit ugly cause we would need several of them or place some file-blobs in the bd. I hope your are interested to do some thing about approach three... Sincerely Lars