Dear Eliane,

Many thanks.

Works like a charm!

Sincerely,

David Ron

Mobile: +44 (0)7941 015 666

-- 

From: Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>
Date: Friday, 5 September 2025 at 17:17
To: David Ron <dr360@cam.ac.uk>
Cc: Yahui Yan <yy314@cam.ac.uk>, Ranya Behbehani <rtab3@cam.ac.uk>, ChimeraX Users Help <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>
Subject: Re: ChimeraX bond rotation with right mouse

Hello David Ron,
For future reference, please use the chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> address CC'd here for asking questions, to ensure you get an answer.

Right Mouse tool documentation says you can combine the "bond rotation" mouse mode with Shift key to move the larger side instead of the smaller side. Scroll down to see the "bond rotation" description:
<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Frbvi.ucsf.edu%2Fchimerax%2Fdocs%2Fuser%2Ftools%2Fmousemodes.html&data=05%7C02%7Cdr360%40universityofcambridgecloud.onmicrosoft.com%7C755a147864524cf03c7308ddec97b62f%7C49a50445bdfa4b79ade3547b4f3986e9%7C1%7C0%7C638926858553068831%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cQaL1JVrzjtrEjdmQClF%2FTQ8AXrpHZLzn%2FNL9e9IIGU%3D&reserved=0>

I hope this helps,
Elaine
-----
Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D.                      
UCSF Chimera(X) team
Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

> On Sep 5, 2025, at 7:00 AM, David Ron <dr360@cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> Dear Dr. Meng,
> Can you advise on a matter arising in ChimeraX [version 1.10 (2025-06-26)]
> When using the right-mouse option to rotate a bond, is there an option to specify which part of the model moves and which part stays in place?
> ChimeraX’s default seems set (intelligently enough) to rotate the portion of the model with the smallest mass (the fewest atoms), but sometimes it is convenient to be able to use then right mouse to rotate the bulkier part of the model, leaving the less bulky part in place.
> Can this be achieved?
> [I am aware of the option of using the command line to specify torsion angle about a dihedral (and  which parts of the model moves), but this requires entering a specific angle of rotation and thus lacks the kind of fine control afforded by the right mouse bond rotation feature].
> Thanks for considering.
> Sincerely,
> David Ron
> Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
> University of Cambridge
> Keith Peters Building
> Addenbrookes Hospital
> Cambridge CB2 0XY
> United Kingdom
> Office: +44 1223 768 940
> Mobile: +44 7941 015 666
> Email: dr360@cam.ac.uk