Error "Cannot determine format for"

Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error "Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like: save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ] or save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael

Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here: <http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html> Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory: save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK. I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco
On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi> wrote:
Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ]
or
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael

Hi Mikael, Right now, if you don't provide the .png suffix, you have to use a format value of "png image" rather than just "png". Will probably change that to just "png", but right now your command should be: save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format "png image" supersample 4 transparentBackground true --Eric Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab
On Oct 8, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:
Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here:
<http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html>
Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory:
save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true
As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK.
I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco
On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi> wrote:
Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ]
or
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael
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Okay, in tomorrow's daily build you will be able to just use "format png". --Eric
On Oct 8, 2020, at 9:05 AM, Eric Pettersen <pett@cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:
Hi Mikael, Right now, if you don't provide the .png suffix, you have to use a format value of "png image" rather than just "png". Will probably change that to just "png", but right now your command should be:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format "png image" supersample 4 transparentBackground true
--Eric
Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab
On Oct 8, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote:
Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here:
<http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html <http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html>>
Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory:
save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true
As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK.
I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco
On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi <mailto:mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi>> wrote:
Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ]
or
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael
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Hi Mikael, If I use menu File / Save... to save a PNG image it logs a command in the Log panel that looks like save C:/Users/goddard/Desktop/test.png width 746 height 466 supersample 3 The transparentBackground option is not in the save dialog but at least this gives you an idea of the format of the command. Most ChimeraX user interface actions log equivalent commands so looking at the Log is a good way to see the command syntax. Tom On 10/8/2020 9:50 AM, Eric Pettersen wrote:
Okay, in tomorrow's daily build you will be able to just use "format png".
--Eric
On Oct 8, 2020, at 9:05 AM, Eric Pettersen <pett@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:pett@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote:
Hi Mikael, Right now, if you don't provide the .png suffix, you have to use a *format* value of "png image" rather than just "png". Will probably change that to just "png", but right now your command should be:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format "png image" supersample 4 transparentBackground true
--Eric
Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab
On Oct 8, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote:
Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here:
<http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html <http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html>>
Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory:
save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true
As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK.
I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco
On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi <mailto:mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi>> wrote:
Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ]
or
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael
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Hi! My last email went only for one user, so I will send this one to repeat that saving transparent png pictures worked. Thank you! Regards, Mikael From: Tom Goddard <goddard@sonic.net> Sent: torstai 8. lokakuuta 2020 20:01 To: ChimeraX Users Help <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Cc: Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi> Subject: Re: [chimerax-users] Error "Cannot determine format for" Hi Mikael, If I use menu File / Save... to save a PNG image it logs a command in the Log panel that looks like save C:/Users/goddard/Desktop/test.png width 746 height 466 supersample 3 The transparentBackground option is not in the save dialog but at least this gives you an idea of the format of the command. Most ChimeraX user interface actions log equivalent commands so looking at the Log is a good way to see the command syntax. Tom On 10/8/2020 9:50 AM, Eric Pettersen wrote: Okay, in tomorrow's daily build you will be able to just use "format png". --Eric On Oct 8, 2020, at 9:05 AM, Eric Pettersen <pett@cgl.ucsf.edu<mailto:pett@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: Hi Mikael, Right now, if you don't provide the .png suffix, you have to use a format value of "png image" rather than just "png". Will probably change that to just "png", but right now your command should be: save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format "png image" supersample 4 transparentBackground true --Eric Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab On Oct 8, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu<mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote: Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here: <http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html> Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory: save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK. I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi<mailto:mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi>> wrote: Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like: save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ] or save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael _______________________________________________ ChimeraX-users mailing list ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu<mailto:ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Manage subscription: https://plato.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/listinfo/chimerax-users _______________________________________________ ChimeraX-users mailing list ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu<mailto:ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Manage subscription: https://plato.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/listinfo/chimerax-users _______________________________________________ ChimeraX-users mailing list ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu<mailto:ChimeraX-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> Manage subscription: https://plato.cgl.ucsf.edu/mailman/listinfo/chimerax-users

FYI, I added a control for transparent background to the Save dialog for the relevant formats (PNG, TIFF). Will be in tomorrow's daily build. --Eric Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab
On Oct 9, 2020, at 2:35 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi> wrote:
Hi!
My last email went only for one user, so I will send this one to repeat that saving transparent png pictures worked. Thank you!
Regards, Mikael
From: Tom Goddard <goddard@sonic.net <mailto:goddard@sonic.net>> Sent: torstai 8. lokakuuta 2020 20:01 To: ChimeraX Users Help <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>> Cc: Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi <mailto:mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi>> Subject: Re: [chimerax-users] Error "Cannot determine format for"
Hi Mikael,
If I use menu File / Save... to save a PNG image it logs a command in the Log panel that looks like
save C:/Users/goddard/Desktop/test.png width 746 height 466 supersample 3
The transparentBackground option is not in the save dialog but at least this gives you an idea of the format of the command. Most ChimeraX user interface actions log equivalent commands so looking at the Log is a good way to see the command syntax.
Tom
On 10/8/2020 9:50 AM, Eric Pettersen wrote: Okay, in tomorrow's daily build you will be able to just use "format png".
--Eric
On Oct 8, 2020, at 9:05 AM, Eric Pettersen <pett@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:pett@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote:
Hi Mikael, Right now, if you don't provide the .png suffix, you have to use a format value of "png image" rather than just "png". Will probably change that to just "png", but right now your command should be:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format "png image" supersample 4 transparentBackground true
--Eric
Eric Pettersen UCSF Computer Graphics Lab
On Oct 8, 2020, at 8:01 AM, Elaine Meng <meng@cgl.ucsf.edu <mailto:meng@cgl.ucsf.edu>> wrote:
Hi Mikael, The first one is definitely wrong because you should not include the square brackets in the command. They are shown in usage descriptions to indicate optional arguments, as explained here:
<http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html <http://rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/usageconventions.html>>
Make sure the pathname is correct. Maybe you cannot specify the drive in the pathname (the "C:") ... however, I'm on Mac and can't test this directly, but the other developers would know. You could try specifying pathname without drive to see where it goes. On Mac, this works to put a file on the Desktop under my home directory:
save ~/Desktop/blah.png super 4 transparent true
As in my example, you can just specify format with filename suffix (e.g. "k.png") instead of using the format option, but using the format option like you did should also be OK.
I hope this helps, Elaine ----- Elaine C. Meng, Ph.D. UCSF Chimera(X) team Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry University of California, San Francisco
On Oct 8, 2020, at 12:41 AM, Karjalainen, Mikael <mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi <mailto:mikael.p.karjalainen@jyu.fi>> wrote:
Hi! I am trying to get transparent background in png pictures, but it is not working and I get error “Cannot determine format for". Only way to get this is by using command line? I am writing something like:
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k [ format png ] [ supersample 4 ] [ transparentBackground true ]
or
save C:\Users\a\Desktop\k format png supersample 4 transparentBackground true Also, I have tried different variations. Regards, Mikael
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participants (4)
-
Elaine Meng
-
Eric Pettersen
-
Karjalainen, Mikael
-
Tom Goddard