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ChimeraX Settings (Preferences)

The ChimeraX Settings dialog is listed in a standard platform-dependent location in the menu (for example, Favorites... Settings on Windows and Linux, UCSF ChimeraX... Preferences on a Mac) and contains sections:

Background
Clipping
Distances
Labels
Log
Startup
Toolshed
Trackpad
Web Access
Window

The buttons at the bottom of the dialog can apply to just the currently shown section or to all sections of the Preferences dialog (depending on the Buttons below...  option):

Several other preferences do not appear in this dialog, but in separate interfaces.

ChimeraX preferences are stored as multiple files in a standard platform-dependent location (for example, under ~/Library/Application Support/ChimeraX/ on a Mac). The location can be reported with command:

info path user unversioned config
Preferences files are named according to the modules to which they apply, and are not created until nondefault settings are saved.

Background

Clipping

See also: clip, surface cap

Distances

Settings for distance-monitor pseudobonds are saved instantly (without clicking Save). The decimal-place and angstrom-symbol options also apply to H-bond pseudobonds when labeled by distance. See also: Distances, H-Bonds, mousemode, selection context menus

Labels

Log

The Log echoes commands and shows messages and other information. See also: log

Startup

Toolshed

The Toolshed is the web repository of ChimeraX bundles. It can be shown from the menu (Tools... More Tools) or with the toolshed command. The command can also be used to list, install, or remove bundles, and to control how the toolshed manages bundle information.

Trackpad

Web Access

Proxy settings are needed to allow users at certain sites to fetch data over the web; these settings should be the same as for web browsers.

Window

Other Preferences

Some preferences do not appear in the main ChimeraX Settings dialog, but can be accessed through context menus, other dialogs, or commands. Examples include:

Some tools have settings that are “sticky,” automatically saved in the preferences and presented to the user upon later uses of that tool. Examples: H-Bonds, Modeller Comparative


UCSF Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics / February 2024