CrystalMaker Online Help

Interface Improvements

CrystalMaker 3 has more power features
than its predecessors, but its interface is
more elegant than ever...

The new interface is compatible with the MacOS8 "Platinum" appearance. Whilst the overall number of commands and features has been increased, we have also simplified the overall interface, reducing the number of menus and removing redundant commands. We have significantly improved many of the dialog boxes, providing more options and feedback. Other changes include:-

New Transform menu, replaces old View menu.
Embellish menu deleted. Commands moved to Model menu and Transform menu.
New Model Options dialog provides easy access to many model embellishment commands, with 8 tabbed "pages" of settings. (Keyboard shortcut: cmd-M; additional keyboard shortcuts available for each Model Options page.)
Reflectance dialog shows bond and polyhedral rendering previews. Also allows setting of the illumination direction by clicking & dragging the mouse over the preview rectangle.
Info Window lists total number of crystal sites, or molecule atoms.
Info Window allows atoms to be labelled by site or element.
File menu allows single-click access to any of the nine most recently-opened files.
Choice of Ångstrøm or Nanometre units for toolbars. The units can be toggled by clicking the units box in the top-left-hand corner of the graphics window.
Carousel tool displays a flashing mouse cursor as the plot rotates
New Hide Utility Windows command, hides all windows apart from the toolbar and graphics window. (Keyboard shortcut: cmd-H).
New Arrange Windows command added to the Windows menu.
Program saves window positions on quitting (hence deleted the Save Window Settings menu command).
New, "3D" application and document icons, plus 3D look for progress bar.

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