Quick Reference Guide for Intermediate PyMOL Users

Supplemental information intended for users who are already comfortable using PyMOL for basic molecular visualization

Advanced User Interface Controls

Sequence Viewer Actions

Names List Panel Actions

Left-click-and-drag to toggle selection membership.

Shift-left-click to extend the existing selection.
Ctrl-shift-left-click to extend the existing selection
while also centering upon it.

Left-click to toggle individual entries one at a time.

Left-click-and-drag to toggle multiple entries.
Ctrl-left-click-and-drag to browse (automatically
activate & deactivate) entries one by one.

Middle-click to center on the clicked entry.

Ctrl-middle-click to zoom the clicked entry.
Ctrl-shift-middle-click-and-drag to zoom a boxed region.

Middle-click to activate and center.

Right-click on selected sequence for the selection menu.

Right-click on unselected sequence for the sequence menu.

MOUSE
GRID

Right-click-and-drag to move entries up /down.

Use the group command to a create group, then:
Left click on [+] to open group.
Left-click on [-] to close group.

Mouse Wheel Codes

Slab : Adjust the depth of the

visible slab (between the

clipping planes).
MovS : Move the visible slab.
MvSZ : Move view center
relative to the slab.
MovZ : Move the camera along
the Z axis (zoom).

The Abort button can

interrupt certain
long-running tasks
(ray tracing, surface
calculation, etc.).

Mouse Button Codes for Viewing

The Rebuild button restores

consistency afterwards.

Cent : Center the view on a

given atom.
Clip : Move clipping planes

Context-specific menus can be

used to apply actions to
individual atoms, whole
residues, chains, segments,
objects, molecules, fragments,
and the active atom selection
ALL with a single menu-clickbrowse-and-release sequence.

Menu
Move
MovZ
Rota
Pk1
PkAt

This handle resizes the

control panel width.

Command Line & Keyboard Actions

[TAB] attempts to complete a given command or parameter. If

completion is ambiguous, a list of possible completions is

output to the console.
[Ctrl-A] moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.

Clicking here switches

between viewing and
editing modes.

[Ctrl-E] moves the cursor to the end of the line.

Clicking here changes the

selection mode.

[Ctrl-K] deletes all characters after the cursor.

[Up-Arrow] & [Down-Arrow] browse the command history.
[Left-Arrow] & [Right-Arrow] move the cursor or changes the

movie frame or state (if no text is present).

[ESC]

switches between graphics and text in the 3D viewer window

(most useful in full-screen mode).

Sele
Orig
+/-

+Box
-Box

using vertical (front) or

horizontal (back) motion.
: Activate contextdependent menu.
: Translate camera in the
XY plane (of the screen).
: Move the camera along
the Z axis (zoom).
: Free camera rotation.
: Pick one atom within the
molecular graph.
: Pick atoms within the
molecular graph.
: Set the active selection.
: Set the origin (atom) for
camera rotation.
: Toggle atom membership within the active
selection.
: Add atoms to the active
selection using a box.
: Remove atoms from
selection using a box.

Mouse Button Codes for Editing

DrgM : Activates dragging for a

Corner Buttons
S

Toggles the sequence viewer.

Toggles camera rocking
Toggles full-screen mode.

[Page-Down] & [Page-Up] advance forward or backward through the

defined Scenes.
[Ctrl-Page-Down] & [Ctrl-Page-Up] define a new Scene before or

after the current scene.

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discrete molecule.
Rot_ : Free rotation.
Mov_ : Move in XY plane.
MvZ_ : Move along Z axis.
_ above is A, D, F, or O:
A for atom
D for dragged selection
F for fragment
O for object
PkTB : Pick and (optionally) drag

to change bond torsion.

Commands, Scripts, and Programs

Commands are called by keyword and typically accept comma-separated arguments.
PyMOL> color red, chain A
Commands can be aggregated into scripts (text files with a .pml file extension)
# load_and_render.pml
fetch 1dn2, async=0
;# get PDB online; wait until done
as cartoon
show spheres, chain E+F
util.cbc ;# color by chain
orient
;# splay out along principal axes
unset opaque_background ;# transparent fog, no background
png image.png, width=900, dpi=300, ray=1
The core commands you really need to know for everyday scripting with PyMOL are:
fetch pdb_code, name
load filename, name
show / as / hide representation, selection
color color, selection
orient / zoom selection
select name, selection
label selection, string-expression
distance / angle / dihedral name, selection1, ...
enable / disable name
ray / draw width, height
png filename, dpi=number
Often-used selection keywords and operators
polymer / organic / inorganic / solvent
name name-pattern
resi resi-pattern
resn resn-list
chain chain-list
byres / bymol / bychain selection
id / index / rank id-pattern
selection within distance of selection
selection extend bond-count
Nesting and set-wise operators: (, ), and, or, not, in, like

Named selections save time by helping you refer back to specific atoms.
PyMOL> select binding_site, byres organic expand 5
PyMOL> show surface, binding_site
PyMOL> color cyan, binding_site and elem C
Selection Macros are a concise way of identifying atoms based on matching
identifier fields separated by slashes. They come in two forms...
Fields in macros with a leading slash are matched left-to-right:
 /object/segi/chain/resn`resi/name`alt
/1hpv
/1dn2/B/B/`271
/1t46//A/LEU/CA

;# /object
;# /object/segi/chain/`resi
;# /object//chain/resn/name

Fields in macros without a leading slash are matched right-to-left:

object/segi/chain/resn`resi/name`alt 
132/*`A
*/CA
145-130/N+CA+C
phe`106/
A/132-135/
B//
1t46/A/A/his/

;#
;#
;#
;#
;#
;#
;#

resi/name`alt
resi/name
resi/name
resn`resi/
chain/resi/
chain//
object/segi/chain/resn/

Often-used settings, configured via: set setting_name = setting_value and unset setting_name
opaque_background = off (transparent) vs. = on (opaque - default)
transparency = 0.5 (for surfaces; also set sphere_transparency, cartoon.., stick..., etc.)
transparency_mode = 1 (multi-layer) vs. = 2 (uni-layer - default )
ray_transparency_oblique = 1.5 (varies transparency based on surface normal)
surface_mode = 1 (surface all atoms) vs. = 0 (do not surface HETATMs - default)
surface_quality = 1 (higher quality) vs. = 0 (default)
surface_color = white (or other predefined color)
Commands scripts (.pml files) can include Python code three ways:
(#1) Implicitly, based on default Python fall-through handler:
load $PYMOL_PATH/test/dat/pept.pdb ;# PyMOL
;# Python
import os
print os.environ[PYMOL_PATH]
;# Python

PyMOL can also run Python (.py) programs

directly. The PyMOL API is accessed via:
from pymol import cmd
cmd.method-name(arg1, arg2, ...)

(#2) explicitly on a single line with a leading forward slash (/) (with optional \ continuation lines ):
/a=4; b=5; print a+b \
print a-b
or (#3) explicitly in the form of embedded Python blocks with standard block indentation.
# a simple XYZ file reader
python
;# start of Python block
for line in open("example.xyz").readlines():
field = line.strip().split()
if len(field)==4:
xyz = map(float, field[1:4])
cmd.pseudoatom("my_example",elem=field[0], pos=xyz)
python end
;# end of Python block
show spheres, my_example
zoom

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Movies and Animation

Besides static files, PyMOL can read multi-model files (.pdb, .xyz), multi-ligand files (.sdf ), and molecular dynamics trajectories (.trj, .trr, .xtc)
PyMOL> load multimodel.pdb
PyMOL> load top.pdb, mov; load_traj traj.xtc,mov,start=1,stop=101,interval=10
Movie playback speed can be controlled with the movie_fps setting (frames per second) -- the default is 30 frames per second (TV-quality).
PyMOL> set movie_fps, 5
Movies are constructed from molecular states (changing atoms & coordinates) combined with frames (changing camera, object matrices, and commands)
PyMOL> load $PYMOL_PATH/test/dat/ligs3d.sdf; mset 1 x5 1 -10 10 x5 10 -1
implies: FRAME: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30
,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 (movies loop
STATE: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,10,10,10,10,10,10, 9, 8,
, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
by default)

Each frame can have a camera waypoint stored with it, and can be interpolated for in-between frames with stored views
PyMOL> mview store,1; turn y,30; mview store,10; turn y,-30; mview store, 20
0
PyMOL> mview interpolate
;# do interpolation for missing frames
PyMOL> mview reinterpolate ;# redo interpolation for entire movie
mode = 1)
Objects can also be animated with mview using the object= optional argument (works best when matrix_mode
r; zoom
PyMOL> delete all; mset 1 x60; set matrix_mode=1; fragment lys; fragment tyr;
lys; mview store,object=lys
PyMOL> frame 1; mview store,object=lys; frame 30; translate [5,0,0],object=lys;
PyMOL> mview interpolate,object=lys
PyMOL> frame 1; mview store,object=tyr; frame 45; rotate
x, 90, object=tyr; mview store,object=tyr
PyMOL> mview interpolate,object=tyr
Movie commands can perform arbitrary actions on a per-frame basis (for a given frame, mdo resets existing commands , mappend doesnt).
PyMOL> mdo 1: show_as lines
PyMOL> mdo 30: show_as sticks
Also see: Movie menu program options, and
File menu Save As MPEG or individual PNG files.

Symmetry Expansion & Electron Density Maps

Can read CCP4 maps, ASCII X-PLOR maps, binary O/BRIX/DSN6 maps, CUBE and GRD files (file extensions: .ccp4, .xplor, .omap, .brix, .dsn6, .cube., & .grd).
PyMOL> load ref.pdb
PyMOL> load 2fofc.ccp4
PyMOL> isomesh full_map, 2fofc, 1.0
;# display density mesh for the entire map at 1.0 isosurface level
PyMOL> isomesh brick_region, 2fofc, 1.0, ref//C/26/, 3.0
;# parallelepiped with 3.0 atom buffer
PyMOL> isomesh carve_region, 2fofc, 1.0, ref//C/26/, carve=2.1 ;# only show density within 2.1 of atoms
Symmetry expansion is accomplished using symexp command, which relies upon CRYST records present in the input PDB file.
PyMOL> symexp prefix, object, selection, cutoff
# example: PyMOL> symexp sym, ref, ref, 5

Fitting and Alignment Operations

Most protein structure alignments can be accomplished with the align command, which performs a sequence-based alignment followed by an iterative
structure alignment. You specify atom selections contained within the mobile and target objects, and PyMOL will match them up.
align mobile, target

;# example: PyMOL> align 1t46////CA, 1t45////CA

;# performs C-alpha-only alignment

Other types of alignment tasks can be performed with the following set of commmands:
super mobile, target
;# structure-based alignment which refines just like align
pair_fit mobile, target
;# atom-pair-based alignment, example: PyMOL> pair_fit obj1/2-7/CA, obj2/4-9/CA
fit mobile, target
;# identifier-based alignment, where all atom identifiers match
intra_fit selection
;# molecular-state-based alignment within a single molecular object
matrix_copy source_name, target_name
;# copies matrix from one object to another

Electrostatic Calculations & Visualizations

Can read binary PHI and DX maps (.phi, .dx). PyMOL 1.2+ builds ship with APBS bundled. The APBS plugin can help to calculate electrostatic potentials
around protein atoms. Once you have loaded the potential map, the following commands become useful:
isosurface name, map, level, selection, buffer
gradient name, map
# draws gradient field lines
slice_new name, map
# creates a slice plane through the map
Coloring is achieved using ramp objects which can convert vertex coordinates into colors based on map values.
ramp_new name, map, range, color # example: PyMOL> ramp_new ramp1, map1, [-3,0,-3]
PyMOL> set surface_color, ramp1
PyMOL> color ramp1, slice1
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Modeling: Edit, Build, Cleanup, and Sculpt!

Point mutations are best made using the Mutagenesis wizard (see Wizard menu).
remove selection
;# remove atoms from molecular object
create name, selection, source_state, target_state
;# create new object / state
fab input, name
;# fabricate peptide from sequence, example: PyMOL> fab APEPTIDE
fragment name, object
;# load fragment from library, example: PyMOL> fragment arg
pseudoatom object, selection, name, ...
;# create pseudoatom at center of selection
alter selection, expression
;# change atom properties and identifiers
alter_state state, selection, expression
;# change coordinate values using expression (e.g. x=x+1)
bond atom1, atom2, order
;# create bond(s) between atoms in same object
unbond atom1, atom2
;# remove all bonds between atom selections
valence order, selection1, selection2
;# adjust valences for bonds between selections
clean selection, present, state
;# run MMFF minimization on selected atoms in single object
This panel is accessed by
pressing the Builder button in
the upper window.
To use the builder on Mac OS X,
rename MacPyMOL to be
PyMOLX11Hybrid, and then
relaunch (will run in a crossplatform compatibility mode).
In addition to providing traditional editing functions, such as
bond torsioning (see the PkTB mouse action), PyMOL has a
graph-based molecular editing capability which, combined with
sculpting, allow for dynamic manipulation of connected molecular fragments delimited by picked atom joints (chosen using the
PkAt mouse action). Each fragment can be rotated and translated
and otherwise transformed, with interactive molecular sculpting
or a subsequent MMFF forcefield-based conformational cleanup.

Fragments

Fragment

Picked Atom
Joints

Fragments

Fragment

Scenes, Sessions, and Shows

Scenes are like PowerPoint slides in that they each contain a distinct visualization intended to be part of a sequential presentation. To create a Scene,
simply choose Append from the Sene menu. Scenes can also include a text annotation displayed at the top of of the screen, as shown here:
PyMOL> scene new, store, This is my annotation text for a new scene.
PyMOL> scene auto, update, This is my updated annotation text for an existing scene.
Scenes are aggregated together into Session files (.pse) along with all of the required molecular content. Session files are completely self-contained
and can be emailed or shared just like PowerPoint documents.
Show files are merely Session files with a (.psw) file extension that signals PyMOL to open the file in full-screen mode. You can convert a Session file to
a Show file (and back) simply by changing the file extension. You can advance through a Show using [Space-Bar] or [Page-Up] / [Page-Down].
Show files can also be played inside of PowerPoint using the ActiveX Control (AxPyMOL), which is still under development. A FREE copy of the current
(sometimes unstable) AxPyMOL build can be downloaded from http://axpymol.org
PyMOL> set scene_buttons ;# displays scene buttons in a sorter.

Right-click-and-drag to reorder.

Creating Low Resolution Surfaces of Large Systems

PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
PyMOL>
Please Also Consult the Online Resources:

fetch 1aon, struct, async=0

;# load 58,870 atom structure
util.cbc
;# color by chain
alter all, b=40
;# set temperature factors
set gaussian_resolution, 6
;# set fake map resolution
map_new map, gaussian, 4, struct, 6 ;# create map from atoms
isosurface surf, map, 1
;# create surface from map
ramp_new ramp, struct, [0,6,6], [-1,-1,0]
;# color by atom
set surface_color, ramp, surf
;# set surface color
disable; enable surf
;# only show suface

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