Viewing Structures

This tutorial covers the basics of viewing atomic structures in ACoord.

Opening a Structure File

1. Open a supported file in VS Code (.cif, .xyz, POSCAR, etc.)
2. Click the ACoord Structure Editor icon in the editor title bar
3. Or right-click → Reopen with → ACoord Structure Editor

Navigation Controls

Action	Control
Rotate	Left-click and drag
Pan	Right-click and drag
Zoom	Scroll wheel
Reset	Click Reset button in toolbar

Display Settings

Atom Size

1. Open the Size & Style panel
2. Use the Atoms radius slider to adjust selected atoms
3. Click Reset to element default or Set to covalent radius for defaults

Bond Thickness

1. Open the Size & Style panel
2. Use the Bond thickness slider

Color Scheme

1. Open the Colors panel
2. Select a color scheme from the dropdown
3. Select atoms in the 3D view
4. Click Apply in the Brush panel (left toolbar)

Lighting

1. Open the Lighting panel
2. Adjust Ambient, Key, Fill, or Rim lights

Selection

Select Single Atom

• Click directly on an atom

Multi-Select

• Hold Ctrl/Cmd and click multiple atoms

Box Select

1. Ensure Select tool is active (press V)
2. Click and drag in empty space
3. Release to select atoms inside box
4. Hold Ctrl/Cmd while releasing to add to selection
5. Hold Alt while releasing to subtract from selection

Deselect

• Click in empty space or press Esc

Measuring Bonds

1. Select two atoms (Ctrl/Cmd+click both)
2. Distance displays in the Properties panel