The Calculation Viewer displays tabular and graphic summaries of the inputs
and results associated with a single Ecce calculation. To enhance your interpretation
of results, the properties of a chemical system can be viewed (as appropriate)
in tables, graphs, and rendered 3D images. For some calculated dynamic or convergent-solution
properties such as geometry, you can display step-by-step animations of the
chemical system through the iterations of the calculation. Tables, graphic plots,
and other detailed information appear in a summary list
area. Rendered images of the chemical system with some property data appear
in a scene viewer area.
Key Concepts: The Calculation Viewer provides convenient access to current
information for a single calculation at any stage of setup or completion. Its
many features for viewing and visualizing chemical system properties make it
the primary Ecce tool for reviewing and interpreting calculation results. You
can monitor a running calculation in real time. As new calculation data is generated,
the data display in the Calculation Viewer is updated automatically.
The Calculation Viewer supports visualization of several vector and tensor
quantities. In addition to dipole moments and normal modes, energy gradients
are also displayed as atom-centered vectors, when available. Tensor quantities,
such as the quadrupole moment, polarizability, or NMR shielding tensors, are
displayed as a triad of orthonormal bipolar vectors oriented along the principle
components of the tensor and scaled by the corresponding tensor eigenvalue.
Charges are indicated by blue and red coloring, with a zero charge indicated
by white. As the charge goes from the most positive charge to zero, the color
changes from fully saturated blue to a less saturated blue until the atom is
white. While going to a negative charge, white slowly becomes a more saturated
red color until the most negative charge is indicated by a fully saturated red.
Click on the Calculation Viewer icon in the Ecce Gateway. If the Calculation
Viewer is already running, this will bring its window to the front. To start
a separate instance of the Calculation Viewer in a separate window, shift-click
on the icon.
In the Calculation Manager |
First select a calculation, then choose Calculation Viewer from the Tools
menu. |
The selected calculation is then displayed in the Calculation Viewer. Once
the Viewer is open, you can view data for a different calculation by dragging
the calculation from the Calculation Manager and dropping it on the drop
site of the Viewer window. To start a separate instance of the Calculation
Viewer and view a different calculation in a separate window, select the calculation
in any of the tools above and then shift-click on the Calculation Viewer option
in the corresponding Tools menu.
Tip: If you start the Calculation
Viewer directly from the Ecce Gateway without first selecting a
calculation, you will be able to open and view data files not stored
in the Ecce Data Server. Currently, the only type of files supported
are Gaussian Cube Formatted data files containing grid-type data.
Cube files can be any type of data distributed on an ORTHOGONAL[em]
grid (the cube file format supports non-orthogonal grids but these
cannot be displayed within Ecce). Typical cube file data are molecular
orbitals or electrostatic potentials. Cube files can be produced
using either the Gaussian 98 suite of programs or NWChem. |
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The following items briefly describe elements of the Calculation Viewer window.
The left side of the Calculation Viewer is a scrollable summary list of
the calculation attributes and chemical system properties. Input attributes
include the computational code, theory/runtype, chemical system atomic coordinates,
the basis set, launch information (machine, queue, etc.), and non-default
setup parameters. Output attributes and calculated properties
are an open-ended data set that depends on the runtype and the current state
of the calculation. Results can include (but are not limited to) scalar
energies, moments, energy vectors, energy gradient magnitude, Mulliken charges,
normal modes, molecular orbitals (MOs), and partial charges. Run statistics
are a standard time-use output. |
|
Tip:Instead of scrolling to show wide
data tables, you can increase the width of the summary list. Hold
down the
left mouse button and drag the area divider handle right or left.
The handle appears near the lower right corner of the summary list. |
 |
|

A caption line for each list item includes control buttons, the item
caption, and (in some cases) corresponding data. The currently selected list
item is highlighted in black. Detailed information for any list item can be
displayed by clicking on the list controls:
-
and
- The arrowhead buttons either show or hide a summary data panel that
expands below the caption line to display the data. The data panel may be
a table or graphic plot and may include data display options for the scene
viewer. A disabled (grayed out) arrowhead
indicates that all available information is already displayed on the caption
line.
Tip: To hide all displayed data panels
at once, open the Options menu and choose Collapse Property Data. |
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- A scene viewer button marks the chemical system item and each visualizable
property. When the Calculation Viewer first opens, the button is depressed
for the chemical system, which is displayed in the scene viewer. To enable
the display of another property in the scene viewer, click on the scene button
associated with that property. The scene viewer button remains depressed
and the corresponding property can be displayed in the scene viewer until
a different scene button is depressed. Actual display of property data in
the scene viewer typically requires using additional controls in the property's
data panel.
Tip: For convenient reference, you can move
the data panel for any item out of the summary list and into an independent
window. Right-click on the Float icon
to the right of the item caption. Click the Dock icon
to restore the item to the summary list. |
Calculation inputs and results typically appear as tables in a data
panel below the item caption. When the Calculation Viewer first opens, it displays
the Chemical System table of atomic coordinates. Many properties such as Molecular
Orbitals (MOs), Total Energy, and Geometry Trace may also be viewable as graphic
plots. For those properties, clicking on the down arrow
with the right mouse button opens a pop-up menu with an option to switch off
the table and show a plot instead.
Note: The atomic coordinates shown in the Chemical System data
panel for a completed calculation may be different than the original input
values. To take advantage of symmetries and reduce the complexity of the
calculation, computational codes may transform the chemical system coordinates
to standard orientation. After this occurs, Ecce displays the transformed
coordinates rather than the original values. |
For some properties marked by a scene viewer button
,
you may be able to select cells or rows in the property table and see corresponding
data in the scene
viewer.
The pop-up menu opened by right-clicking on a data panel contains
options that apply to the table or plot displayed. The current display
(table or plot) can be printed. A table can be exported to a spreadsheet
format. A plot may have scaling options. Menu options can include the
following items:
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The right side of the Calculation Viewer is a scene viewer that displays
3D rendered images of the calculation's chemical system and some of its
properties. Properties in the summary list can be displayed in the scene
viewer by clicking on the associated scene viewer button
and interacting with the corresponding data panel in the summary list. |
|
Button |
Purpose |
 |
Select- Switch to the Select mode cursor (arrow) for selecting
and highlighting components of the chemical system.
Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts
Esc key |
Toggle quickly between the Select and Manipulate modes. |
Alt key |
In Select mode, switch the cursor to the Manipulate cursor
as long as the Alt key is depressed. |
|
|
 |
Manipulate - Switch to the Manipulate mode cursor (hand) for rotating
the chemical system in arbitrary directions around a center point ( left mouse button).
Note: It's a fine point, but these hand-cursor operations
really manipulate only your viewpoint, NOT the items
in the scene viewer. Their space coordinates remain constant as indicated
in the Chemical System data panel. |
Tip: In Manipulate mode only--depress
the
middle mouse button and drag to move (translate) the system in the
(x,y) plane of the scene viewer.
 |
The cursor switches to the Translate cursor (hand with object). |
|
Tip: In Manipulate mode only--depress
the left + middle mouse buttons together (or Ctrl + ) and drag to dolly/zoom in the scene viewer.
 |
The cursor switches to the Dolly cursor (pointing hand). |
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Tip: Do not try to select atoms to use
with the following Length - Angle - Torsion measures while a calculation
property is animating. Press Stop, select the atoms you are interested
in, and then start the animation. |
|
 |
Length - After clicking on this button, select two atoms or
a bond, or select and then click the button. The distance (in angstroms)
between atom centers is displayed along a dashed line between the atoms. |
 |
Angle - After clicking on this button, select three atoms (one
at a time) to define an angle. The measurement is displayed along a dashed
line between the bonds. |
 |
Torsion - After clicking on this button, select four atoms (one
at a time) to define a dihedral angle. The first three atoms define one
plane, while the second three atoms define another plane. The measurement
is displayed along with the planes that define the angle. |
 |
Cancel - Removes all displayed measures from the viewer. |
 |
Clipboard - Displays any image in the viewer in a separate clipboard
window. You can place several different viewer images into the clipboard
for comparison. Although you cannot modify an image in the clipboard, you
can still manipulate it. The maximum number of images you can place on the
clipboard is determined by the memory of your machine. You should probably
not have more than 10 images on the clipboard at any one time. New measures
are not copied to the clipboard.
Tip: If the orbital transparency is not
displaying correctly, rotate the clipboard object. |
|
 |
Home - Reset the chemical system in the scene viewer to a "Home"
orientation.
Tip: |
Home key |
Reset to "Home" orientation like the Home button. |
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|
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Set Home - Establish the current chemical system orientation as
the "Home" setting. |
 |
View All - Unzoom and center the chemical system to bring all components
within the viewer area. |
 |
Seek - Switch to Seek cursor (cross hairs) for selecting an object
as the view center point of the chemical system. After selection, the cursor
returns to its previous mode. |
 |
Perspective View - This button
indicates that the scene viewer is showing a perspective view: "closer"
objects appear relatively larger. Clicking on this button toggles the scene
viewer (and the button's icon) to the ortho view. |
 |
Ortho View - This button indicates that the scene viewer is showing
an orthogonal view: objects appear a constant size, regardless of their
front-to-back positioning. Clicking on this button toggles the scene viewer
(and the button's icon) to the perspective view. |
The following "thumbwheel" and slider controls are
operated by dragging with the
left mouse button.
Control |
Purpose |
Dolly/Zoom Thumbwheel |
In perspective view, this thumbwheel is labeled "Dolly" and moves the
point of view into (or out of) the depth of the scene viewer. In ortho view,
this thumbwheel is labeled "Zoom" and merely enlarges or shrinks the size
of the scene viewer image.
Tip: In Manipulate mode only--depress the left + middle mouse buttons together (or Ctrl + ) and drag to dolly/zoom in the scene viewer.
 |
The cursor switches to the Dolly cursor (pointing hand). |
|
|
X |
This thumbwheel rotates the chemical system around the horizontal (X)
axis at the current center of rotation. |
Y |
This thumbwheel rotates the chemical system around the vertical (Y) axis
at the current center of rotation. |
Z |
This thumbwheel rotates the chemical system around the orthogonal (Z)
axis at the current center of rotation.
Tip: To display X-Y-Z axes and make the thumbwheel rotations
more clear, open the View menu and mark Axes. |
|
Iso/Amplitude Slider |
For visualizing molecular orbitals and electron densities, the slider
at the top of the scene viewer is labeled "Iso" and sets a value to be depicted
as isosurfaces. For normal mode animations, the slider is labeled "Amplitude"
and sets the amplitude of motion for the animation. |
The following are key examples of calculation attributes and properties that
can be visualized in the scene viewer.
Grids
|
If you start the Calculation Viewer from the Gateway, the Calculation
Viewer will display the Grids property viewer, along with an Import button.
This enables you to import a file with gridded data (a *.cube file) and
view it in the Scene Viewer. Cube files are usually molecular orbitals or
electrostatic potentials, but could be any property in a cube file with
the appropriate 3D format. |
Chemical System |
When the Calculation Viewer first opens, the chemical system of the selected
calculation appears in the scene viewer (if a chemical system has been specified
for the calculation). The chemical system shows the last step for optimizations
or the starting geometry if there are no steps or the transformed geometry
if available. The general appearance of the chemical system and its atoms,
bonds, and labels can be specified by using the Display menu and Chemical
System menu on the window menu bar.
Measures can be added to the chemical system and viewed in all other
properties. Measures can be viewed once a calculation has finished running.
The measures buttons are located on the left edge of the scene viewer
and permit you to display:
- Length (the distance between two atoms)
- Angles (between three atoms)
- Torsions (between four atoms)
- Cancel measures.
|
(General Tables of Properties) |
For many properties, you can select cells or rows in the property table
and see corresponding data as text labels in the scene viewer. For example,
for Mulliken charges you can select charge values in the table and see them
display on the corresponding atoms of the chemical system. |
Geometry
Trace |
Geometry trace results are visualized in an animation of the chemical
system. Features include
- buttons for playing and stopping the animation
- forward and backward buttons for stepping through the geometry steps
of the animation
- capability to drag a set of coordinates to start a new calculation
- the length of a time delay between the frame steps of the animated
sequence
- measures can be added and will update during animation
- coordinates dislplayed in the Geometry Table will update during the
animation.
|
Normal
Modes |
Vibrational normal modes are visualized in an animation of the chemical
system. Animation controls include
- buttons for playing and stopping the animation loop(s)
- a choice of Vector or animation displays
- capability to drag a set of coordinates to start a new calculation
- graph of Raman or IR spectra
- the number of animations (frame steps) in a complete sequence
- the length of a time delay between the frame steps of the animated
sequence
- a slider (in the scene viewer) for setting the amplitude of motion
- symmetry labels
- coordinates dislplayed in the Geometry Table will update during the
animation.
|
Mulliken
Charges |
Mulliken charges are visualized in a color spectrum on the model of the
chemical system. Features include
- display of the accumulating charges on the atom corresponding to
the color spectrum.
- ability to select charge values from the property table and see them
display on the corresponding atoms of the chemical system.
- mulliken shell charges are available for viewing if the system was
computed by NWChem.
|
Molecular
Orbitals (MOs) |
Molecular orbitals are visualized for any molecular orbital selected
one at a time from the data table. Spin densities are evaluated by subtracting
the total electron density due to the alpha electrons from the total electron
density due to the beta electrons. Note that even for unrestricted theories,
this will only result in a nonzero spin density for open shell systems.
MO display controls include
- an option to show coefficients (as a second table in the data panel)
and to set a threshold cutoff value for ignoring coefficients that are
below the threshold
- A pull-down menu for selecting either table or energy level diagram
graph display mode.
- a pull-down menu for selecting a display mode:
MO |
isosurfaces for one selected molecular orbital |
Density |
isosurfaces for total electron density (all occupied orbitals) |
- Spin Density is available if you have run an unrestricted theory (for
example, UHF, UDFT, UMP2) .
- a Compute button for computing the display images for the corresponding
molecular orbital(s).
- a slider (in the scene viewer) for setting the value that is depicted
as isosurfaces.
- symmetry labels.
Note: The
Surface menu on the Calculation Viewer's menu bar is active only
for MOs and contains several options for controlling the detail, extent,
and appearance of isosurfaces. |
Note: The threshold cutoff value applies to all calculations. |
Molecular orbital energies are displayed in either a table or graphical
form. The molecular orbital graph displays orbitals based on their relative
energies. The orbitals are also color coded to show whether they are occupied,
unoccupied, or, in the case of restricted-open shell systems, partially
occupied. The orbitals can also be further separated into alpha and beta
orbitals and into their different symmetry group representations. |
Partial Charges |
Partial charges are visualized in a color spectrum on the model of
the chemical system. You can also view constraints and/or restraints added
to the fitting algorithm. To copy the partial charges back to the original
structure so that they can be used in further calculations, click the
Assign Charges button. Partial charge data is extracted by Ecce from the
<Calculation>.q file generated by NWChem.
Display controls include
- display of the partial charges on the atom corresponding to the color
specturm
- ability to select charge values from the property table and see them
display on the corresponding atoms of the chemical system.
- ability to view the following after an ESP calculation
- ESP: Charge fit to the Electrostatic Potential
- CESP: Constrained charge fit to the Electrostatic Potential
- RESP: Restrained charge fit to the Electrostatic Potential
- CRESP: Constrained Restrained charge fit to the Electrostatic
Potential.
|
Shielding Tensor |
Shielding Tensors are visualized as a triad of orthonormal bipolar
vectors oriented along the principle components of the tensor and scaled
by the corresponding tensor eigenvalue. Features include
- a pull-down menu that contains the options "By Atom"
- a list of all elements in your system.
This makes it easy to view the tensors for all H atoms. You can select
atoms in the table and you can also select them in the scene viewer. |
Moments |
Visual representations of the dipole and quadrapole moments are available.
These provide a quick visual reference of how the moments are oriented relative
to the molecular geometries.
The molecular polarizability is displayed using the principle components
of the polarizability tensor. These are scaled by the relative magnitudes
of the polarizability tensor eigenvalues. The display provides a quick
method of identifying the highly polarizable orientations of the molecule.
|
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Each of the menus on the menu bar can be "torn off"
as an independent window that remains visible while you work. To
"tear-off" a menu, open the menu by clicking on the menu
title and then choose the dashed line that separates the menu title
from the menu options.
Tip: Open any menu from the keyboard by using the
Alt+underlined letter combination (for example, Alt+h opens
the Help menu). Then select a menu option by pressing the
letter that corresponds to the option.
|
View
Input File... |
Open a window to display input file for the calculation. The input file
of the calculation can be viewed but not edited. |
View
Output File... |
Open a window to display the output file for calculation. The output file
of the calculation can be viewed but not edited. |
Export... |
Open a window for exporting the chemical system to a chemical system
format (such as PDB, XYZ, MVM, and others) or to export the image in the
scene viewer to a graphic file format (POV-Ray, Postscript, RGB, GIF,
TIFF, or JPEG). |
Image
Capture |
Capture an image or a sequence of images in the Scene Viewer. A series
of captured images can be used for movies or animated GIF files for the
web. You can capture a sequence of steps as in a geometry trace, or you
can capture in real-time, as when you spin a scene. Image capture supports
the following formats: POV-Ray, Postscript, RGB, GIF, TIFF and JPEG.
Tip: To use the equipment in the EMSL
Graphics and Visualization Lab, you should save to RGB files. Set
the size option to video. |
|
Print
... |
Open a window for printing the displayed image to a selected printer. |
Quit |
Close the Calculation Viewer window.
Tip: To end an Ecce session and close
all tool windows at once, close the Gateway. |
|
The Edit menu enables you to: |
Select All |
Select all atoms in the work area. |
Select Molecule |
Select the entire molecule or fragment associated with a single selected
atom. |
Reverse Selection |
Reverse the selection you just made - select everything except what you
had currently selected. |
Unselect All |
Unselect all atoms in the work area. |
Select
Within Radius... |
Select all atoms or residues within a defined radius of currently selected
atom(s). |
The Display menu controls how the atoms and bonds of a chemical
system are depicted in the work area. It also provides a 3D positioning
tool for placing items in the work area. |
Style (All) > |
Choose from a submenu to select a general display style for depicting
atoms and bonds in the work area. (See also Details on this Display
menu.)
Ball & Stick |
Ball & Wireframe |
Stick (bonds) |
Wireframe (bonds) |
CPK (space filling) |
Picture... Atom/Bond
Styles |
|
Style (Selected) > |
Choose from a submenu to select a display style for depicting all selected
atoms and bonds in the work area.
Ball & Stick |
Ball & Wireframe |
Stick (bonds) |
Wireframe (bonds) |
CPK (space filling) |
Invisible |
|
Render Quality > |
Choose from a submenu to select a quality level for rendering the atoms
and bonds in the work area:
High |
Medium |
As the rendering quality decreases, the rendering/display
speed increases. |
Low |
Very Low |
Customize... |
Open a window of chemical system display attributes for modifying
the appearance details of atoms and bonds. If the molecule is being
rendered as a wireframe, you can control the line width. If you're
using stick rendering, you can control the appearance of the stick
endcaps, their quality, and their radius. Other options control the
Ball & Stick quality.
|
|
Render as > |
Choose from a submenu to select how to render the surfaces of atoms in
the work area:
Normal |
solid surface |
Mesh |
polygon lattice |
Dots |
dot lattice |
|
Move as > |
Choose from an identical submenu to select which image rendering style
is used as you move and manipulate the chemical system.
Note: This may be useful for speeding up the manipulation
of a chemical system on slow hardware. Depending on your computing
platform and details settings (below), the manipulation of the chemical
system may be faster and smoother with Mesh or Dots. |
|
Stereo |
Mark this option to see a stereo 3D image of the chemical system on workstations
equipped with CrystalEyes® stereo viewing glasses.
Note: The monitor must first be enabled for stereo viewing
by using a hardware-specific display
command . |
|
Depth Cueing |
Mark this option to simulate depth perspective: closer objects appear
brighter than more distant objects. This is especially useful for viewing
larger molecules. |
Transparency |
When this option is marked, objects in the work area become partially
transparent so that you can see how objects overlap. |
The View menu enables you to show or hide hydrogen atoms and
various labels in the scene viewer. It also provides an option to view the
geometry in a tabular format. |
Hydrogen Atoms |
Show/hide hydrogen atoms in the work area (if any). |
Atom Labels |
Show/hide labels for all atoms in the work area. |
Bond Labels |
Show/hide labels for all bonds in the work area. |
Axes |
Show/hide a set of Cartesian axes that can be used as visual indicators
within the work area. |
Geometry
Table... |
Display a table of geometry information and other details about the atoms
of the current chemical system. The table displays atomic symbols, Cartesian
coordinates, and Protein Data Bank (PDB) information if available. Selecting
and highlighting row items in the table will select and highlight the corresponding
atoms in the work area. The table dynamically updates as the system is animated.
|
The Options menu enables you to generate bonds for imported
chemical systems, control details of the "clean" operation, set background
and label colors, and use the special display features of the scene viewer. |
Edit Background
Color... |
Open a color chooser window for modifying the background color of the
scene viewer.
|
Edit Atom
Label Color... |
Open a similar color chooser window for modifying the color of the labels
(atomic symbols, bond lengths, etc.) in the work area. |
Auto Normalize Display |
When this option is marked, the Builder recenters the chemical system
as you work, continually orienting and scaling the chemical system to fit
in the work area as you add or subtract structures. When turned off, no
centering will be done except when changing calculations. |
Enable Spinning |
When this option is marked, you can use the Manipulate mode cursor (hand)
to impart a spin to a chemical system around its center of mass. To stop
the spin, click anywhere in the scene viewer. Unmark this option to prevent
accidental spinning. |
Open All Property Data |
Show all detailed information in the summary list for all properties. |
Collapse Property Data |
Show only the list of properties in the summary list area. Any detailed
information being displayed in the summary list is removed from view. All
tables and graphs are closed . |
The Surface menu provides options for controlling the appearance of chemical
system surfaces. This menu is available only when a property with associated
surfaces (molecular orbitals--MOs) is selected in the summary list area of the
window. The Hide, Slice, and Details options become available only after surfaces
have been computed for display by using the Compute button on the MOs data panel.
Style options for rendered MO surfaces (see
also Details on this menu) |
Solid |
Mesh |
Contour |
Picture... Surface
Styles |
Color options for rendered MO surfaces |
Red/Green |
Red/Blue |
Blue/Yellow |
Light/Dark |
Other Options |
Hide |
Mark/unmark this option to hide/show the current surfaces in the chemical
system viewing area. |
Define Grid... |
Open a window for defining the 3D coordinate grid for which surface values
will be computed for display in the scene viewer. The window enables you
to define both the grid resolution (number of values along each dimension)
and extent (limits of each dimension). Note that the amount of time required
to compute a grid property increases rapidly with grid resolution.
|
Slice... |
Open a window for controlling grid slicer planes (XY, XZ, YZ) and colors.
You can use these to highlight features of the chemical system.
|
Details... |
Open a window for setting the (solid) surface transparency from 0 (opaque
surface) to 1 (invisible surface at 100% transparency).
|
The Run Management menu provides options for monitoring the progress of a running
calculation and cleaning up files created by the calculation.
tail -f on Output File... |
Open an xterm window that shows the contents of the output file for the
current calculation so that you can monitor its progress in real time as
it runs. The output file scrolls in the window as the calculation runs. |
shell in Calculation Run Directory |
Open an xterm window into the scratch directory (on the machine that is
running the calculation) where Ecce stores temporary files during processing.
With the proper knowledge of UNIX and the computational code, you can monitor
what is happening. |
Terminate Calculation |
Stops the current calculation job. |
The Help menu provides access to this online help and enables you
to supply feedback about your experience with Ecce.
Help on this
tool |
Show online help information for this tool or window. |
Support |
Display a form for providing support requests to your onsite Ecce representative
or adminstrator about problems, questions, or other comments.
Note: Although your onsite Ecce administrator should be your
first choice for problems and questions, you may address feedback or
suggestions to the Ecce development team at
ecce-support@emsl.pnl.gov. |
|
At the bottom of the window is a footer that displays status information as
well as a drop site for receiving calculation inputs that have been "dragged"
from another tool:
- the project path and name of the current calculation
- a colored icon that indicates the current state of the calculation
- a message area for system prompts and messages
-
Padlock Icon -
If you see a padlock icon, this indicates that the current calculation is
either running, completed , or imported and locked in the data server.
-

Drop Site - The "in-tray" square at the right side of the footer
is a drop site destination for "drag & drop" operations. For example,
you can use the middle mouse button to drag a calculation from the Calculation
Manager and drop it on this site. The Calculation Viewer then displays
all available information for that calculation. |