Starting Extensions

Detailed descriptions of individual extensions (Chimera-associated programs) can be found in the Extensions section of the Chimera User's Guide.

An extension can be started by

using the --start option when starting Chimera from the system command line
choosing its name from one of the categories in the Extensions menu
opening a file whose type is specific to the extension
double-clicking its name in the Extension Manager
clicking its name and then Start in the Extension Manager
clicking its icon in the tool bar. An extension's icon can be placed in the toolbar by
- click-dragging the extension name from the Extension Manager to the tool bar
- activating the checkbox in the Extension Manager to show toolbar icon (this setting is saved in the preferences file)
Whether the tool bar is shown is controlled in the General preferences. Currently, not all extensions have icons.

Depending on the extension, something may happen right away, or dialog boxes requesting input files or parameter settings may appear.

Checkboxes in the Extension Manager also allow specification of

auto-start - whether an extension should start automatically upon Chimera startup (does not affect the current session)
category start - whether an extension should start when (in the Extension Manager) its category name is double-clicked or its category name and then Start are clicked, or when (in the Extensions menu in subsequent sessions) its category name and then Start are chosen

These settings are saved in the preferences file.