3DMolSym > Help > Selecting a Symmetry Element

Overview

When a molecule is selected, its symmetry elements are listed in the Elements' selection panel.

The list is controlled by dragging the slider or by pressing the up and down buttons located on the right of the panel.

Upon moving the mouse over each symmetry element, its position within molecule is displayed in the 3D Screen. Clicking on a symmetry element selects and displays it permanently in the 3D Screen.

On the Symmetry Elements Mode the user can preview any set of symmetry elements by clicking in the square region on the left of the panel.

The Elements' selection panel is inactive when a symmetry operation is in progress or paused.

A selected symmetry element can be deselected and removed from the 3D screen by clicking the Remove Selected Element check button.

Symmetry Elements Mode

In the Symmetry Elements mode the symmetry elements of the selected molecule are displayed in the Elements' selection panel as a list, in the order they appear in the standard point group tables.

Point Groups Mode

In the Point Groups mode the symmetry elements of the selected molecule are displayed in the Elements' selection panel as a hierarchical tree-menu, in the order they appear in the standard point group tables and classified by symmetry classes.

Each class comes along with a number indicating how many symmetry elements belong to the class.

Upon clicking on a class it is expanded and its symmetry elements are displayed.