The best free 3D molecule viewer is WebLab
Viewer Lite from Accelrys. Go here
to register and download the program and a file of sample molecules.
In order to view these displays, you must have the Chime
"plugin" for your web browser. Chime is available free from
MDL Information Systems. Chime is currently available for only Netscape
Navigator for Windows, and for Netscape Navigator on the
Macintosh. Internet Explorer will not work properly
To learn about Chime and obtain the latest version, see: www.mdlchime.com
Until recently, both Netscape and Internet Explorer
supported Netscape plug-ins. With the August 2001 release of Internet
Explorer 5.5 SP2, Microsoft has ceased support for the Netscape plug-in
format. If you are using Netscape, or Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 or
earlier, you can use the Chime plug-in. Users of Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2
or Internet Explorer 6 MUST use the ActiveX Control instead.
Though users of Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 or Internet
Explorer 6 MUST use the ActiveX Control, users of Internet Explorer 5, and
5.5 SP1 may want to use it as well. Installation is more involved, because
it necessitates installing two programs (both are free, but require
registration). However, this option also provides a much more powerful
online and offline molecular viewing package.
Steps to Install the ActiveX tool:
- Download and install WebLab Viewer Lite. This
program is also an excellent stand-alone molecular viewer. The ActiveX
Control won't work unless this program has been installed FIRST! Be
sure to download the FREE version (Lite).
- Download and install the WebLab Viewer ActiveX Control.
