18 Future Plans

Following is a list of features we would like to add. They will be implemented as they are needed, but some will not be done until the next major version.

• Improve PDB reader to read multiple models and the new "element'' field (see ??? for a program to convert CONECT records to a PSF file)
• element type based on atom name and residue type, if information isn't given in the PDB
• append and delete specific atoms
• text for raster outputs
• improve surface rendering speeds
• improve sphere rendering speeds
• save more information about current setup (see section §  for the script commands to save the current setup)
• standardize nomenclature and usage of keywords and other definitions
• add more selection definitions, like purine
• expand the ability of the mouse to pick atoms
• add atom coloring methods
• rewrite the forms using Tk
• faster calculation of hydrogen bonds
• implement ``correct'' transparency
• be able to select bonds
• draw molecular and isoelectric surfaces (a la GRASP) ???
• develop the 3D interface
• improve the interactive steering
• will need to add a new input/output coordinate file (probably GROMOS) because we are approaching limits to atom and residue number
• read in the electron density maps made by X-PLOR and display isosurfaces ??? get the right name (based on Joel's comments)
• work on an interface to use X-PLOR scripts as subroutines, perhaps via Tcl's ``expect''