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Customizing VMD Startup

The Unix version of VMD reads in several data files (if they exist) when it starts up. These files control the initial appearance and behavior of VMD at the start, and may be customized to suit each users particular tastes. Default versions of these files are placed in the INSTALLLIBDIR directory (usually /usr/local/lib/vmd). While each user may specify to use different versions of these files, unless this is done the commands and values in the default files are used. In this way, an administrator may customize the default behavior of VMD for all users, while allowing each user the option to change the default behavior however they choose. This chapter describes each of these data files.

Several configurable parameters may also be set in a number of ways, including by command-line options or by environment variables. The order of precedence of these methods is as follows (highest precedence to lowest):

  1. Command-line options (see the Users Guide).
  2. Environment variable settings (see the Users Guide).
  3. Built-in defaults, as specified by compilation configurable parameters. These are used only if no other values are specified by the other methods mentioned in this list.


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Next: The .vmdrc and vmd.rc Up: VMD Installation Guide Previous: Installing a Pre-Compiled Version
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