Viewing the SURFNET surfaces

Viewing the maps in VRML

The VRML option allows you to write out the SURFNET surfaces, etc. in VRML format allowing you to view them via a Web browser with a VRML plug-in.

VRML stands for Virtual Reality Modeling Language. There are a number of plug-in and stand-alone browsers which you can download and install. For example, see: VRML Browsers.

The output file is called surfnet.wrl and you need to configure your browser to recognise .wrl files as being VRML files. The file is generated when you choose the V option in the SURFPLOT parameters in the surfnet.par file.

Example VRML file showing the binding site of HIV protease (PDB file 7hvp) defined as a yellow wire-cage surface. The inhibitor is show as a ball-and-stick model inside, with the protein sidechains shown around the binding site as thin lines.