Install a VMD plugin

install_vmd_plugin.md

Installation of VMD plugins

These are common instructions for my VMD plugins.

Before you begin. Download the latest release and extract it in a directory of your choice.

Quick-and-dirty, no-installation method

If the package has a load.tcl file, just source load.tcl it in VMD console.

Method 1: use VMD's preference manager (VMD 1.9.2 and higher)

If you are using VMD 1.9.2's new preference manager, .vmdrc can not be edited by hand. Please refer to the following figure, adjusting the plugin name, location and script.

    lappend auto_path /WHERE/YOU/EXTRACTED/THE/TOOL

Note: this method is not suitable to replace plugins distributed with VMD by newer versions. Also, some plugins may require a second line like package require plugin_name_gui to register them in VMD's menus.

Alternatively, if the plugin has a load.tcl file, use the line

source /WHERE/YOU/EXTRACTED/THE/TOOL/load.tcl

Method 2: set the TCLLIBPATH environment variable

This is suitable e.g. if you use modulefiles. Note that, unlike other Unix paths, multiple path components should be space-separated.

    export TCLLIBPATH="/PATH/TO/EXTRACTED/VMD_PLUMED $TCLLIBPATH"

VMD before 1.9.2: edit VMD's startup file

You may download and extract the plugin in any directory. Then add the following lines to your .vmdrc startup file. Note that name and location differ under Windows !

    lappend auto_path /PATH/TO/EXTRACTED/PLUGIN
    menu main on

install_vmd_plugin_img.png

I would need some more information, like error messages and so on... can't debug from here.

There is no error message.

See https://github.com/giorginolab/vmd_diffusion_coefficient/tree/master/doc . The lappend statement is different.

Kindly note that I am trying to install density_profile not diffusion. Can you please point out the error in the lappend statement which I used.
lappend auto_path /home/user/program/vmd_density_profile-master
Thanks

Try package require density_profile_gui; density_profile_gui::register_menu; and/or the other methods. At the worst, source the files manually.

Thanks a lot, the problem is solved by adding the line which you mentioned and its working well.
Once again thanks for your timely help.

Hi, I tried the method 1 for a linux 18.04 distribution, density profile is the interesting tool for me. Actually I obtained a error message : can't find package density_profile_gui

My 2 lines typed in Vmd :
/usr/local/lib/vmd/plugins/LINUXAMD64 'this line corresponds to the path where I found plugins folder'
'typed in my new plugin'
package require density_profile_gui 'typed in density profile'

Please, I need some help.
Thank you in advance.

Hi,

I tested Method 1 on Windows10. This may be an example for the path:

lappend auto_path C:/PATH/TO/EXTRACTED/PLUGIN
menu main on

It worked using '/' instead of backslash
Hopefully it may help other users!

Regards

Gerardo

Hi!
I tried this thing on Windows 10. Didn't work. I can't see density profile under Extentensions>Analysis. Need help!

Hi!
I tried 1st method on Windows 10. It isn't working.
Can someone please help? Thanks!

Try also adding the package require lines from pkgindex.tcl (without the surrounding catch) Il mer 1 lug 2020, 12:28 flashshreyas <notifications@github.com> ha scritto:

…

***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ Hi! I tried 1st method on Windows 10. It isn't working. Can someone please help? Thanks! — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/a9cfaf7642a7fbc13293#gistcomment-3360535>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAU74C4WEVAN3WHY44NBOMDRZMFUVANCNFSM4H4EOCLA> .

@tonigi Thanks!

I have used,

lappend auto_path C:/Users/flash/vmd_density_profile-master (This is where the downloaded density profile folder exists)
package require density_profile_gui

Not working. Did I make any mistake?

Add the register line Il mer 1 lug 2020, 12:40 flashshreyas <notifications@github.com> ha scritto:

…

***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ @tonigi <https://github.com/tonigi> Thanks! I have used, lappend auto_path C:/Users/flash/vmd_density_profile-master *(This is where the downloaded density profile folder exists)* package require density_profile_gui Not working. Did I make any mistake? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/a9cfaf7642a7fbc13293#gistcomment-3360549>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAU74C2E6NCBOV2WIIRD7QDRZMHC3ANCNFSM4H4EOCLA> .

Yes, tried this too,

lappend auto_path C:/Users/flash/vmd_density_profile-master
package require density_profile_gui; density_profile_gui::register_menu;

No luck.

Try method 2 (set environment var). If no luck, source the scripts Il mer 1 lug 2020, 12:44 flashshreyas <notifications@github.com> ha scritto:

…

***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ Yes, tried this too, lappend auto_path C:/Users/flash/vmd_density_profile-master package require density_profile_gui; density_profile_gui::register_menu; No luck. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/a9cfaf7642a7fbc13293#gistcomment-3360558>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAU74C2BRABWJX75PYOUIT3RZMHSRANCNFSM4H4EOCLA> .

Thanks much. Let me try that and see.

I have tried method 1 for my windows computer and added every extra line but still it does not work. Please help.

Which tool?

@tonigi the density profile tool

Try this package require density_profile_gui; density_profile_gui::register_menu;

Tried that, did not work. This is the line I used

lappend auto_path/C:/Users/jreiy/Desktop/MNE/vmd_density_profile-master/vmd_density_profile-master
package require density_profile_gui; density_profile_gui :: register_menu;

Run the command in the command line prompt. Make sure the spacing is right (no spaces around :: )

Sorry, you'll need to find somebody familiar with vmd and tcl to guide you.

Finally figured it out

Apparently for Windows 10 this works - Just simply download the plugin, extract, and copy the vmd_density_profile-master folder to C:\Program Files (x86)\University of Illinois\VMD\plugins\noarch\tcl

Then start VMD and you will see the Density Profile Tool in Extension>Analysis

Hope this helps anyone else who encounters the problems I did!

👍

I discovered by reading the VMD source code that if you wish to do a molfile plugin, the only method I found that even remotely works is a variant of #2 but with a different variable.
export VMDPLUGINPATH=/path/to/dir
where /path/to/dir is the parent directory of a directory named molfile

INSTRUCTIONS for WINDOWS:

1. Download and extract the tool zip file.
2. Copy the plugin folder and go to the path '\VMD\plugins\noarch\tcl' and paste the folder there.
3. If the plugin has a load.tcl file, then go to '\VMD\scripts\init.d' and just paste that load.tcl (or a file named something similar) there.
4. If the init.d folder is not present, just create a new folder and name it init.d and paste the load file there.
   Hope this helps. :)

please write instructions in linux.

Finally figured it out

Apparently for Windows 10 this works - Just simply download the plugin, extract, and copy the vmd_density_profile-master folder to C:\Program Files (x86)\University of Illinois\VMD\plugins\noarch\tcl

Then start VMD and you will see the Density Profile Tool in Extension>Analysis

Hope this helps anyone else who encounters the problems I did!

i couldnt find noarch in plugins

I have tried Method 1 by typing: lappend auto_path/home/sam/Downloads/density_profile.tcl , in the code section of VMD Preference Panel. Checking comments, nobody seems to be doing that. Was I supposed to use Tk Console or here? Thanks