Import Surface/Volume File Dialog Box

The Import Surface/Volume file selector is used to read in one or more surface or volume data files and associate this data with a project entry. Such data must be associated with a project entry. Once a file has been selected, an entry chooser opens so that you can specify the entry.

The file formats that you can import are:

  • Maestro .vis files
  • CNS electron density maps (.cns or .map)
  • CCP4 electron density maps (.ccp4)
  • Cryo-EM electron density maps (.mrc)
  • VTK-generated surfaces (.vtk)
  • Cube files (.cub)
  • Jaguar .plt files (these are obsolete, and have been replaced by .vis files)

For the electron density maps, the Map Type dialog box is displayed after choosing the entry, so that you can select the map type from among the common types, including Cryo-EM.

Jaguar-generated .vis (and .plt) files always contain volume data (3D grids with data values at each point). They may contain orbital, electron density, spin density, electrostatic potential, or other information. The volume data can be imported into and displayed in Maestro as a surface.

A Maestro .vis file contains volumes, surfaces, or both. A volume contains all of the data values for each of the points on the grid. Once imported into Maestro one or more surfaces can be created. In addition, a surface that has its original volume data can have its isovalue changed in Maestro. If the .vis file contains only a surface or surfaces, then it contains only a description of the surface and not the original (volume) data from where it came. As such it cannot have its isovalue changed in Maestro.

Once this data is imported, it is a persistent part of the Maestro project, and can be displayed from the Surface Manager Panel.

Surface and volume data is processed automatically on importing a file into Maestro if the file has associated surfaces or volumes. The association is created by listing the files

To open this panel, choose Workspace → Surface → Import or Inin the Project Table panel, choose Data → Import → Surface.

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