Mastering Label Visibility in Molecular Models

Labeling nodes in molecular models plays a pivotal role in efficiently organizing and visualizing data. However, managing the visibility of these labels can often feel like a challenge, especially when juggling large and complex systems. In this blog post, we’ll explore the label visibility attributes available in the SAMSON molecular design platform, which are part of its Node Specification Language (NSL). With these attributes, you can take control of label visibility and streamline your workflows.

Understanding the Visibility-Related Attributes

In the NSL, visibility-related attributes for label nodes are defined in the label attribute space, abbreviated as la. These attributes enable you to filter and manipulate label nodes based on specific criteria. Below are the key visibility-related attributes:

  • visibilityFlag (vf): This flag determines whether the label is currently set to be visible or not. It can take the values true or false. For example, la.vf checks if the visibilityFlag is set, while la.vf false filters labels where the visibilityFlag is disabled.
  • visible (v): The visible attribute indicates the actual visibility of a label. It also accepts true or false as values. Use la.v to select visible labels or not la.v to focus on hidden ones.

Interestingly, while both attributes govern visibility, visibilityFlag defines intent, and visible reflects the resulting visibility. In practice, this subtle difference can be extremely useful for fine-tuning display settings.

Quick Applications

Here are some practical scenarios where these visibility controls prove valuable:

  • Hiding unnecessary labels: For complex models, keep the visualization clear by hiding labels that are not immediately relevant using la.vf false.
  • Highlighting specific labels: Easily spotlight a subset of labels by selecting those with la.v.
  • Testing visibility logic: Combine visibilityFlag and visible to debug discrepancies in display settings. For instance, a label might have la.vf true but be hidden (not la.v), signaling potential conflicts.

Examples

To help you get started, here are a few examples you can try:

  • la.vf true: Selects all labels where the visibilityFlag is enabled.
  • not la.v: Identifies labels that are currently hidden from view.
  • la.v and not la.vf: A more advanced query to find labels that are visible even though their visibilityFlag is disabled.

By using these attributes efficiently, you can customize exactly what information is displayed, enhancing both clarity and focus in your molecular modeling work.

Learn More

For a detailed breakdown of label attributes and more examples, visit the full documentation page here: SAMSON NSL Label Attributes Documentation.

SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON here.

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