When DL Visualize starts it open the main window. This provides the menus and tools for controlling the application. In reponse to user actions it may also open 2D and 3D viewer windows. The 3D viewer allows the user to interact with displayed models. The 2D viewer displays plots, LEED patterns, a 2D view of contours etc.

The main window provides access to DLV's functions. It consists of 5 objects

• The Menus.
• A Toolbar.
• A text widget.
• A Status Bar.
• The Object Selector.

3D objects that the user has chosen to display are rendered in this window. The following mouse buttons can be used to manipulate the view

Left button

The left button rotates, zooms or translates the object depending on the currently selected transformation button in the toolbar (in the main window). The default is to rotate the object.

Right button (Control-button on MacOSX)

Clicking the right mouse button on an atom will select (if unselected) or unselect (if already selected) the atom. Clicking on the viewer background unselects all atoms. Clicking on an atom and dragging the mouse to another atom will select a sphere of atoms around the first atom out to the distance of the atom where the button is released.

Middle button

Holding down the middle mouse button rotates the object.

Shift Middle button

Holding down the shift key and the middle mouse button zooms the object.

Control Middle button

Holding down the control key and the middle mouse button X-Y translates the object.