Crystal Shapes. CrystalViewer 11.3 can now display crystal shapes created in CrystalMaker 11.5 or later. Several examples of these have been included in the Highlights collection.
Added new crystal structures for the minerals Ewingite and Vaterite. Improved the Stibnite structure, adding depictions for the Sb1 and Sb2 sites. Added a new Rhombohedral to Cubic to Hexagonal file to the Lattice Types teaching collection.
Smarter Highlights. Tidied the Highlights collection removing some arcane structures (e.g., Montmorillonite, Quartz Morphology) and replacing them with two crystal shapes: Quartz and a K-Feldspar Carlsbad twin. Applied a consistent style to all structures, with a common white background: this helps one focus on the structures themselves, rather than being distracted by colourful backgrounds. We also include some updated descriptions and file naming.
Workaround for Annoying Sequoia Startup Dialog. Upon launching CrystalViewer 11 on macOS 15 "Sequoia", a system-generated alert might appear, claiming that "CrystalViewer needs to access data from other apps". This turned out to be caused by Apple unilaterally changing their naming convention for shared application groups, so that our shared settings folder - as used for multi-user group and site bundles - was no longer authorised.
Sadly, the only way around this was to adopt Apple's new naming convention. This means that Mac users with group or site bundles will need to perform a once-only re-licensing of one of the programs in the CrystalMaker Software suite. Once complete, the system shouldn't bother you again and all the other applications will also be able to run.
Miscellaneous Changes. This version includes miscellaneous improvements and occasional bug fixes.
Removed the beep in "Presentation Mode" when the sequence is completed.
Fixed animation issues with a number of structures, including the mineral Karelianite.
Updated structures files for Sarin and Malachite as they both had incorrect keywords.
Added workarounds for weird macOS Sequoia graphics glitches which could leave "hidden" atoms still visible.
Fixed a bug with the crystal Info display. The number of formula units per cell (“Z”) was incorrect for monatomic structures.
Visualization in Demo Mode. This version restores the ability to visualize any of the "Showcase" structures. These can be viewed by double-clicking, or by using an "Expand" gesture around a selected icon.
New crystal structure. Added the crystal structure of Herbertsmithite: a hydroxide mineral that has properties of a quantum spin liquid. The file also includes a stylized Cu/Zn topology.
Workarounds for Potential "Gatekeeper" Problems. This version includes a number of changes designed to work around Apple's overly-stringent "Gatekeeper" limitations.
In order to thwart a potential security vulnerability, Apple recently changed the way in which applications downloaded from outside their proprietary Mac App Store can run. In particular, if a newly-downloaded application is launched in place, it will be automatically quarantined by the system, which ends up breaking critical file system access. This can cause problems when trying to open CrystalViewer files in CrystalMaker.
The official advice from Apple - as we have repeated in our documentation and Advice Note - is for users to resist the urge to launch the downloaded application, and instead immediately move it to a safe location (e.g., /Applications).
The act of physically moving the application should signal to "Gatekeeper" that the user is in control and that the application is safe. We emphasize "should", as some users - and other developers - have found that occasionally the system fails to un-quarantine the application, despite Apple's protestations that this should happen automatically.
In this version we not only add more instructions in the case of "Application Translocation", but we have added two fallback options.
If CrystalMaker's true path cannot be determined (because the system has mangled it as part of their "quarantine" procedures), CrystalViewer falls back upon the system's generic file opening procedure. This should result in CrystalMaker being launched and the file being opened - as long as CrystalMaker is identified as being the default application for its default file type ("CMDX").
The option to open a document in the front CrystalMaker window now acts independently of any Gatekeeper issues. This means that, if all else fails, you can launch CrystalMaker and open a new document window; CrystalViewer's File > Open in CrystalMaker > Add to Front Window should then work correctly.
Regardless of these workarounds, we still advise users to ensure that their Mac applications do not fall foul of Gatekeeper's quarantine rules. Ensure that, once downloaded and unzipped, your application is moved to the main Applications folder before it is first launched.
Improved View Menu. Added icons to the View menu to make functions clearer. Removed the (system-inserted) "Tab Bar" items from the View menu: these were redundant and merely served to clutter the menu. The Toolbar toggle command is now at the top of the menu. Added a new Show Structure of the Day command.
Miscellaneous. This version includes minor updates and compatibility improvements for software licensing.
Gatekeeper Alert. CrystalViewer now checks for system security measures which could prevent files being opened in CrystalMaker (even if the latter is running) and will issue an alert if necessary.
Most users should never encounter such issues, but if either CrystalMaker or CrystalViewer is downloaded and run immediately, without the application being moved to the /Applications folder, the system may attempt to "quarantine" an application, preventing it from communicating with other applications.
(Essentially, the system lies about the application's file path, causing standard file I/O procedures to fail. We consider this behaviour to be rather clumsy - but Apple believes it is necessary to protect users against system intrusion attacks.)
Our advice is for users to always ensure that applications are moved to - and run from - the main Applications folder; that also avoids issues with multiple copies of the same application being present on the system (which can confuse the Finder into launching the "wrong" one).
Miscellaneous. This version includes minor improvements and bug fixes.
Improved the animation of the File Strip, sliding into- and out-of- view more smoothly.
Fixed a bug with the View Strip having its origin reset to zero after the File Strip had disappeared.
Fixed a bug with auto rotation which could cause the structure to rotate about an inappropriate lattice vector.
Addressed a potential memory issue relating to the display of bonds.
This is a very-major update and is required for all users as the older software will soon be officially retired ("sunset").
Keyword Control. The "Selections" group in the sidebar has been replaced with a new "Keywords" group. This is auto-generated based on the keywords content of built-in library files - but with the option of also including user keywords.
CrystalMaker 11 users can add keywords - including nested keywords (e.g., "Silicate:Framework:Feldspar") to their documents and drag the resulting files into CrystalViewer's User Files group. The resulting keywords may be included in the Keywords group if the User Keywords option is set (in the General pane of the Preferences/Settings window). For nested keywords, disclosure triangles would be used (e.g., Silicate → Framework → Feldspar).
Improved Hand Tracking. Mac users can now use a two-finger swipe gesture to move from one structure to the next. (To use this feature, first ensure that Hand Tracking is enabled - your FaceTime camera light should come on - then hold your first and second fingers together and swipe left or right.)
Improved Auto Rotation. The Spin popover now includes a slider allowing continuous variation of rotation speed from very slow to very fast.
Auto Rotate "Easter Egg". Holding down the shift key when clicking the Spin button reverses the sense of rotation.
Improved Graphics Compatibility. Following changes to the way in which OpenGL is handled in macOS Sonoma and on Apple Silicon, we have updated our graphics shaders to work around issues with surfaces and translucency.
Miscellaneous. This version includes numerous improvements, new features, security updates and some bug fixes.
Improved Help menu, including Register and Support options.
Improved bottom-bar shadow - now updates when the browser is resized.
Corrected the structure for gamma-dichlorobenzene, which showed “B” sites that were related by symmetry to main sites.
New crystal structure added for Montmorillonite and Tantalite.
Updated application icons used in the Share menu.
Fixed a bug which prevent selected user files from being removed.
Fixed an issue with List view in which the keywords folders were shown with zero descendants.
Fixed a minor memory issue in Browser mode.
Fixed an issue with the image strip sometimes becoming partially hidden.
This is a very-major update and is required for all users as older versions are set to auto-expire on 31 December 2023. Note that new licence codes will be required - your program administrator should have received these from us; please contact them, and not us, as we are unable to supply licensing information to third parties.
AI-Powered Hand Tracking. Mac users can now rotate and scale structures with simple hand gestures - and with no extra hardware required!
To enable hand tracking, click the Viewer toolbar's Tracking button, or choose: Model > Enable Hand Tracking. The first time you do this you are presented with a security dialog; thereafter the program will turn on your FaceTime camera and use this to track the position of your hands and fingers.
You can rotate using either one or two hands; scaling requires two hands. Keep your fingers splayed out, with your palms facing the camera. You should now be able to control your structure with simple gestures (see the user's guide for more details). Start off with very slow hand motions until your are confident that your system can keep up.
Important Note: AI-powered hand tracking works best if your Mac has an Apple Silicon (M-Series) processor, as CrystalViewer is then able to make use of the embedded "Neutral Engine". Users with older, Intel-based Macs may experience slower performance, possibly with lag.
Improved Window Design. The main window has been redesigned for a cleaner look.
Sleek integrated titlebar/toolbar with repositioned buttons.
Browser "bottom bar" with status and icon slider.
Search command available in "Viewer" mode.
Keywords are displayed in List mode.
Redesigned Structure-of-the-Day Window. This has a cleaner and a more-intuitive interface.
Streamlined startup. We have improved the way in which the application launches, to improve startup time and ensure that all variables are initialised correctly and in a timely manner. Structures are now loaded in the background, which improves initial responsiveness.
Changed Program Behaviour. When licensed via CrystalMaker 11 (or as part of a multi-product licensing bundle), CrystalViewer behaves slightly differently.
Double-clicking a library thumbnail automatically opens the structure in CrystalMaker. (You can override this by using a contextual menu, or by going to the Preferences/Settings panel and changing the "Open With" setting.
CrystalViewer automatically hides the "Highlights" library. (This behaviour can be disabled using the Preferences/Settings panel.)
New "Add to Front Window" command. The former Open in CrystalMaker command has been replaced by a submenu with two items: New Window and Add to Front Window>. The latter is only enabled when CrystalMaker is running and allows the library file to be added directly to the frontmost CrystalMaker document. This command will be useful for CrystalMaker 11 users, looking to add structures from their CrystalViewer library.
New Licensing Engine. CrystalViewer uses our new, universal licensing scheme, allowing for cross-platform multi-user licence codes. The engine also allows the program to be licensed via CrystalMaker (version 11 or later) for use as a library application.
Symmetry "Smart" Folder. This addition to the "Selections" includes all crystal structures, grouped by crystal system and space group.
Miscellaneous. This version includes numerous improvements, new features, security updates and some bug fixes.
The CrystalViewer User's Guide has been extensively updated for this release to cover the new functionality, and to include new screen shots. Note that the out-dated HTML-based "Online Help" has been discontinued.
The "Share" menu items now support our newer CrystalMaker 11, CrystalDiffract 7 and SingleCrystal 5 versions, in addition to the older ones (CrystalMaker 10, SingleCrystal 4, CrystalDiffract 6).
Renamed the "Gallery" as "Highlights" to avoid confusion with the "Gallery" windows used by our other products.
The Auto Rotate popover now has two radio buttons, allowing choice of rotating about the screen vertical or the structure's most-vertical unit cell axis.
Highlights and Quiz libraries can be hidden, using the Preferences panel.
The toolbar's "Info" button is automatically highlighted when the Info inspector is visible.
Window subtitles are now used in the Viewer when more than one view is available.
Updated to detected Gatekeeper issues when trying to open a structure in a newly-downloaded copy of CrystalMaker.
Extended licensing information displayed in the "About" window.
The "Selections" libraries can now be browsed in "Demo Mode".
Fixed a bug with the Viewer subtitle remaining visible in "Browser" mode.
Fixed a bug with depth fading in which the incorrect range of z-coordinates could sometimes be calculated.
Support for Apple's new "Secure Coding" protocols, for improved security.
New application icon. This version includes a new-style application icon with a similar style to that of our other products.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous fixes as well as a new code-signing certificate.
Zeolite Frameworks. Added 230 ideal zeolite framework structures to the "Learning" category of the Structures Library.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Browser icon size slider now works again on macOS 12 "Monterey"
Faster volumetric rendering. Structures with volumetric datasets shown (e.g., surfaces, electron density maps, porosity, etc.) can now be displayed faster, and more reliably, thanks to performance optimizations.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Updated Sillimanite structure, adding atomic displacement parameters
Updated Pyrochlore structure to fix animation speed.
Fixed an issue which prevented the correct display of truncated volumetric data.
Blank Site Label Detection. This version will automatically fix any blank site labels detected during the import of a CMDX document (which might otherwise cause a crash). The crystal editor has also been upgraded to prevent the definition of blank site labels.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Updated GaTe structure.
This version includes additional stability improvements and integrity checks to ensure safe operation.
Improved "Building Crystals" Collection. Added a new Covalent Structures group with animated tours of Diamond and Graphite. Renamed the "Filling Interstices" group as "Ionic Structures" and moved Spinel and Hematite to "Non Silicates" and Olivine to "Silicates".
Expanded Structures Library. Crystal structures of 13 new minerals have been added to the library. These are: Alabandite, Cattierite, Coloradoite, Daubreelite, Ferrihydrite Mackinawite, Polydymite, Pseudorutile, Smythite, Trevorite, Tungstenite, Vaesite, Vysotskite.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Workaround for Apple graphics bug on M1 processors: bonds were being displayed in red or black. This issue has been reported to Apple; in the meantime, we have devised a workaround.
Improved licensing agreement viewer (as accessed via the Licence button in the "About" window. This no longer requires users to explicitly "agree" or "disagree" when merely reviewing the content.
Fixed miscellaneous text-formatting issues with macOS 11 "Big Sur".
This version includes additional stability improvements and integrity checks to ensure safe operation.
Improved Demo Version. In the free "Demo" mode, all structure thumbnails are now visible, making it easier to assess the range and scope of structures provided. This applies to the Reference Collections (Gallery, Materials, Minerals, Elements) and all Learning Collections (Atomic Radii, Lattice Types, Defects, Polyhedra, Building Crystals, Crystal Chemistry and Quiz). Note that thumbnails cannot be resized in Demo Mode, and that "List View" is disabled.
Improved Structure-of-the-Day Window. This window has a sleek new look, with a full-size content view and transparent toolbar, and now appears with the Structures Library (which gives time for the latter to load fully).
Expanded Teaching Collection. The Building Crystals section includes new tutorial files, introducing Close Packing, Interstices, Silicate Polymerization and the Kaolinite ("China Clay") structure.
Expanded Structures Library. Crystal structures of four new minerals have been added to the library. These are: Akimotoite, Brewsterite, Ferrierite and Neighborite.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Double-clicking a folder item in the Sidebar now toggles it open or closed.
Worked around a system issue which could cause a crash when structures without any visible atoms were loaded.
Toolbar buttons are now correctly sized on macOS 10.15 "Catalina" and earlier.
The Browser's thumbnail size-slider no longer has its "thumb" clipped, when using macOS 11 "Big Sur".
Comprehensive Teaching Collection. The Building Crystals section has been greatly enhanced in this release, with the addition of 9 new tutorial files and the reorganisation of the section into tutorial groups:
Close Packing. Includes very-detailed guides to hexagonal- and cubic close packing.
Filling Interstices. Structures based on the filling of interstitial sites in (quasi) close-packed structures. Wurtzite, Sphalerite, Halite, Olivine, Spinel.
Silicate Polymerisation. Garnet, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Mica, Feldspar, Quartz, Zeolite ZK5.
Non Silicates. Calcite.
New Materials. YBCO, ZIF-8.
Expanded Structures Library. Crystal structures of 11 new mineral have been added to the library. These are: Annite, Augelite, Bitylite, Edingtonite, Garronite, Gonnardite, Hafnon, Hydroxapatite, Kirschsteinite, Liebenbergite and Whitlockite.
Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.
Minor improvements and corrections to the User's Guide and Online Help.
Fixed a bug which led to some items being incorrectly sorted in the Browser view.
The "Index" commands are now disabled in "Demo" mode, as otherwise they resulted in a blank sidebar and a blank browser.
This is an all-new 64-bit application.