What's New?

(Reposted 31 July, to include Sidebar indexing commands).

1. Improved View Menu. Added icons to the View menu to make functions clearer. The Toolbar toggle command is now at the top of the menu. Added commands to change the Sidebar content (Collections, Index of Structure Names/Mineral Names/Chemical Formulæ/Learning Resources). Added a new Show Structure of the Day command.

2. Miscellaneous. This version includes minor updates and bug fixes.

   • When displaying an index of chemical formulæ, polymorphs are now correctly listed under their shared formula (previously a dash was shown).

   • Miscellaneous compatibility improvements and bug fixes.

• Miscellaneous. This version includes minor improvements and bug fixes.

  • Minor improvements to the user interface.

  • Fixed a bug with auto rotation which could cause the structure to rotate about an inappropriate lattice vector.

1. 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).

2. Improved Auto Rotation. The Spin popover now includes a slider allowing continuous variation of rotation speed from very slow to very fast.

3. Auto Rotate "Easter Egg". Holding down the shift key when clicking the Spin button reverses the sense of rotation.

4. 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.

   • Miscellaneous interface improvements to improve consistency across our suite of applications.

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.

1. Improved Window Design. The main window has been redesigned for a cleaner look.

   • Browser "bottom bar" with status and icon slider.

   • Search command available in "Viewer" mode.

   • Keywords are displayed in List mode.

2. Redesigned Structure-of-the-Day Window. This has a cleaner and a more-intuitive interface.

3. 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.)

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Symmetry "Smart" Folder. This addition to the "Selections" includes all crystal structures, grouped by crystal system and space group.

7. 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.

   • Extended licensing information displayed in the "About" window.

   • The "Selections" libraries can now be browsed in "Demo Mode".

   • Fixed a bug with the "Structure of the Day" window which could cause the program to freeze.

   • New application icon. This version includes a new-style application icon with a similar style to that of our other products.

1. Zeolite Frameworks. Added 230 ideal zeolite framework structures to the "Learning" category of the Structures Library.

2. Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.

   • Slow animations (less than a second) update the notes and the image strip.

   • A button to close the preview will now appear in the top right corner when CrystalViewer is running on a device with touch input.

1. 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.

2. Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.

   • Updated GaTe and Poly DXDYFS structures.

   • Added a new perovskite photo-voltaic material, CH3NH3.PbBr3

   • This version includes additional stability improvements and integrity checks to ensure safe operation.

1. Structure of the Day. This version now gives the option of displaying a random "structure of the day" at startup. (This can be disabled using the program's Preferences panel.)

2. Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous fixes and enhancements.

   • Workaround for graphics glitches on systems with the new Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics cards.

1. List View. List View mode is now available in this version, and accessed via the Icon/List view selector buttons in the toolbar. Note that in List View mode you can click on column headers to sort the list.

2. 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".

3. 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.

4. Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.

   • Minor improvements and corrections to the User's Guide and Online Help.

   • 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.

   • This version includes additional stability improvements and integrity checks to ensure safe operation.

1. 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.

2. Expanded Teaching Collection. The Building Crystals section includes new tutorial files, introducing Close Packing, Interstices, Silicate Polymerization and the Kaolinite ("China Clay") structure.

3. Expanded Structures Library. Crystal structures of four new minerals have been added to the library. These are: Akimotoite, Brewsterite, Ferrierite and Neighborite.

4. Miscellaneous. This version includes miscellaneous enhancements and fixes.

   • Double-clicking a folder item in the Sidebar now toggles it open or closed.

   • Measurements are now correctly updated when scaling or rotating a structure.

   • The Scalebar now returns to the bottom right-hand corner of the Viewer, when released.

   • Smart folders are reloaded when licensing the program.

   • Added tool tips to the image strip.

   • Removed a horizontal scrollbar from the Sidebar.

   • The File Strip now works correctly on high-DPI screens.

This is an all-new 64-bit application.