Python scripting

OVITO provides a scripting interface that lets you automate analysis and visualization tasks. This can be useful, for example, when a large number of input files needs to be batch-processed. The scripting interface provides programmatic access to most program features such as input and output of data files, modifiers, and rendering of images and movies.

If you are not familiar with the Python language, you can find several tutorials and books online that cover this subject. Note that OVITO supports the Python 3.4 language standard.

The scripting interface is completely documented in a separate Scripting Reference manual, which can also be accessed directly from OVITO's help menu.

Furthermore, you can use Python to extend OVITO. For example, the Python script modifier provides a mechanism to write your own data manipulation function, which gets integrated into OVITO's modification pipeline system. The Python script overlay lets you write your own Python function to include arbitrary 2D graphics in a rendered image or movie, for example to enrich the visualization with additional information like a scale bar.