Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-31 Thread Gerard Bricogne
Dear Ian,

 Yes, the expression lattice mode I used is synonymous with centring
type. The choice of a rhombohedral vs. a hexagonal cell would be a choice
of centring type, whereas the choice of obverse vs. reverse would be a
choice of setting. A clear operational difference between the two is that a
change of centring type affects reflection conditions (i.e. introduces new
ones or removes existing ones) whereas a change of setting doesn't affect
them. Like you I would be sorry to see a word as bland as description be
given a precise and structured meaning of the kind we are talking about: we
need both centring type and setting, not some amalgamation of them.

 As for the question of conventions regarding cells and unique axes, we
have corresponded on this topic before. It should be remembered that the 230
distinct entities listed in the standard classification are space-group
TYPES, i.e. what one gets when taking into account every possible way in
which sets of lattice-preserving orthogonal transformations can be viewed as
equivalent. This includes reduction through changes of setting (in group-
theoretic parlance: under the action of the normaliser), and it so happened
that instead of giving a space-group type a separate name, one chose a
particular space group of that type (unavoidably, with some arbitrariness
that the word convention tries to make more palatable) as its
representative - hence the tautologically conventional nature of the
conventions, as you point out. Much discontent has been directed at poor
P21212, as if it had been granted an unjustified privilege over P22121 and
P21221; while in fact P21212 was singled out only as the canonical
representative of its space-group type, to which the others also belong,
being equivalent to it by a change of setting. Here, it is the confusion of
terminology, particularly in software where we used to ask for the name of a
space-group *type* (i.e. something to be chosen among 230 possibilities)
while at the same time expecting to be given a set of integer matrices and
fractional translations defining a specific space group within that type,
that has been (at least partly) responsible for the problem.


 With best wishes,
 
  Gerard.

--
On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 12:28:43PM +0100, Ian Tickle wrote:
 Dear Gerard
 
 Your point concerning my admittedly somewhat cavalier usage of the
 term 'setting' in the R23:r vs R23:h context is well taken, however I
 would point out that a) I'm not the first to use this terminology
 (e.g. the CCN article I referred to talks about triple-cell
 settings), and b) ITC doesn't use the specific term 'lattice mode'
 either, though it does use 'centring type' which I guess means the
 same thing?  It would clearly be nice to have a single term that
 encapsulates both concepts, otherwise what are we to call, for
 example, the symbol R32:r - does it define a setting or a centring
 type?
 
 In ITC the rhombohedral/hexagonal dichotomy is dealt with by assigning
 a property called alternatively 'centring type' and 'description'; the
 first is too specific for what we want, the second it seems to me
 rather too bland and general.  Either way it would appear that R32:r
 is both a symbol for the setting in the context of obverse vs reverse
 rhombohedral settings (conventionally the obverse is chosen so
 presumably the symbol R32:r applies only to that setting, otherwise
 it's ambiguous), and a symbol for the centring type in the context of
 rhombohedral vs hexagonal cells!  However 'description' does seem to
 be the common denominator term: it is used in ITC to indicate both
 settings and centring types - but as I said it does seem rather bland
 ('space group description' could mean almost anything!).  As you
 indicate, for practical purposes getting a consistent vocabulary would
 seem to be of lesser importance than getting a consistent
 nomenclature.
 
 On the question of primitive vs centred monoclinic lattice types, I
 would point out that in ITC unique axis 'a' settings are also not
 considered to be candidates for the conventional cell, though 'b' and
 'c' settings are.  So self-evidently not all possible 'descriptions'
 are considered to be conventional and the subset listed in ITC is
 merely a matter of convention (a tautology if ever there was!).
 
 Cheers
 
 -- Ian
 
 
 
 On 30 July 2012 17:55, Gerard Bricogne g...@globalphasing.com wrote:
  Dear Ian,
 
   I made a modest contribution to this discussion a long time ago, and I
  will only limit myself to one point.
 
   I think you may be confusing setting and lattice mode. A change of
  setting is performed by an integer matrix with determinant 1 (a unimodular
  matrix) whereas a change of lattice mode involves two mutually inverse
  integer matrices with determinants (mutually inverse, of course) different
  from 1.
 
   The case of R32 and H32 seems to stick out like a sore thumb because we
  never use the primitive-lattice versions of the 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-30 Thread Ian Tickle
Without wishing to re-ignite previous discussions on this topic
(perhaps FLAME ... /FLAME tags would be in order!), I would point
out that this and similar confusion with other space groups has arisen
largely from a failure of some programmers (and users!) to fully
comprehend the important difference between a 'standard symbol' and a
'setting symbol' for a space group, no doubt because in many cases
these are superficially identical, or a least very similar.  This
point is also made in the Computational Crystallography Newsletter
article on H3 and H32 that I referenced earlier.

The Hermann-Mauguin symbol (aka 'standard symbol') is unique to a
space group and crucially is designed to be independent of the setting
(orientation and/or origin).  It is used to identify a space group
without reference to the setting, and therefore its main use is to
provide page headings and index entries in ITC. There exist exactly
230 H-M standard symbols for the 230 unique 3D space groups.  The H-M
standard symbol is the same for all settings of a particular space
group and therefore cannot be used to define the setting: for that you
obviously need additional information.

The standard symbol is thus of little or no relevance to practical
crystallography: for that you must use a setting symbol.  However for
the majority of space groups only one setting is accepted as
'conventional' so in those cases the standard and setting symbols are
identical; it's only where there are multiple settings that problems
arise.

A simple analogy might be to say that an object is called 'building'
and that is also its standard symbol.  It describes the object without
reference to its orientation or position and so is not relevant to the
practical problem of defining the view of the building: for that you
need extra symbols.  For example you might need to specify one of the
setting symbols 'building (front elevation)', 'building (side
elevation)' or 'building (plan)'.

So R32 is a H-M standard symbol which corresponds to the 2 alternate
setting symbols R32:r and R32:h as described in the article.  Plainly
you can't use the H-M symbol R32 to uniquely specify the setting since
it is the standard symbol for both the R32:r and R32:h settings.  The
latter are _not_ H-M symbols: they are ITC extensions of the H-M
symbol.

For other space groups further confusion has arisen because ITC often
uses the exact same character string for both the standard symbol and
one of the corresponding alternate setting symbols.  An obvious
example is P21212: this is the H-M standard symbol for SG #18 but is
also one of the 3 ITC setting symbols for P21212, the other two being
P22121 and P21221.  Perhaps the intention would have been clearer if
the ITC setting symbols had all been made different from the standard
symbol, as they are in the R32 case.  For example P21212a, P21212b and
P21212c would have been equally valid choices for the ITC setting
symbols but do not express a 'preferred' setting (since there isn't
one).  Similarly the standard symbol for SG #5 (unique axis b) is C2,
and the alternate setting symbols are A2, C2 and I2, but they could
equally well have been (for example) C2a, C2c and C2i, which doesn't
express a preference for any one of the alternate settings.

Either way, according to the ITC rules, the choice of 'conventional'
setting for a space group (i.e. the recommended default choice when
there are no other grounds such as isomorphism with a previously
determined structure) is made by reference to the unit cell.  For R32
the conventional cell happens to be the hexagonal one (a = b != c,
alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120) with symbol R32:h; for all
orthorhombic SGs the convention is a  b  c and the setting symbol
derives from that.

Cheers

-- Ian

On 28 July 2012 22:22, Edward A. Berry ber...@upstate.edu wrote:
 Are all the software packages consistent in their (mis)use of these
 symbols? Recently I scaled data (scalepack) as R3, imported to ccp4 as H3,
 and had to make a link in $ODAT/symm from R32 to H32 (which it turned out to
 be).



 Ian Tickle wrote:

 If we're all agreed that ITC(A) is taken as the authority on all
 matters of space group symbology (and I for one certainly agree that
 it should be), then SG symbol H32 (SG #145:
 http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/145bz1.htm) has nothing to do
 with R32 (SG #155: http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/155az1.htm)!
 According to the Hermann-Mauguin system of nomenclature H32 (more
 correctly written as H3_2 where the '_' indicates a subscripted screw
 axis) would be the hexagonal-centred (H) lattice setting of P32 (P3_2
 in H-M).  H32 as an alternate setting symbol for R32 is a very recent
 PDB invention which conflicts with the well-established H-M convention
 used throughout ITC.  The ITC symbols for the rhombohedral  hexagonal

 axis settings of SG R32 are R32:r and R32:h respectively, i.e. obvious
 extensions of the H-M symbols without introducing any conflict with
 the existing 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-30 Thread Sebastiano Pasqualato

Hi there,
at this point I'm confused, at least with respect to one thing.
If I have a solved a structure in spacegroup #155, with a=b and different from 
c, and alpha=beta=90, gamma=120, this would be reported as R32 in the 
international tables. However programs refers to it as H32.
What should I report in the (in)famous  table 1 ?
Thanks in advance,
ciao,
s

On Jul 30, 2012, at 5:23 PM, Ian Tickle wrote:

 Without wishing to re-ignite previous discussions on this topic
 (perhaps FLAME ... /FLAME tags would be in order!), I would point
 out that this and similar confusion with other space groups has arisen
 largely from a failure of some programmers (and users!) to fully
 comprehend the important difference between a 'standard symbol' and a
 'setting symbol' for a space group, no doubt because in many cases
 these are superficially identical, or a least very similar.  This
 point is also made in the Computational Crystallography Newsletter
 article on H3 and H32 that I referenced earlier.
 
 The Hermann-Mauguin symbol (aka 'standard symbol') is unique to a
 space group and crucially is designed to be independent of the setting
 (orientation and/or origin).  It is used to identify a space group
 without reference to the setting, and therefore its main use is to
 provide page headings and index entries in ITC. There exist exactly
 230 H-M standard symbols for the 230 unique 3D space groups.  The H-M
 standard symbol is the same for all settings of a particular space
 group and therefore cannot be used to define the setting: for that you
 obviously need additional information.
 
 The standard symbol is thus of little or no relevance to practical
 crystallography: for that you must use a setting symbol.  However for
 the majority of space groups only one setting is accepted as
 'conventional' so in those cases the standard and setting symbols are
 identical; it's only where there are multiple settings that problems
 arise.
 
 A simple analogy might be to say that an object is called 'building'
 and that is also its standard symbol.  It describes the object without
 reference to its orientation or position and so is not relevant to the
 practical problem of defining the view of the building: for that you
 need extra symbols.  For example you might need to specify one of the
 setting symbols 'building (front elevation)', 'building (side
 elevation)' or 'building (plan)'.
 
 So R32 is a H-M standard symbol which corresponds to the 2 alternate
 setting symbols R32:r and R32:h as described in the article.  Plainly
 you can't use the H-M symbol R32 to uniquely specify the setting since
 it is the standard symbol for both the R32:r and R32:h settings.  The
 latter are _not_ H-M symbols: they are ITC extensions of the H-M
 symbol.
 
 For other space groups further confusion has arisen because ITC often
 uses the exact same character string for both the standard symbol and
 one of the corresponding alternate setting symbols.  An obvious
 example is P21212: this is the H-M standard symbol for SG #18 but is
 also one of the 3 ITC setting symbols for P21212, the other two being
 P22121 and P21221.  Perhaps the intention would have been clearer if
 the ITC setting symbols had all been made different from the standard
 symbol, as they are in the R32 case.  For example P21212a, P21212b and
 P21212c would have been equally valid choices for the ITC setting
 symbols but do not express a 'preferred' setting (since there isn't
 one).  Similarly the standard symbol for SG #5 (unique axis b) is C2,
 and the alternate setting symbols are A2, C2 and I2, but they could
 equally well have been (for example) C2a, C2c and C2i, which doesn't
 express a preference for any one of the alternate settings.
 
 Either way, according to the ITC rules, the choice of 'conventional'
 setting for a space group (i.e. the recommended default choice when
 there are no other grounds such as isomorphism with a previously
 determined structure) is made by reference to the unit cell.  For R32
 the conventional cell happens to be the hexagonal one (a = b != c,
 alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120) with symbol R32:h; for all
 orthorhombic SGs the convention is a  b  c and the setting symbol
 derives from that.
 
 Cheers
 
 -- Ian
 
 On 28 July 2012 22:22, Edward A. Berry ber...@upstate.edu wrote:
 Are all the software packages consistent in their (mis)use of these
 symbols? Recently I scaled data (scalepack) as R3, imported to ccp4 as H3,
 and had to make a link in $ODAT/symm from R32 to H32 (which it turned out to
 be).
 
 
 
 Ian Tickle wrote:
 
 If we're all agreed that ITC(A) is taken as the authority on all
 matters of space group symbology (and I for one certainly agree that
 it should be), then SG symbol H32 (SG #145:
 http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/145bz1.htm) has nothing to do
 with R32 (SG #155: http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/155az1.htm)!
 According to the Hermann-Mauguin system of nomenclature H32 (more
 correctly written as H3_2 where 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-30 Thread Ian Tickle
Hi Sebastiano

How programs refer to it is irrelevant for the purposes of
publication!  If you want to be precise and stick to the ITC
convention on nomenclature it's space group R32 in the setting
R32:h, since as I explained it's only the standard symbol R32 which
is generally shown in the main ITC table of space groups; the setting
symbols are not shown in all cases.  However simply calling it 'R32:h'
is also completely unambiguous and acceptable (but calling it 'R32'
most definitely is not!).  For the PDB CRYST1 record you have
(unfortunately) to call it 'H32'.

Hope this clears it up.

-- Ian

On 30 July 2012 17:20, Sebastiano Pasqualato
sebastiano.pasqual...@gmail.com wrote:

 Hi there,
 at this point I'm confused, at least with respect to one thing.
 If I have a solved a structure in spacegroup #155, with a=b and different
 from c, and alpha=beta=90, gamma=120, this would be reported as R32 in the
 international tables. However programs refers to it as H32.
 What should I report in the (in)famous  table 1 ?
 Thanks in advance,
 ciao,
 s

 On Jul 30, 2012, at 5:23 PM, Ian Tickle wrote:

 Without wishing to re-ignite previous discussions on this topic
 (perhaps FLAME ... /FLAME tags would be in order!), I would point
 out that this and similar confusion with other space groups has arisen
 largely from a failure of some programmers (and users!) to fully
 comprehend the important difference between a 'standard symbol' and a
 'setting symbol' for a space group, no doubt because in many cases
 these are superficially identical, or a least very similar.  This
 point is also made in the Computational Crystallography Newsletter
 article on H3 and H32 that I referenced earlier.

 The Hermann-Mauguin symbol (aka 'standard symbol') is unique to a
 space group and crucially is designed to be independent of the setting
 (orientation and/or origin).  It is used to identify a space group
 without reference to the setting, and therefore its main use is to
 provide page headings and index entries in ITC. There exist exactly
 230 H-M standard symbols for the 230 unique 3D space groups.  The H-M
 standard symbol is the same for all settings of a particular space
 group and therefore cannot be used to define the setting: for that you
 obviously need additional information.

 The standard symbol is thus of little or no relevance to practical
 crystallography: for that you must use a setting symbol.  However for
 the majority of space groups only one setting is accepted as
 'conventional' so in those cases the standard and setting symbols are
 identical; it's only where there are multiple settings that problems
 arise.

 A simple analogy might be to say that an object is called 'building'
 and that is also its standard symbol.  It describes the object without
 reference to its orientation or position and so is not relevant to the
 practical problem of defining the view of the building: for that you
 need extra symbols.  For example you might need to specify one of the
 setting symbols 'building (front elevation)', 'building (side
 elevation)' or 'building (plan)'.

 So R32 is a H-M standard symbol which corresponds to the 2 alternate
 setting symbols R32:r and R32:h as described in the article.  Plainly
 you can't use the H-M symbol R32 to uniquely specify the setting since
 it is the standard symbol for both the R32:r and R32:h settings.  The
 latter are _not_ H-M symbols: they are ITC extensions of the H-M
 symbol.

 For other space groups further confusion has arisen because ITC often
 uses the exact same character string for both the standard symbol and
 one of the corresponding alternate setting symbols.  An obvious
 example is P21212: this is the H-M standard symbol for SG #18 but is
 also one of the 3 ITC setting symbols for P21212, the other two being
 P22121 and P21221.  Perhaps the intention would have been clearer if
 the ITC setting symbols had all been made different from the standard
 symbol, as they are in the R32 case.  For example P21212a, P21212b and
 P21212c would have been equally valid choices for the ITC setting
 symbols but do not express a 'preferred' setting (since there isn't
 one).  Similarly the standard symbol for SG #5 (unique axis b) is C2,
 and the alternate setting symbols are A2, C2 and I2, but they could
 equally well have been (for example) C2a, C2c and C2i, which doesn't
 express a preference for any one of the alternate settings.

 Either way, according to the ITC rules, the choice of 'conventional'
 setting for a space group (i.e. the recommended default choice when
 there are no other grounds such as isomorphism with a previously
 determined structure) is made by reference to the unit cell.  For R32
 the conventional cell happens to be the hexagonal one (a = b != c,
 alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120) with symbol R32:h; for all
 orthorhombic SGs the convention is a  b  c and the setting symbol
 derives from that.

 Cheers

 -- Ian

 On 28 July 2012 22:22, Edward A. Berry 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-30 Thread Sebastiano Pasqualato

That is perfectly clear.
What was confusing me was indeed (mostly) the PDB CRYST1 record.
I guess I will go for R32:h.
Thanks a lot,
ciao,
s

On Jul 30, 2012, at 6:36 PM, Ian Tickle wrote:

 Hi Sebastiano
 
 How programs refer to it is irrelevant for the purposes of
 publication!  If you want to be precise and stick to the ITC
 convention on nomenclature it's space group R32 in the setting
 R32:h, since as I explained it's only the standard symbol R32 which
 is generally shown in the main ITC table of space groups; the setting
 symbols are not shown in all cases.  However simply calling it 'R32:h'
 is also completely unambiguous and acceptable (but calling it 'R32'
 most definitely is not!).  For the PDB CRYST1 record you have
 (unfortunately) to call it 'H32'.
 
 Hope this clears it up.
 
 -- Ian
 
 On 30 July 2012 17:20, Sebastiano Pasqualato
 sebastiano.pasqual...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 Hi there,
 at this point I'm confused, at least with respect to one thing.
 If I have a solved a structure in spacegroup #155, with a=b and different
 from c, and alpha=beta=90, gamma=120, this would be reported as R32 in the
 international tables. However programs refers to it as H32.
 What should I report in the (in)famous  table 1 ?
 Thanks in advance,
 ciao,
 s
 
 On Jul 30, 2012, at 5:23 PM, Ian Tickle wrote:
 
 Without wishing to re-ignite previous discussions on this topic
 (perhaps FLAME ... /FLAME tags would be in order!), I would point
 out that this and similar confusion with other space groups has arisen
 largely from a failure of some programmers (and users!) to fully
 comprehend the important difference between a 'standard symbol' and a
 'setting symbol' for a space group, no doubt because in many cases
 these are superficially identical, or a least very similar.  This
 point is also made in the Computational Crystallography Newsletter
 article on H3 and H32 that I referenced earlier.
 
 The Hermann-Mauguin symbol (aka 'standard symbol') is unique to a
 space group and crucially is designed to be independent of the setting
 (orientation and/or origin).  It is used to identify a space group
 without reference to the setting, and therefore its main use is to
 provide page headings and index entries in ITC. There exist exactly
 230 H-M standard symbols for the 230 unique 3D space groups.  The H-M
 standard symbol is the same for all settings of a particular space
 group and therefore cannot be used to define the setting: for that you
 obviously need additional information.
 
 The standard symbol is thus of little or no relevance to practical
 crystallography: for that you must use a setting symbol.  However for
 the majority of space groups only one setting is accepted as
 'conventional' so in those cases the standard and setting symbols are
 identical; it's only where there are multiple settings that problems
 arise.
 
 A simple analogy might be to say that an object is called 'building'
 and that is also its standard symbol.  It describes the object without
 reference to its orientation or position and so is not relevant to the
 practical problem of defining the view of the building: for that you
 need extra symbols.  For example you might need to specify one of the
 setting symbols 'building (front elevation)', 'building (side
 elevation)' or 'building (plan)'.
 
 So R32 is a H-M standard symbol which corresponds to the 2 alternate
 setting symbols R32:r and R32:h as described in the article.  Plainly
 you can't use the H-M symbol R32 to uniquely specify the setting since
 it is the standard symbol for both the R32:r and R32:h settings.  The
 latter are _not_ H-M symbols: they are ITC extensions of the H-M
 symbol.
 
 For other space groups further confusion has arisen because ITC often
 uses the exact same character string for both the standard symbol and
 one of the corresponding alternate setting symbols.  An obvious
 example is P21212: this is the H-M standard symbol for SG #18 but is
 also one of the 3 ITC setting symbols for P21212, the other two being
 P22121 and P21221.  Perhaps the intention would have been clearer if
 the ITC setting symbols had all been made different from the standard
 symbol, as they are in the R32 case.  For example P21212a, P21212b and
 P21212c would have been equally valid choices for the ITC setting
 symbols but do not express a 'preferred' setting (since there isn't
 one).  Similarly the standard symbol for SG #5 (unique axis b) is C2,
 and the alternate setting symbols are A2, C2 and I2, but they could
 equally well have been (for example) C2a, C2c and C2i, which doesn't
 express a preference for any one of the alternate settings.
 
 Either way, according to the ITC rules, the choice of 'conventional'
 setting for a space group (i.e. the recommended default choice when
 there are no other grounds such as isomorphism with a previously
 determined structure) is made by reference to the unit cell.  For R32
 the conventional cell happens to be the hexagonal one (a = b != c,
 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-30 Thread Gerard Bricogne
Dear Ian,

 I made a modest contribution to this discussion a long time ago, and I
will only limit myself to one point.

 I think you may be confusing setting and lattice mode. A change of
setting is performed by an integer matrix with determinant 1 (a unimodular
matrix) whereas a change of lattice mode involves two mutually inverse
integer matrices with determinants (mutually inverse, of course) different
from 1.

 The case of R32 and H32 seems to stick out like a sore thumb because we
never use the primitive-lattice versions of the centered-lattice space
groups in the monoclinic, orthorhombic and tetragonal classes - and yet they
exist! The problem with them is that e.g. 2-fold axes are represented by
non-diagonal matrices that are somehow thought to be an eyesore, so we
sacrifice mathematical rigour (the theory of arithmetic classes) to the
comfort of having a 2-fold axis represented by the familiar diagonal matrix
with one 1 and two -1 on it. The matrices that would reindex those primitive
lattices to the usual centered ones would have determinants 2 or 4 in one
direction, and 1/2 or 1/4 in the other. However, as we never see these
representations of centered space groups in a primitive lattice basis, we
are startled when we come to the trigonal class. Here, the 3-fold axis has
two distinct representations by integer matrices: one in which the three
axes undergo a circular permutation (so they have to be of equal lengths and
separated by equal angles), and the other in which one axis (z) is
invariant, and the 3-fold symmetry is represented by a 120-degree rotation
in the (x,y) plane. These two representations cannot be mapped into each
other by means of a unimodular matrix: if one reindexes one representation
into the other, the determinant is 3 in one direction and 1/3 in the other.
In this case, it is a matter of opinion which representation of a 3-fold
axis has the greatest aesthetic merit, so the two possibilities are in use,
unlike the poor non-diagonal 2-fold axis representations that no one wants
to see.

 It is a matter of convention and vocabulary whether one calls these two
modes of indexing the rhombohedral and hexagonal lattice modes, or calls
them settings: one thing is certain, and that is that the mathematical
phenomenon in question is of a different kind from the reindexing of P21212
into P22121 with which you draw a parallel.

 At least this is what my distant memories of space-group theory seem to
be telling me :-)) . 


 With best wishes,
 
  Gerard.

--
On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 04:23:02PM +0100, Ian Tickle wrote:
 Without wishing to re-ignite previous discussions on this topic
 (perhaps FLAME ... /FLAME tags would be in order!), I would point
 out that this and similar confusion with other space groups has arisen
 largely from a failure of some programmers (and users!) to fully
 comprehend the important difference between a 'standard symbol' and a
 'setting symbol' for a space group, no doubt because in many cases
 these are superficially identical, or a least very similar.  This
 point is also made in the Computational Crystallography Newsletter
 article on H3 and H32 that I referenced earlier.
 
 The Hermann-Mauguin symbol (aka 'standard symbol') is unique to a
 space group and crucially is designed to be independent of the setting
 (orientation and/or origin).  It is used to identify a space group
 without reference to the setting, and therefore its main use is to
 provide page headings and index entries in ITC. There exist exactly
 230 H-M standard symbols for the 230 unique 3D space groups.  The H-M
 standard symbol is the same for all settings of a particular space
 group and therefore cannot be used to define the setting: for that you
 obviously need additional information.
 
 The standard symbol is thus of little or no relevance to practical
 crystallography: for that you must use a setting symbol.  However for
 the majority of space groups only one setting is accepted as
 'conventional' so in those cases the standard and setting symbols are
 identical; it's only where there are multiple settings that problems
 arise.
 
 A simple analogy might be to say that an object is called 'building'
 and that is also its standard symbol.  It describes the object without
 reference to its orientation or position and so is not relevant to the
 practical problem of defining the view of the building: for that you
 need extra symbols.  For example you might need to specify one of the
 setting symbols 'building (front elevation)', 'building (side
 elevation)' or 'building (plan)'.
 
 So R32 is a H-M standard symbol which corresponds to the 2 alternate
 setting symbols R32:r and R32:h as described in the article.  Plainly
 you can't use the H-M symbol R32 to uniquely specify the setting since
 it is the standard symbol for both the R32:r and R32:h settings.  The
 latter are _not_ H-M symbols: they are ITC extensions of the H-M
 symbol.
 
 For other space 

Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-28 Thread Ian Tickle
If we're all agreed that ITC(A) is taken as the authority on all
matters of space group symbology (and I for one certainly agree that
it should be), then SG symbol H32 (SG #145:
http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/145bz1.htm) has nothing to do
with R32 (SG #155: http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/155az1.htm)!
According to the Hermann-Mauguin system of nomenclature H32 (more
correctly written as H3_2 where the '_' indicates a subscripted screw
axis) would be the hexagonal-centred (H) lattice setting of P32 (P3_2
in H-M).  H32 as an alternate setting symbol for R32 is a very recent
PDB invention which conflicts with the well-established H-M convention
used throughout ITC.  The ITC symbols for the rhombohedral  hexagonal
axis settings of SG R32 are R32:r and R32:h respectively, i.e. obvious
extensions of the H-M symbols without introducing any conflict with
the existing convention, as the PDB symbol does.  The confusion has
arisen from the failure to distinguish the lattice type (the first
letter of the symbol) from the symbol for the basis system of the
setting (the final letter after the ':').

See http://cci.lbl.gov/~rwgk/my_papers/CCN_2011_01_H3_H32.pdf for an
excellent explanation of all this and of the confusion that arises
when programmers ignore established conventions and 're-invent the
wheel' (e.g. SCALEPACK apparently swaps the meaning of the PDB symbols
R32  H32 and uses R32 for PDB H32 and vice-versa!).

Cheers

-- Ian

On 27 July 2012 21:09, Bernhard Rupp hofkristall...@gmail.com wrote:
 H32 indicates the hexagonal obverse setting (as you list) for a R centered 
 trigonal cell, which is 3x larger than the primitive R32 cell indexed a=b=c, 
 al=be=ga  90. Standard imho is the H32 setting, for which I will probably 
 get flamed.
 The relation between H and R cells is depicted here:
 http://www.ruppweb.org/Garland/gallery/Ch5/pages/Biomolecular_Crystallography_Fig_5-29.htm

 This has been discussed and is explained in the ccp4 tutorials and doc afaik, 
 where you can find more detailed info.

 For proper format in a journal, I would suggest to adhere to the format given 
 in the ITC (International tables for Crystallography), I.e. Bravais Italic, 
 subscripted screw symbols. Note that this is not the format you put it into 
 most programs - their docs help.

 You can also try my old space croup decoding program to see general 
 positions, operators, matrices and other useful stuff.

 http://www.ruppweb.org/new_comp/spacegroup_decoder.htm

 HTH, BR

 -Original Message-
 From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of Theresa 
 Hsu
 Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:54 PM
 To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
 Subject: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

 Dear all

 I have a confusion on the space group R32 and H32. For a cell parameter of a 
 = b not equal to c, alpha=beta, not equal to gamma, is it considered as R32 
 or H32?

 I tried searching the mail list archives but it does not help a beginner 
 crystallographer like me.

 I also have another basic question. What is the correct way for writing space 
 groups? Is the Bravais lattice in italic and is there space after that? Or it 
 does not matter because both are used in literature?

 Thank you.


Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-28 Thread Edward A. Berry

Are all the software packages consistent in their (mis)use of these
symbols? Recently I scaled data (scalepack) as R3, imported to ccp4 as H3,
and had to make a link in $ODAT/symm from R32 to H32 (which it turned out to 
be).



Ian Tickle wrote:

If we're all agreed that ITC(A) is taken as the authority on all
matters of space group symbology (and I for one certainly agree that
it should be), then SG symbol H32 (SG #145:
http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/145bz1.htm) has nothing to do
with R32 (SG #155: http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/medium/155az1.htm)!
According to the Hermann-Mauguin system of nomenclature H32 (more
correctly written as H3_2 where the '_' indicates a subscripted screw
axis) would be the hexagonal-centred (H) lattice setting of P32 (P3_2
in H-M).  H32 as an alternate setting symbol for R32 is a very recent
PDB invention which conflicts with the well-established H-M convention
used throughout ITC.  The ITC symbols for the rhombohedral  hexagonal
axis settings of SG R32 are R32:r and R32:h respectively, i.e. obvious
extensions of the H-M symbols without introducing any conflict with
the existing convention, as the PDB symbol does.  The confusion has
arisen from the failure to distinguish the lattice type (the first
letter of the symbol) from the symbol for the basis system of the
setting (the final letter after the ':').

See http://cci.lbl.gov/~rwgk/my_papers/CCN_2011_01_H3_H32.pdf for an
excellent explanation of all this and of the confusion that arises
when programmers ignore established conventions and 're-invent the
wheel' (e.g. SCALEPACK apparently swaps the meaning of the PDB symbols
R32  H32 and uses R32 for PDB H32 and vice-versa!).

Cheers

-- Ian

On 27 July 2012 21:09, Bernhard Rupphofkristall...@gmail.com  wrote:

H32 indicates the hexagonal obverse setting (as you list) for a R centered trigonal 
cell, which is 3x larger than the primitive R32 cell indexed a=b=c, al=be=ga  
90. Standard imho is the H32 setting, for which I will probably get flamed.
The relation between H and R cells is depicted here:
http://www.ruppweb.org/Garland/gallery/Ch5/pages/Biomolecular_Crystallography_Fig_5-29.htm

This has been discussed and is explained in the ccp4 tutorials and doc afaik, 
where you can find more detailed info.

For proper format in a journal, I would suggest to adhere to the format given 
in the ITC (International tables for Crystallography), I.e. Bravais Italic, 
subscripted screw symbols. Note that this is not the format you put it into 
most programs - their docs help.

You can also try my old space croup decoding program to see general positions, 
operators, matrices and other useful stuff.

http://www.ruppweb.org/new_comp/spacegroup_decoder.htm

HTH, BR

-Original Message-
From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of Theresa 
Hsu
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:54 PM
To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

Dear all

I have a confusion on the space group R32 and H32. For a cell parameter of a = 
b not equal to c, alpha=beta, not equal to gamma, is it considered as R32 or 
H32?

I tried searching the mail list archives but it does not help a beginner 
crystallographer like me.

I also have another basic question. What is the correct way for writing space 
groups? Is the Bravais lattice in italic and is there space after that? Or it 
does not matter because both are used in literature?

Thank you.




Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-27 Thread Bernhard Rupp
H32 indicates the hexagonal obverse setting (as you list) for a R centered 
trigonal cell, which is 3x larger than the primitive R32 cell indexed a=b=c, 
al=be=ga  90. Standard imho is the H32 setting, for which I will probably get 
flamed.
The relation between H and R cells is depicted here:
http://www.ruppweb.org/Garland/gallery/Ch5/pages/Biomolecular_Crystallography_Fig_5-29.htm

This has been discussed and is explained in the ccp4 tutorials and doc afaik, 
where you can find more detailed info.

For proper format in a journal, I would suggest to adhere to the format given 
in the ITC (International tables for Crystallography), I.e. Bravais Italic, 
subscripted screw symbols. Note that this is not the format you put it into 
most programs - their docs help.

You can also try my old space croup decoding program to see general positions, 
operators, matrices and other useful stuff.

http://www.ruppweb.org/new_comp/spacegroup_decoder.htm

HTH, BR

-Original Message-
From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf Of Theresa 
Hsu
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:54 PM
To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

Dear all

I have a confusion on the space group R32 and H32. For a cell parameter of a = 
b not equal to c, alpha=beta, not equal to gamma, is it considered as R32 or 
H32?

I tried searching the mail list archives but it does not help a beginner 
crystallographer like me.

I also have another basic question. What is the correct way for writing space 
groups? Is the Bravais lattice in italic and is there space after that? Or it 
does not matter because both are used in literature?

Thank you.


Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-27 Thread Harry

Hi

Just to clarify - for H32, a=bc (though you could have a=b=c within  
measurement error), alpha=beta=90º, gamma=120º. Just having alpha=beta  
 gamma is necessary but not sufficient.


BTW, there's nothing wrong with alpha=beta=gamma=90º for the R  
setting. It's just not required.


Sorry if this isn't clear - I'm just watching a very odd Olympic  
opening ceremony, and it's quite distracting!


On 27 Jul 2012, at 21:09, Bernhard Rupp wrote:

H32 indicates the hexagonal obverse setting (as you list) for a R  
centered trigonal cell, which is 3x larger than the primitive R32  
cell indexed a=b=c, al=be=ga  90. Standard imho is the H32  
setting, for which I will probably get flamed.

The relation between H and R cells is depicted here:
http://www.ruppweb.org/Garland/gallery/Ch5/pages/Biomolecular_Crystallography_Fig_5-29.htm

This has been discussed and is explained in the ccp4 tutorials and  
doc afaik, where you can find more detailed info.


For proper format in a journal, I would suggest to adhere to the  
format given in the ITC (International tables for Crystallography),  
I.e. Bravais Italic, subscripted screw symbols. Note that this is  
not the format you put it into most programs - their docs help.


You can also try my old space croup decoding program to see general  
positions, operators, matrices and other useful stuff.


http://www.ruppweb.org/new_comp/spacegroup_decoder.htm

HTH, BR

-Original Message-
From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf  
Of Theresa Hsu

Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:54 PM
To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

Dear all

I have a confusion on the space group R32 and H32. For a cell  
parameter of a = b not equal to c, alpha=beta, not equal to gamma,  
is it considered as R32 or H32?


I tried searching the mail list archives but it does not help a  
beginner crystallographer like me.


I also have another basic question. What is the correct way for  
writing space groups? Is the Bravais lattice in italic and is there  
space after that? Or it does not matter because both are used in  
literature?


Thank you.


Harry
--
Dr Harry Powell, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, MRC Centre,  
Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QH


Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-27 Thread Colbert, Christopher
To add a little more clarity to the discussion.

The hexagonal obverse setting is 3X larger because it is triply primitive.
 This means there are 3 lattice points per unit cell, similar to the face
or body centered lattices, which have two lattice points per cell.

To read BR's scripts:

For the primitive Rhombohedral setting:

a=b=c means a is equal to b is equal to c.
al=be=ga  90° means alpha is equal to beta is equal to gamma, but not
necessarily equal to 90°.  As Harry points out, all angles can be equal to
90°, but they don't have to be.

For the triply primitive Hexagonal setting:
a=b, means that a is equal to b and c is unique.
al=be=90°, ga=120° means that alpha and beta are equal to 90°, and gamma
is 120°.

Notice that the triply primitive hexagonal setting, as its name implies,
has the same unit cell requirements as a hexagonal lattice.

I was taught when writing the space group symbol for a manuscript the
lattice type is italic, the symmetry operators are normal, and the screw
axes are subscript.  All are written without spaces between them.  As BR
points out, entry into programs is at the discretion of the program author.

Of course, the International Tables has a wonderful discussion on all this
and I encourage you to read it to fully understand the nomenclature.

HTH,

Chris






On 7/27/12 3:21 PM, Harry ha...@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk wrote:

Hi

Just to clarify - for H32, a=bc (though you could have a=b=c within
measurement error), alpha=beta=90º, gamma=120º. Just having alpha=beta
 gamma is necessary but not sufficient.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with alpha=beta=gamma=90º for the R
setting. It's just not required.

Sorry if this isn't clear - I'm just watching a very odd Olympic
opening ceremony, and it's quite distracting!

On 27 Jul 2012, at 21:09, Bernhard Rupp wrote:

 H32 indicates the hexagonal obverse setting (as you list) for a R
 centered trigonal cell, which is 3x larger than the primitive R32
 cell indexed a=b=c, al=be=ga  90. Standard imho is the H32
 setting, for which I will probably get flamed.
 The relation between H and R cells is depicted here:
 
http://www.ruppweb.org/Garland/gallery/Ch5/pages/Biomolecular_Crystallogr
aphy_Fig_5-29.htm

 This has been discussed and is explained in the ccp4 tutorials and
 doc afaik, where you can find more detailed info.

 For proper format in a journal, I would suggest to adhere to the
 format given in the ITC (International tables for Crystallography),
 I.e. Bravais Italic, subscripted screw symbols. Note that this is
 not the format you put it into most programs - their docs help.

 You can also try my old space croup decoding program to see general
 positions, operators, matrices and other useful stuff.

 http://www.ruppweb.org/new_comp/spacegroup_decoder.htm

 HTH, BR

 -Original Message-
 From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK] On Behalf
 Of Theresa Hsu
 Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:54 PM
 To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
 Subject: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

 Dear all

 I have a confusion on the space group R32 and H32. For a cell
 parameter of a = b not equal to c, alpha=beta, not equal to gamma,
 is it considered as R32 or H32?

 I tried searching the mail list archives but it does not help a
 beginner crystallographer like me.

 I also have another basic question. What is the correct way for
 writing space groups? Is the Bravais lattice in italic and is there
 space after that? Or it does not matter because both are used in
 literature?

 Thank you.

Harry
--
Dr Harry Powell, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, MRC Centre,
Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QH



Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-27 Thread Bernhard Rupp
Thanks for the translation, and a correction of the translator:

 similar to the face or body centered lattices, which have two lattice
points per cell.

Is this so? Ortho F and FCC have 4 Bravais vectors

All (in full translation) in chapter 5 of BMC.

BR


Re: [ccp4bb] Space group R32 and H32

2012-07-27 Thread Colbert, Christopher

You are correct, sir.  It is one lattice point for each centered face.
So, for the F centered lattices which have a face centered lattice point
on all faces you add 3 lattice points to the original primitive lattice
point for a total of 4 lattice points.

It's all in the Tables.

Cheers,

Chris




On 7/27/12 4:40 PM, Bernhard Rupp hofkristall...@gmail.com wrote:

Thanks for the translation, and a correction of the translator:

 similar to the face or body centered lattices, which have two lattice
points per cell.

Is this so? Ortho F and FCC have 4 Bravais vectors

All (in full translation) in chapter 5 of BMC.

BR