# Improvement for the rotation around the modified axis

**URL:** <https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/improvement-for-the-rotation-around-the-modified-axis/5325>\
**Category:** Suggestions\
**Created:** [February 26, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/improvement-for-the-rotation-around-the-modified-axis/5325 "2024-02-26T18:31:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tongxin\_zhou](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/tongxin_zhou/32/2017_2.png) [@tongxin\_zhou](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/tongxin_zhou)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/improvement-for-the-rotation-around-the-modified-axis/5325/1 "2024-02-26T18:31:28Z")

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First I want to thank the developer for designing Avogadro such a powerful and easy handling software. When I used Avogadro to modify the crystalline structure, however, I felt some inconvenience when doing the rotation and translation and wanted to have a suggestion.

Here is the issue I met:  
After I imported the xyz file of the crystalline structure, I wanted to move and rotate the first layer along the modified axis as shown in the figure. However, it always moved or rotated along the default axis.  
Therefore, I suggest that the “manipulation” function can be improved by setting the modified axis as the base for further translation or rotation operation.

 ![Picture1](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f62f125d85d7636ce6ba35c11538de39bb5997d5.jpeg)  
Thank you!

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**Author:** ![ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/ghutchis/32/456_2.png) [@ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/ghutchis)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/improvement-for-the-rotation-around-the-modified-axis/5325/2 "2024-02-27T15:52:40Z")

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I’m not 100% sure on what you mean by “modified axes.” Do you mean you want to specify a specific rotation frame of reference?

Several people have asked to be able to rotate around the axis perpendicular to the best-fit of a selection (e.g., select a few atoms like you have, then rotate in the plane of the selection). Does that describe what you want?

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**Author:** ![tongxin\_zhou](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/tongxin_zhou/32/2017_2.png) [@tongxin\_zhou](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/tongxin_zhou)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/improvement-for-the-rotation-around-the-modified-axis/5325/3 "2024-02-27T16:09:53Z")

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For the “modified axes”, I just changed the settings of “Axes” to build a new axis system as shown below.

 ![Axes settings](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/uploads/default/original/2X/6/697ead581757585e7bb5d671a1e672ea12ddc050.png)

What you mentioned about rotation around the axis of the selected atoms also works for my situation. It also describes what I need.

Thank you!