Installation Guide

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ProteinBlender can be installed in two ways: through the extension repository (recommended) or manually from a zip file.

Requirements

• Blender 4.2 or newer
• Operating System: Windows, macOS, or Linux
• Internet connection (for initial installation and updates)

Option 1: Extension Repository (Recommended)

The extension repository provides automatic update notifications and one-click updates.

Step 1: Add the Repository

1. Open Blender (4.2 or newer)
2. Go to Edit -> Preferences
3. Navigate to the Get Extensions section
4. Click on the Repositories dropdown at the top
5. Click the + (plus) button
6. Select Add Remote Repository

Step 2: Configure Repository

Enter the following information:

• URL: https://animation-lab.github.io/ProteinBlender/extensions/index.json

Click OK to save.

Step 3: Install ProteinBlender

1. Return to the main Get Extensions view
2. Make sure the ProteinBlender repository is selected in the dropdown (it may be named “animation-lab.github.io”)
3. Find ProteinBlender in the extensions list
4. Click Install
5. Wait for the installation to complete
6. Restart Blender

Step 4: Enable Auto-Updates (Optional)

1. Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Get Extensions -> Repositories
2. Select the ProteinBlender repository
3. Enable Check for Updates on Start

Blender will now automatically notify you when updates are available.

Option 2: Manual Installation

If you prefer to install manually or are having issues with the repository:

Step 1: Download

1. Go to the Releases page
2. Download the latest .zip file for your platform:
   • proteinblender-X.X.X-windows-x64.zip (Windows)
   • proteinblender-X.X.X-linux-x64.zip (Linux)
   • proteinblender-X.X.X-macos-arm64.zip (Mac M1/M2)
   • proteinblender-X.X.X-macos-x64.zip (Mac Intel)

Step 2: Install in Blender

1. Open Blender
2. Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Get Extensions
3. Click Install from Disk (top-right corner)
4. Navigate to and select the downloaded .zip file
5. Click Install from Disk
6. Restart Blender

Note: Manual installation does not provide automatic update notifications.

Verifying Installation

After restarting Blender:

1. Open a new project or create a blank scene
2. Look for the ProteinBlender workspace tab at the top
3. Or press N in the 3D viewport to open the sidebar
4. You should see ProteinBlender panels

If you see the panels, installation was successful!

Click below to watch a tutorial on how to install ProteinBlender:

Troubleshooting

Extension Doesn’t Appear

• Verify you’re using Blender 4.2 or newer
• Check that you restarted Blender after installation
• Try Edit -> Preferences -> Get Extensions and look for ProteinBlender in the list

Repository Cannot Be Accessed

• Check your internet connection
• Verify the repository URL is correct
• Try clicking the refresh button in the repositories list

Installation Fails

• Check Blender’s system console for error messages
• Try manual installation from zip file instead
• Report issues at GitHub Issues

Dependencies Not Installing

ProteinBlender automatically installs required dependencies on first load. If you see errors:

1. Check that you have internet access
2. Wait for dependency installation to complete (may take 1-2 minutes)
3. Restart Blender if installation completes
4. Check the Blender console for specific error messages

Uninstallation

To remove ProteinBlender:

1. Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Get Extensions
2. Find ProteinBlender in the list
3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the extension
4. Click Remove
5. Restart Blender

Next Steps

Now that ProteinBlender is installed, learn how to:

• Import Proteins - Load your first protein structure
• Update Visuals - Customize how proteins look

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Next: Import Proteins