Probe allows one to evaluate atomic packing, either within or between molecules. It generates “contact dots” where atoms are in close contact.

Probe reads atomic coordinates from protein databank (PDB) format files and writes dot-lists for inclusion in a kinemage file.

Alternatively, the packing information can be quantified and displayed in a table listing scores for van der Waals interactions, H-bonds and atomic overlaps ("clashes").

In addition, Probe can also easily generate contact surfaces within a set of atoms ("self dots") and even "surface dots" where there are no nearby atoms.