[ccp4bb] CIF format frustrations

[Simon Kolstoe]

Dear all,

What's the best way to convert a coordinate cif file to a pdb (without  
compiling a program, installing new utilities, writing script files...)?

Cif2mtz works for the reflection file however coordconv doesn't have a  
"cif" option. If I try using Coot I get a mangled pdb file that gives  
lots of errors when I read it into pdbset, and I have the same problem  
with babel.

Also if the pdb has decided that cif files are the best format, are  
the program developers working on phasing out pdb and mtz files, and  
if not why not?

Thanks,

Simon