The surroundings of functional groups in molecules within a crystal can be analyzed from data in crystallographic databases. A method is described here for preparing contoured maps of the probabilities of interactions of functional groups in various directions. The results of such analyses can provide probability plots of orientational preferences of binding which can be used for model building involving the interaction of two different molecular species. Examples chosen for description here include hydrogen bonding to oxygen-containing functional groups, the surrounding of C-F bonds and the manner by which carboxyl groups bind metal ions.