The latest version of Chem4Word the Chemistry AddIn for Microsoft Word is available for download.  In version 3.0.*, we’ve addressed a number of issues, including the following:

• Changed what happens when users try to copy/paste or drag/drop structures.  At present, the only way to replicate or move structures in a document is to use the Chemistry Navigator.
• Changed the sizing and orientation of images in the Chemistry Navigator so that even large structures are displayed more clearly.
• Made the “insert linked/un-linked copies” buttons in the Chemistry Navigator more visible.
• Ensured that all of the prerequisites are installed along with the AddIn.
• Fixed bug in import of double and triple bonds on structures from ChemSpider.
• Fix bug when user edited structure, then cancelled edit labels; Resulting in loss of changes.
• Progress bar and Editor windows should now be shown on same monitor as active document.
• Added form for user feedback, when errors are shown.
• Automatic check for new version.
• Updated ChemDoodle Web to 7.0.2.

We’ve also made some changes to the way that usage data is collected to help us to understand which versions of Microsoft Word are being used with the AddIn.

Please download the latest version from here.

Well, you’re reading this post, so that you obviously already know that the Chem4Word project has a new website. We’re a very small group of people working on, what we believe, is a very useful add-in for Microsoft Word.

There are plenty of applications that allow users to draw chemical structures, but the unique point of this add-in is that chemistry information is actually stored within the Microsoft Word document file.  The image that you see in the document is simply a representation of the underlying chemical information in a human-readable form.  Embedded in the document file is an XML structure which represents the chemical structure in Chemical Markup Language.

I’m sure that, at some point, one of us will try to explain why we think that this is important.  In the meantime, get yourself a copy of the latest version, and have a look at the high quality chemical structures that you can import or draw in your Microsoft Word documents!