To celebrate WebMolkit having its license changed to Apache 2.0 we are working on allowing end users to read and write SketchEl files. The full specification for SketchEl files can be found in GitHub here.

This new converter will be present in V3.3 when we release it. We are hoping to release the first beta at the beginning of August 2023.

Implementation notes

1. Chem4Word does not support quadruple bonds.
   These will be converted to zero bonds.
2. Chem4Word does not support stereo features on anything other than single bonds.
   If stereo features are encountered then the bond type is set to single.
3. Abbreviations which are unknown to Chem4Word will be converted to “??”
   This is our internal indication of Unknown atom type.
4. Other features of the SketchEl file that Chem4Word does not support are gracefully ignored.

If you want to have a “play” with creating SketchEl files, please head off to the main Molecular Materials Information home page, there is a demo of the WebMolkit Sketcher a little way down the page.

Note: If you have a SketchEl file that you want to import into Sketcher / WebMolkit and you are using Windows you must use <Ctrl>+<Shift>+V to paste in the structure from your clipboard.

This post shows you how to merge your existing structure V3 library into V2020 essential oils library.

1. Export your existing structures to a folder by clicking on the Chem4Word “Options” button.

2. Select the library tab and click on the “Export” button.

3. Chose a folder to export them to. Here I have created a folder called “C:\Users\Mike\Library”.

4. When “Select Folder” is clicked you should see a progress bar at the bottom of the form as shown below.

5. Once the export is completed you will see a dialog similar to the following.

6. Select the “Maintenance” Tab and click on the “Open” button for the library.

7. Once the folder has opened you can backup the file “Library.db”, then delete it.

8. Close all running copies of Microsoft Word. If in doubt re-boot your PC after the above step.

9. Start Microsoft Word, Select the Chemistry Tab, then click on the “Open” Library button and you should see that the new Essential Oils database has been installed. In the image below the button’s caption has been changed to close as the library is open.

10. You can now import and merge the structures from your previous library by clicking on the “Options” button. Select the “Library” tab, then click on the “Import” button.

11. Select the folder you previously exported your library to.

12. You will be required to confirm the import operation.

13. While working you will see a progress bar at the bottom of the form as shown below.

14. Congratulations, you have now merged the two libraries.

We are starting work on the next version of Chem4Word.

What features would you like to see in it?

Please make any suggestions in the our Facebook group