Using ISIS Draw from MDLI

1. Obtain a free copy from www.mdli.com (also download Chime and AutoNom). Install by doubleclicking on Draw23.exe and following the instructions; install Help, Chime and AutoNom similarly.
2. Open the program from the Start Menu (click on ISIS, then ISIS Draw) or double-clicking on the shortcut on the "desktop".
3. Make the program and the work area fill the screen by clicking the square symbol in the top right corner.
4. The drawing tools are down the left side of the work area. If you click and hold the mouse button down, the program will not only tell you what they are but will in some cases allow you to select other options. They tools are:
• lasso - select
• box/octagon - rotate on the page
• eraser (looks like a box) - erase
• A - atom select
• C-C - draw bond
• wedge or dot - draw bond showing 3-D (stereochemistry)
• zig-zag - draw a chain
• plus - used only for reaction database
• arrow - puts an arrow on the page
• .1. - used only for reaction databases
• chain of diamonds - for amino acids
• [ ]n - for polymers
• abc - for adding text to the drawing
• / - for drawing lines not part of molecules
• rectangle - for drawing boxes not part of molecules
• blue hexagon - AutoNom
5. The objects across the top are substructures you can use, e.g. benzene, as are those listed in the menu above "templates".
6. To make a sketch of a molecule, use the templates and drawing tools. You can tell when bonds are made between pieces because a small black square is displayed when the link is made. If you are in the C-C mode and click on an existing bond, it will be made double, then triple then single again - the program does understand organic chemistry.
7. To erase (you will do a lot of this at first), click on the eraser tool, select the item by clicking on it. Alternatively, you can select with the lasso and use the delete on your keyboard. If you click on an atom, it will be removed as will the bonds to adjacent atoms. If you click on a bond, only the bond will be removed.
8. To use automatic nomenclature (AutoNom), select what you want to name with the lasso and click on the blue hexagon.
9. To copy your sketch to a word processing document, use the lasso to select it (or in lasso mode, go into edit, select all), the copy and paste as you would any other item in Windows. There is no need to save it separately.
10. If you change your mind about the picture, open the text file on any computer that has ISIS Draw and double click on the molecular sketch. ISIS Draw will open and allow you to edit and update your drawing.