You will need to download and register before you can use this software for home use. The software license is renewed each October/November. Once you've installed the software look for the green ChemDraw icon since other associated applications (e.g. Chem 3D) may also be installed with the ChemOffice Suite if you're on a Windows computer.
Detailed ChemDraw help can be located directly within the application by selecting the 'Help' menu at the top right or the User Guide (link posted below).
You can search Help using the search box or browse through the different options available, such as Contents, Getting Started, Tutorials, ChemDraw Basics. Hotkeys and Shortcuts Cheat Sheets can also be found under the Help menu.
ChemDraw includes Search SciFinder-n and Reaxys buttons through it's Add-ins toolbar, enabling you to draw a structure or reaction query in ChemDraw and then instantly send the query to SciFinder-n or Reaxys.
With these tools built into ChemDraw, there’s no need to open a separate browser window or bother with tedious steps of constant cutting and pasting. With a single click, you can access comprehensive and authoritative sources of references, substances and reactions in chemistry and related sciences. Results are displayed immediately in the databases, where you can use their rich set of tools to search, filter, and analyze the information.
To set up your ChemDraw to connect to SciFinder-n at U of T:
Your ChemDraw software is now set up to connect to our SciFinder-n license at U of T! An internet browser will open and you will be asked to log in with your UTORid and password and enter your SciFinder-n credentials before proceeding to your search results in SciFinder.