ChemNews.Com VOL 10 NO 1
ChemFinder Ultra 5.0 Succeeds in Industrial Laboratory Setting
Alexander Nezlin
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Alexander Nezlin is a research chemist at
Agan Chemical Manufacturers Ltd., Israel.
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Ask a person doing research in industry where most of the
pressure comes from and it is quite possible the answer will be-from
a very tight time schedule. Anything that helps to better organize
or even decrease the time spent on a project is of an immediate
interest. One of the ways to do it is to computerize and to
integrate as many tasks as possible. This might explain why a
chemist working in industry would gladly embrace an opportunity to
review a software package which promises to do just that.
The ChemFinder 5.0 Ultra package includes a full complement of
ChemOffice software (ChemDraw, Chem3D and ChemFinder) on one CD-ROM,
and three more CD-ROM's containing ChemInfo chemical databases (see
the table below).
Hardcopy manuals for ChemFinder and for ChemInfo databases are
enclosed, while those for ChemDraw and Chem3D are located on the
CD-ROM (in *.PDF format). They are written in a clear and concise
manner, although one may wish for a bit more detail in ChemFinder
manual.
Installation on a Pentium 200 MHz PC running Windows 95 was
smooth and uneventful. It may be worth the trouble to copy the
contents of chemical databases from CD-ROMs to hard disk if space is
not an issue.
Chemical
Databases-ChemInfo
ChemInfo chemical databases could be opened either by the way of
ChemInfo menu or directly by using FILE /OPEN command from
ChemFinder.
ChemINDEX
I use the ChemFinder website (http://chemfinder.camsoft.com) to
look up the properties of various compounds, and I would recommend
it to every chemist. However having the whole works here on my
computer makes me less dependent on slow Internet links and server
downtime.
ChemACX
The ChemFinder database engine makes it possible to
simultaneously search catalogues of 120 chemical producers. The
search parameters may include structure or substructure, CAS number,
name of the substance, molecular formula, molecular weight range or
any combination of the above. Just imagine-no more lugging the heavy
tomes around.
ChemMSDX
I think it is very important for a practicing chemist to have
direct and quick access to hazard information. This database makes
it a reality. It is fully searchable. The printout is easy to read.
With ChemMSDX database it is possible in many cases to compare MSDS
from various manufacturers.
ChemRXN
This chemical reaction database is comprised of two parts -
ChemPrep (from ISI) and ChemSelect (from InfoChem GmbH). All
reactions are provided with literature references and tracking that
original article is so much easier now. Selection criteria for both
databases are quite vigorous. Large number of key fields (12 for
ChemPrep and 16 for ChemSelect) allows for fine-tuning the search.
The reaction search itself is somewhat different from searching for
a compound, but both ChemInfo and ChemFinder manuals make a good job
of explaining the nuances.
ChemInfo Overall
Impression
Some experience with ChemDraw is desirable in order to exploit
ChemInfo structure search capabilities.
Tutorials allow practicing on a demo database-this is most
helpful.
Tight integration of all databases deserves to be mentioned, as
well as thoughtfully designed layout of many forms.
ChemInfo saves precious time by cutting down on trips to the
library. I don't have to look through numerous catalogues any more
when I need to compare data from various manufacturers. And time
spent on searching the Internet was reduced as well-information "at
your fingertips" indeed!
ChemFinder
ChemFinder is the database engine that makes accessible an
impressive amount of information in ChemInfo. Yet it is capable of
much more.
ChemFinder
Improves on MS Access
In many cases chemical data does not fit into a general-purpose
database. For example I have used MS Access™ for maintaining our
group's stock of reagents and of analytical standards, as well as
for building a list of relevant literature references. Of course it
is highly desirable to include chemical structures in such a
database. With MS Access it is possible, but the way to do it is not
exactly easy or transparent. And there is no way to search the
structures in any meaningful way (at least without special add-ons).
I was somewhat apprehensive about ChemFinder's ability to improve
on Access. Well, I was wrong.
With a few clicks of a mouse it is possible to make an existing
Access database chemically aware: ChemFinder augments Access with
capability to store structures and to search them in a chemically
intelligent way. A seamless integration with ChemDraw means that
entering structures is an easy and straightforward task. In many
cases naming capabilities of ChemDraw (Insert Name as Structure)
make actual drawing of a structure unnecessary.
Structure and substructure searching will add a new
dimension to the way we access and use data
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Creating a
Database
Creating forms in ChemFinder is a snap. I never thought I would
actually enjoy creating a database form. The layout is logical. It
is possible to customize toolbars and to move them around. Both
mouse buttons are fully utilized.
I plan to use ChemFinder to create and maintain a database of
MSDS information on reagents and chemicals used in our work that are
not found in ChemMSDX database. I am also in process of adding
structures via ChemFinder/ChemDraw to our group's inventory or
reagents, supplies and analytical standards. I hope to find time to
do the same with the reference database. Structure and substructure
searching will add new dimension to the way we access and use the
data that we have accumulated over the years of research.
User
Help
If the user needs help-the manual and online help are always
there. Responsive and knowledgeable technical support is accessible
from all over the globe via Internet. Still the manual could be
expanded somewhat.
ChemFinder's ease of use would definitely benefit from
introduction of so-called "wizards". These software guides are found
in many modern software products. And they do make life easier for
an end user-at the very least in the initial, most crucial stage.
ChemFinder Overall
Impression
ChemFinder is a powerful tool, yet it is relatively easy to learn
and use. It is able to add chemical sense to databases already
present on your desktop (or laptop!) computer. It is well designed.
Searches are reasonably fast even on computers equipped with older
processors.
Conclusion
ChemFinder 5.0 Ultra is a very effective solution for anybody
handling chemical information, especially for research chemists in
industry-providing excellent reference material, eliminating routine
tasks like catalog or property searching, and introducing chemical
awareness to existing or new databases. I rate it 5 out of 5. |
