Using ChemFinder - CambridgeSoft

Chapter 1: ChemFinder Basics
ChemFinder Overview
ChemFinder is a database management system that
allows storage, retrieval, and searching of molecular
structures, text, and numerical data. Use it to keep
track of what you find in your routine literature
scans. Make a database to keep the figures that go in
your thesis or your next paper. Use it as a reference,
together with one of the CD-ROM databases
provided. Use it as your corporate database system,
available to anyone on your network. Use it as a
registration system or front-end search engine for
your big mainframe database. Use it as a custom
viewer for your Oracle data, with or without
chemical structures.
You can draw structures in ChemDraw to store in
your ChemFinder database and view Chem3D
models from ChemFinder.
ChemFinder provides two associated directories:
• Samples—contains sample database files.
• System—contains files required by
ChemFinder.
Using ChemFinder
The general steps for using ChemFinder are as
follows:
• Create a form
• Create or open a database
• Add or manipulate data
• Perform a search
Creating a Form
You can open a new form and create data boxes on
the form to display your data. The adjustable grid
allows you to create a neatly-organized collection of
data boxes.
You can customize boxes in the following ways:
• Style or label in various ways
• Distinguish with your choice of font and color
• Include pictures
ChemFinder provides complete set of form editing
capabilities, including the following:
• A tool palette to choose a box style while
drawing
• Boxes may be selected, moved, resized, or
restyled either singly or in groups
• Ability to cut and paste
• Multiple-level undo
• Creating tabs
For more information see “Chapter 3: Creating and
Editing Forms.”
Creating or Opening a
Database
When a form contains a single box, you can begin
entering or browsing data. A data source, typically
the name of a field that stores data within a database,
may be associated with each data box.
To attach a data source to a data box:
• Point to the box and press the right mouse
button.
ChemFinder 8 Chapter 1: ChemFinder Basics • 5
Using ChemFinder