Convert DOCX to CDX

Understanding DOCX and CDX file formats

DOCX is a widely used word processing file format created by Microsoft Word. It stores formatted text, images, tables, and other document elements in an XML-based structure. CDX, on the other hand, is a file format used by ChemDraw, a popular chemical structure drawing application. CDX files store chemical structure diagrams, reactions, and related annotations.

Why convert DOCX to CDX?

Converting a DOCX file to CDX is typically required when you have chemical structures or reaction schemes embedded in a Word document and need to edit or use them in ChemDraw. Since DOCX is not a chemical structure format, the conversion process involves extracting chemical drawings (often as images or embedded objects) and recreating them in ChemDraw.

How to convert DOCX to CDX

There is no direct, automated converter that transforms DOCX files into CDX format, as they serve very different purposes. However, you can follow these steps to achieve the conversion:

1. Open your DOCX file in Microsoft Word.
2. Locate the chemical structure images or embedded ChemDraw objects.
3. If the structures are embedded as ChemDraw objects, right-click and select Copy.
4. Open ChemDraw and paste the copied structure.
5. Go to File → Save As and choose CDX as the file format.
6. If the structures are images, you will need to redraw them manually in ChemDraw, then save as CDX.

Best software for DOCX to CDX conversion

The most reliable software for this process is ChemDraw by PerkinElmer. It allows you to paste chemical structures copied from Word (if they were originally created in ChemDraw) and save them as CDX files. For batch processing or more advanced extraction, consider using ChemOffice suite, which integrates ChemDraw with Microsoft Office.

Tips for a smooth conversion

• Always ensure chemical structures in DOCX are embedded as ChemDraw objects, not just images.
• If you frequently need to convert, create your chemical structures directly in ChemDraw and embed them in Word documents.
• For complex documents, manual extraction and redrawing may be necessary.