FlaskConnect™Beta tester guide
Welcome to the free FlaskConnect beta. This page covers what the beta includes, how to join, and a quick manual that takes you through your first drawing.
Join
To join, just install from one of the links below. There is no sign-up email to send and no pre-registration.
Join on Windows (Microsoft Store)
- Open the FlaskConnect page on the Microsoft Store from the link below
- Click Get to install
- Launch FlaskConnect from the Start menu
Join on Mac (TestFlight)
- Get TestFlight from the App Store on your Mac
- Open the join link below
- Click Install in TestFlight
Join on iPad (TestFlight)
- Get TestFlight from the App Store on your iPad
- Open the join link below
- Tap Install in TestFlight
TestFlight is Apple's official app for distributing betas. You join simply by opening the link, and when the beta ends you move straight to the App Store version.
What the beta includes
Free, with everything unlocked
Every feature is available during the beta at no charge.
Runs until October 31, 2026
The beta build works up to that date. Reminders about the deadline and about updates appear inside the app.
Your documents carry over
Documents you create during the beta (.chemc) carry over to the release version, so you can use it for real work with confidence.
System requirements
| Windows | Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) |
|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 12 or later (Apple Silicon) |
| iPadOS | iPadOS 15 or later |
Known limitations
- The iPad build exports SVG and PNG only. Export to PowerPoint, Word and Excel is available in the Windows and Mac builds.
- The beta build expires. After October 31, 2026 you will need to move to the release version (your documents come with you).
- At launch the app fetches the beta deadline and update notices from our server. Nothing that identifies your device is sent. See the privacy policy for details.
Please send feedback
FlaskConnect is developed by one person, so your feedback is what makes it better. Even the smallest thing that felt off is worth telling us about.
- From the app: use Help → Send Feedback in the menu.
- By email: write to [email protected].
- When reporting a problem: attaching the log file from Help → Open the Log Folder makes it far quicker to find the cause. Logs are kept on your device only and contain no identifying information such as your computer name or user name.
Quick manual — your first drawing in 5 steps
Apparatus diagrams and structures on a single canvas. These five steps get your first drawing done.
- Place an item
Click an item in the palette on the left and it appears on the canvas. Drag it to move it around. - Connect it
Click the blue connection point (○) on an item, then click the next item and the two are joined automatically. Items that slot into a neck, such as septa and thermometers, only need to be brought close to a neck: a green preview appears and they slot straight in. - Adjust it
Select an item and the panel on the right lets you change its size, fill level, color and number of necks. Arrow keys nudge the position (hold Shift for 10 px steps), [ and ] rotate it, and H / V flip it. - Draw a structure
On the Structure tab, enter a compound name, a CAS number or a SMILES string to add a structure to the canvas (benzene,71-43-2andc1ccccc1all give the same structure). The PubChem lookup can bring in names and physical properties too. Styling follows the ACS standard. - Export it
Finished drawings export to SVG or PNG (the Windows and Mac builds also write PowerPoint, Word and Excel). Drawing and exporting run entirely on your device. Save with Cmd+S (Ctrl+S on Windows).
Keyboard shortcuts (Windows / Mac)
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Save | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Rotate | [ / ] | |
| Flip horizontally / vertically | H / V | |
| Nudge the position | Arrow keys (Shift for 10 px steps) | |
| Add to the selection | Shift+click | |
| Return a directly connected item to its default position | Select the connection, then double-click its dotted line | |
| Edit text in the figure (readings, names, notes) | Double-click the text | |
Using it on iPad
| Action | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Scroll / zoom the canvas | Two-finger drag / pinch |
| Undo | Two-finger tap |
| Redo | Three-finger tap |
| Apple Pencil | Supported (works exactly like a finger) |
The user manual explains everything in more detail, with screenshots. If you are new to the app, start there.
Where your documents are kept
Work in progress is saved automatically for recovery, so you can pick up where you left off the next time you open the app. Documents live only on your device (and, on Apple devices, in your own iCloud); drawings are never stored on the developer's servers. You can check the actual location from Help → Open the Save Folder in the menu.
- Windows: saving (Ctrl+S) puts your document in the Documents > FlaskConnect folder on your PC. There is no automatic sync with Mac or iPad — iCloud sync is a feature between Apple devices. To move a drawing across, copy the .chemc file by hand; the format is the same, so it opens as-is.
- Mac / iPad: saving (Cmd+S) puts your document in iCloud Drive > FlaskConnect, the app's private area under your Apple ID, and iCloud keeps your Mac and your iPad in sync.