User manual

1. Getting to know the window

The window has three main areas: the palette on the left (everything you can place), the canvas in the middle (where you draw), and the properties on the right (settings for whatever you have selected). The toolbar across the top holds save, undo, align, export and more.

Whenever you are unsure what to do next, look at the status bar along the bottom of the window. It always shows a hint for the step you are in.

2. Drawing an apparatus diagram (place, connect, adjust)

2-1. Place an item

A single click on an item in the palette on the left puts it on the canvas, and you can drag it anywhere from there. The search box at the top of the palette narrows the list by name.

2-2. Connect items

Click a blue ○ (connection point) on an item and the items that can be attached there appear along the top of the window. Click one of them and it is connected in exactly the right place — no lining up tubing by hand.

Items that slot into a neck, such as septa and thermometers, work by dragging: bring one near the neck, a green preview appears, and letting go joins them directly. Double-click a directly connected item to send it back to its default position.

2-3. Adjust the shape, fill level and color

Click an item to select it and the properties on the right show its size, fill level, liquid color, number of necks and so on. Change a value and the canvas updates as you type.

For position and orientation the keyboard is quicker: arrow keys move the item (hold Shift to move further), [ / ] rotate it, and H / V flip it.

3. Drawing structures

Switch to the Structure tab at the top left and you can draw chemical structures on the same canvas. The quickest way is to type a SMILES string, a compound name or a CAS number into the input box.

• Editing rings, bonds and atoms: the ring templates and bond tools in the sidebar edit a structure in place. Clicking a bond cycles it from single to double to triple.
• PubChem lookup: select a compound to fetch its name and physical properties (an internet connection is required).
• Alongside the apparatus: structures and reaction schemes live in the same drawing as your apparatus diagram. The tabs simply choose which of the two you are editing.

4. Adding text and arrows

The text button (A) in the toolbar adds labels and annotations, and the arrow tool adds reaction arrows and leader lines. Text supports bold, italic and superscript/subscript (H₂O and the like), and a double-click edits it in place.

5. Saving and exporting

Saving (.chemc)

Press Cmd+S to save. Documents go to the iCloud Drive > FlaskConnect folder, and once the save finishes the status bar shows the file name and where it went. iCloud keeps your Mac and your iPad in sync. Work in progress is saved automatically for recovery, so you can pick up where you left off the next time you open the app.

Exporting

The buttons on the right of the toolbar export your drawing in the following formats. Every export is processed on your device.

6. Shortcut reference (Mac)

Using it on iPad

If you get stuck

Questions about how something works, and bug reports, are welcome on the support page. You can also write to us from Help → Send Feedback inside the app.