How do I share a ChemBioDraw / ChemDraw template file so that someone else can open it?

How do I share a ChemBioDraw / ChemDraw template file so that someone else can open it?

Only the Pro and Ultra versions of the ChemBioDraw/ChemDraw applications can directly open (File menu, Open command) a ChemDraw Template file (CTP file). However, there is a way to share a template file with any version of ChemDraw. If you would like to make a ChemDraw template file available through the ChemDraw Tool Palette along with the templates we provide by default, you only need to place a CTP file into the ChemDraw Items folder in use.

The default location for the ChemDraw Items folder is:

Windows: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CambridgeSoft\ChemOffice20xx\ChemDraw\ChemDraw Items

Note that the exact default location depends on the version of our software, such that the "ChemOffice20xx" folder in the path above could be ChemOffice2008 or ChemOffice2010, for example). Older versions have the default at the same level as the chemdraw.exe file, and the folder might be named CD Items instead of ChemDraw Items. If you cannot find the folder, it may be hidden. You would need to open My Computer, go to the Tools menu, choose Folder Options, click on the View tab, and choose to Show "Hidden Files and Folders". Once you have set Windows to show hidden folders, you can do a Windows search for "ChemDraw Items" to locate the folder.

Macintosh: The default location is the Applications:CS ChemOffice 20xx:ChemDraw folder.

Note that the exact default location depends on the version of our software, such that the "ChemOffice 20xx" folder in the path above could be ChemOffice2008 or ChemOffice2010, for example). Older versions may use "CD Items" instead of "ChemDraw Items".

Once the template file is in the ChemDraw Items folder, it should appear in the Template tool within the ChemDraw Tool Palette (you may need to quit and relaunch ChemDraw for it to appear).

Check our Support Downloads for extra template files not included with the shipping product.