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Cornell University

Chemistry IT and Physics IT

Supporting Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physics Instruction, and Physics Administration

ChemDraw Professional Site License at Cornell


Installing and using ChemDraw 22 requires both the software and a license key

RECOMMENDATION: If you have a previous version already installed, remove it and replace it with version 22 using the below instructions. You can’t simply “upgrade” versions.


Instructions if you are in the Cornell Chemistry Department

This is only for people in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Chemistry Department), in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences.

  • This method is optional for those in the Chemistry Department. Department members may alternatively use the vendor’s standard download and licensing process, explained further below.

1. Download ChemDraw

From Chemistry IT’s restricted site, you may download the current software for either Windows or Mac:

  • https://cornell.box.com/v/ChemDraw (service is hosted by Chemistry IT and restricted to Cornell community members)
    • The *.exe file is for installing on a Windows computer.
    • The *. dmg file is for installing on a Mac.

2. License ChemDraw

Also from Chemistry IT’s restricted site, obtain the license key required during the installation of the above software:

  • https://cornell.box.com/v/ChemDraw (service is hosted by Chemistry IT and restricted to Cornell community members)
    • The *. txt file contains the activation code for both Windows and Mac installations.

Instructions if you are outside the Chemistry Department

Anyone outside of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology should follow the vendor’s standard download and licensing process. Anyone in the Department is also welcome to use this non-Chemistry IT process.

To assist you, we have created a summary of that process below, developed by starting at the vendor’s Institutional Subscriptions look-up site, https://informatics.perkinelmer.com/sitesubscription/.

1. Create an account at the vendor’s software distribution service

Register with the vendor using your Cornell University email address:

https://informatics.perkinelmer.com/sitesubscription/

2. Use that account to download the required software and obtain the license key.

  • Note: The license key is the same for both Windows and Mac installations.

Cornell University Library’s support

In addition to generously funding Cornell’s ChemDraw license (see next section), the Cornell University Library also teaches classes on using ChemDraw and other software and databases. Please contact Chemistry Librarian Leah Rae McEwen <lrm1@cornell.edu> for more information.


Overview of ChemDraw

PerkinElmer Informatics (formerly CambridgeSoft) ChemDraw Professional is a tool to create diagrams of chemical structures plus additional biological components.

The Cornell Library has continued to annually invest in a site license for ChemDraw Professional for Windows and Macintosh. This license covers Cornell University and the Weill Cornell Medical College. All current students, staff, and faculty of Cornell University and the Weill Cornell Medical College are eligible to obtain the software for free.

Administration of this license is shared between the Cornell Library and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

The current license period is good through at least July 2024 (3 years since July 2021). As part of our site license, PerkinElmer distributes ChemDraw Professional for PC and Mac.

Support for ChemDraw

Users may find the PerkinElmer FAQ website useful in fixing installation issues with ChemDraw Professional: http://informatics.perkinelmer.com/Support/KnowledgeBase/

Faculty, staff, and graduate students in Chemistry and Chemical Biology who have trouble obtaining and installing ChemDraw may contact Chemistry IT for assistance at chemit@cornell.edu.

All other Cornell faculty, staff, and students having difficulty obtaining or using ChemDraw Professional should contact Chemistry Librarian Leah Rae McEwen for assistance:

Submit a Request!