Generic Nicknames

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Generic nicknames represent a class of elements or structural moieties. For example:

• "M" can be a generic nickname for all metals
• "X" can represent halides
• "Ary" can represent an aromatic substructure

If you are using a query system that recognizes generic nicknames, you can use these nicknames in your ChemDraw query structure.

You can assign Generic nicknames, like other nicknames, to HotKeys. For information on assigning a HotKey to a nickname, see 'Working With Structures".

You cannot define the meaning of a generic nickname in ChemDraw because generic nicknames represent multiple (and perhaps an infinite number of) substituents. Generic nicknames have meaning only in the context of the search system you are using.

The generic nicknames recognized as chemically meaningful to ChemDraw are listed in Generic Nicknames file in the ChemDraw Items folder. For definitions of the nicknames, see "Nickname Definitions" in the Help file.

To edit the generic nickname files:

Open the Generic Nicknames file in a text editor and make your changes.

See the provided Generic Nicknames file for examples of the correct format.

To label an atomic position with a generic nickname, use the same procedures as labeling an atom:

1. Do one of the following:

• Open a text box on an atom position by clicking with the Text tool.
• Double-click on an atom position with a Bond tool.

2. Type the generic nickname.

3. Press Return or click outside the text box.

NOTE: If you perform Check Structure on a structure with a generic nickname, a message is displayed because the structure contains variable substituents. If you ignore this message, the generic nicknames are ignored and ChemDraw reports the chemical formula, mass, and so on as if the atom label containing the generic nickname were not selected.