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Word X and ChemDraw PostScript files

Word X and ChemDraw PostScript files

CNET staff
2 min read
According to a reader, Word X does not correctly print pictures generated by ChemDraw if they include embedded PostScript data. Stéphane Mons writes:

"I am a chemist who uses CambridgeSoft's ChemDraw and Microsoft Office regularly. ChemDraw includes PostScript data in its pictures to produce high-quality outputs. Once I upgraded to Word X, my old and new Word documents now produce dreadful outputs on any PostScript printer I use. It does not seem to send the PostScript data to the printer but the QuickDraw data instead."

The workaround is to save ChemDraw schemes as EPS files and import them into Word X, or to use AppleWorks."

Update: Zachary Komon adds: "I ran into trouble printing when I tried to print ChemDraw figures that had been inserted into Word X by 'insert picture from file' command, however, I found that when I selected the object in ChemDraw and dragged it into the Word document, it printed normally."

Update: CambridgeSoft sent an email to Stéphane stating that they were aware of the issue, and they have been in contact with Microsoft about it. Evidently, the problem is with Word, and it hopefully will be fixed in the next Service Release for Word, due later this month or early next. With the patch installed, CambridgeSoft expects that existing documents will automatically start printing better, without having to redraw them or do anything else.

Microsoft has replied to us that "No one from our division has been contacted by anybody from CambridgeSoft." There appears to be a miscommunication somewhere. We are still trying to sort it all out.