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CDX import and export
ChemDraw's binary format can be read and written.
43 tools have this, 4 of them shown here. 12 do not. 73 not established.
What powers it: Indigo (WebAssembly) (2), In-house (Rust CDX codec); Ported from RDKit External/ChemDraw and Glysade/chemdraw (Rust molecular reader) (1), In-house browser JavaScript binary CDX import; Indigo 1.46.0 browser WebAssembly export and fallback import (1), Revvity ChemDraw file library (Glysade/chemdraw, vendored C++ private static library) (1), In-house (TypeScript CDX binary reader and writer sharing the CDXML object tree) (1), Indigo (WebAssembly, through Ketcher); In-house mechanism-arrow preservation (1), In-house JavaScript binary CDX reader/writer; ReShiki CDX property-table data, with no ReShiki runtime code (1), Indigo 1.45.1 (C++ compiled to WebAssembly, CDX import/export through Ketcher 3.17.2) (1), In-house (TypeScript binary CDX codec converting to/from CDXML) (1), Indigo (WebAssembly CDX import via ketcher-standalone) (1), Indigo (WebAssembly conversion through Ketcher) (1), In-house Python CDX-to-CDXML translator + RDKit Python parser (import only) (1), In-house (Python struct-based binary CDX parser; import only) (1), Indigo (indigo-ketcher 1.40.0 WebAssembly through Ketcher 3.12.0) (1), In-house (JavaScript binary CDX parser; import only) (1), Indigo 1.46.0 (WebAssembly, Ketcher standalone browser worker) (1), ChemDoodle Java API (remote iChemLabs CloudServices; getMoleculeFromContent and saveFile format conversion) (1), Indigo (WebAssembly through ketcher-standalone) (1), Indigo C++ conversion (indigo-ketcher WebAssembly or Indigo HTTP service) (1), Indigo 1.46.0 (WebAssembly) (1), In-house (Rust CDX binary reader and writer through CDXML conversion) (1), In-house (C++ CDX-to-CDXML binary parser; import only) (1), In-house (Rust CDX binary reader and writer; interchange-tree export) (1), Open Babel (WebAssembly via Kekule.js; import only) (1), In-house (JavaScript; CDX import only) (1), In-house (ChemDoodle Java file-format interpreters, local) (1), Indigo (WebAssembly binary CDX import/export conversion) (1), In-house Chemaxon I/O CDX module (local Java MolImporter/MolExporter) (1), CDXConverter 1.0.0 (bundled JavaScript cdx2cdxml/cdxml2cdx); In-house (CDXML drawing-model mapping) (1), Chemaxon MolConvert (remote Java REST service via MJSWS, JChem Web Services or JChem Microservices; CDX import/export) (1), In-house (C++ CDX loader plugin using Open Babel constants header) (1), In-house Marvin Web Services MolConvert (remote Java service) (1), In-house (C++ CDX binary parser/writer and internal-object conversion) (1), In-house (C# CDX reader/writer) (1)
- Tested by running it
- Seen in the app
- The manual says yes
- Partly, with the reason shown
- Not supported
- Not established, which is not the same as no
Select a mark for its proof. A filled mark opens our screenshot, or the manual if the check left nothing to picture. A ring opens the manual.

Partly: Bounded subset: Open and Copy as offer CDX; structure export does not. ReShiki
0.14.0
Uses In-house (Rust CDX codec); Ported from RDKit External/ChemDraw and Glysade/chemdraw (Rust molecular reader)
Partly: Bounded subset: Open and Copy as offer CDX; structure export does not.
Copy as menu includes CDXML and CDX.

Yes, according to the manual: Binary CDX import and export. MolDraw
4.0
Uses In-house browser JavaScript binary CDX import; Indigo 1.46.0 browser WebAssembly export and fallback import
Download menu lists CDX among chemistry formats.

Yes, according to the manual: Export excludes multi-step schemes and convergent arrows. SketchIQ
dpl_44ysNf1Cbx9iepy8z4SrXP7…
Uses Indigo (WebAssembly, through Ketcher); In-house mechanism-arrow preservation
Export menu includes a ChemDraw CDX download.

Yes, according to the manual: Binary and Base64 CDX through embedded Ketcher in molecule mode. FreeChemDraw
3.18.0
Uses Indigo (WebAssembly conversion through Ketcher)
Local file upload lists CDX among supported formats.
Available, no screenshot
ChemDraw's license keeps us from publishing pictures of its interface.
- Yes, according to the manual: Reads and writes native binary CDX; all editions. Opens the cited page.ChemDrawReads and writes native binary CDX; all editions.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Binary CDX import and export on every desktop platform. Opens the cited page.PenzeneUses Revvity ChemDraw file library (Glysade/chemdraw, vendored C++ private static library). Binary CDX import and export on every desktop platform.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Native CDX reader and writer preserve drawing objects. Opens the cited page.Octet DrawUses In-house (TypeScript CDX binary reader and writer sharing the CDXML object tree). Native CDX reader and writer preserve drawing objects.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.Reactio DrawUses In-house JavaScript binary CDX reader/writer; ReShiki CDX property-table data, with no ReShiki runtime code. Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Use Ketcher's own file dialogs. Opens the cited page.ChemEditUses Indigo 1.45.1 (C++ compiled to WebAssembly, CDX import/export through Ketcher 3.17.2). Use Ketcher's own file dialogs.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.Chem IllustratorUses In-house (TypeScript binary CDX codec converting to/from CDXML). Source
- Partly: CDX import documented; export unverified. Opens the cited page.ChemThisTryUses Indigo (WebAssembly CDX import via ketcher-standalone). CDX import documented; export unverified.Source
- Partly: Imports binary CDX; no CDX export. Opens the cited page.vibe-sketcherUses In-house Python CDX-to-CDXML translator + RDKit Python parser (import only). Imports binary CDX; no CDX export.Source
- Partly: Imports supported objects; no CDX export or lossless round trip. Opens the cited page.ErezDrawUses In-house (Python struct-based binary CDX parser; import only). Imports supported objects; no CDX export or lossless round trip.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.MolChartSource
- Yes, according to the manual: Binary and base64 CDX via Ketcher's Open/Save. Opens the cited page.KendrawUses Indigo (indigo-ketcher 1.40.0 WebAssembly through Ketcher 3.12.0). Binary and base64 CDX via Ketcher's Open/Save.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Native Ketcher supports binary and base64 CDX. Opens the cited page.BoltzDrawUses Indigo (WebAssembly). Native Ketcher supports binary and base64 CDX.Source
- Partly: Import only. Opens the cited page.ChemlioraUses In-house (JavaScript binary CDX parser; import only). Import only.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Structure import/export through Ketcher; whiteboards use Excalidraw format. Opens the cited page.MolbrettUses Indigo 1.46.0 (WebAssembly, Ketcher standalone browser worker). Structure import/export through Ketcher; whiteboards use Excalidraw format.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Read/write through iChemLabs Cloud Services using desktop-format support. Opens the cited page.ChemDoodle Web ComponentsUses ChemDoodle Java API (remote iChemLabs CloudServices; getMoleculeFromContent and saveFile format conversion). Read/write through iChemLabs Cloud Services using desktop-format support.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Ketcher supports binary CDX and Base64 CDX. Opens the cited page.Chemeditor (Chemrise)Uses Indigo (WebAssembly through ketcher-standalone). Ketcher supports binary CDX and Base64 CDX.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.KetcherUses Indigo C++ conversion (indigo-ketcher WebAssembly or Indigo HTTP service). Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Embedded Ketcher reads and writes binary CDX. Opens the cited page.AI Chemical Drawing (CubicZnS)Uses Indigo 1.46.0 (WebAssembly). Embedded Ketcher reads and writes binary CDX.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Binary CDX import; binary and Base64 CDX export. Opens the cited page.KetchDrawUses Indigo (WebAssembly). Binary CDX import; binary and Base64 CDX export.Source
- Partly: CDX import listed; no CDX save format listed. Opens the cited page.MolsketchCDX import listed; no CDX save format listed.
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.ChemSemaUses In-house (Rust CDX binary reader and writer through CDXML conversion). Source
- Partly: Reads binary CDX; saving uses CDXML instead. Opens the cited page.XDrawChemUses In-house (C++ CDX-to-CDXML binary parser; import only). Reads binary CDX; saving uses CDXML instead.Source
- Partly: Bounded codec; edited drawings cannot be exported as CDX. Opens the cited page.ChemifreeUses In-house (Rust CDX binary reader and writer; interchange-tree export). Bounded codec; edited drawings cannot be exported as CDX.Source
- Partly: CDX listed for import, not export. Opens the cited page.SketChemUses Open Babel (WebAssembly via Kekule.js; import only). CDX listed for import, not export.
- Partly: ChemWriter 2 imports limited CDX; export API writes MOL only. Opens the cited page.ChemWriterUses In-house (JavaScript; CDX import only). ChemWriter 2 imports limited CDX; export API writes MOL only.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.ChemDoodle 2DUses In-house (ChemDoodle Java file-format interpreters, local). Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Indigo binary import/export; Pro downloads; fidelity untested. Opens the cited page.LabCanvas Figure Editor / MolDrawUses Indigo (WebAssembly binary CDX import/export conversion). Indigo binary import/export; Pro downloads; fidelity untested.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.Marvin Desktop Suite / MarvinSketchUses In-house Chemaxon I/O CDX module (local Java MolImporter/MolExporter). Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Import and export explicitly documented; clipboard exchange also supported. Opens the cited page.ChemDraft (元素智研)Import and export explicitly documented; clipboard exchange also supported.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.InDrawUses CDXConverter 1.0.0 (bundled JavaScript cdx2cdxml/cdxml2cdx); In-house (CDXML drawing-model mapping). Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Import and export require web services; binary import uses files. Opens the cited page.Marvin JSUses Chemaxon MolConvert (remote Java REST service via MJSWS, JChem Web Services or JChem Microservices; CDX import/export). Import and export require web services; binary import uses files.Source
- Partly: CDX import documented; export unverified. Opens the cited page.BIOVIA DrawCDX import documented; export unverified.Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.GChemPaintUses In-house (C++ CDX loader plugin using Open Babel constants header). Source
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.KingDrawSource
- Yes, according to the manual: Vendor claim: CDX import and export. Opens the cited page.ACD/ChemSketchVendor claim: CDX import and export.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: CDX is supported for export and template import. Opens the cited page.Marvin CloudUses In-house Marvin Web Services MolConvert (remote Java service). CDX is supported for export and template import.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Reads and writes supported chemistry; arbitrary source metadata is lost. Opens the cited page.AtomLensReads and writes supported chemistry; arbitrary source metadata is lost.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Binary CDX reading and writing. Opens the cited page.LhendrawUses In-house (C++ CDX binary parser/writer and internal-object conversion). Binary CDX reading and writing.Source
- Yes, according to the manual: Explicitly reads and writes CDX; vendor claim. Opens the cited page.Elk_Draw RDKitUses In-house (C# CDX reader/writer). Explicitly reads and writes CDX; vendor claim.Source
Not available
- No: Binary CDX is explicitly rejected; use CDXML. Opens the cited page.ChemDraftBinary CDX is explicitly rejected; use CDXML.Source
- No: Official comparison explicitly says CDX is not yet supported. Opens the cited page.CovalentOfficial comparison explicitly says CDX is not yet supported.Source
- No: Binary CDX import is explicitly rejected. Opens the cited page.Molecule Lab (The Freshman Mole)Binary CDX import is explicitly rejected.Source
- No: Binary CDX support is on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.MolCanvasBinary CDX support is on the roadmap.Source
- No: Legacy CDX support is described as future best-effort work. Opens the cited page.BondForgeLegacy CDX support is described as future best-effort work.Source
- No: CDX absent from inspected file-format lists. Opens the cited page.ChemCanvasCDX absent from inspected file-format lists.
- No: Binary CDX is explicitly unsupported. Opens the cited page.ChemvasBinary CDX is explicitly unsupported.Source
- No: Exporter writes only ChemMD source, SVG and PNG. Opens the cited page.ChemMDExporter writes only ChemMD source, SVG and PNG.Source
- No: File handlers support MOL and SMILES only. Opens the cited page.rdEditorFile handlers support MOL and SMILES only.Source
- No: Binary CDX input is explicitly refused. Opens the cited page.Ferrum Chemical ForgeBinary CDX input is explicitly refused.Source
- No: Binary CDX import unsupported; export remains on roadmap. Opens the cited page.ChemStitchBinary CDX import unsupported; export remains on roadmap.Source
- No: Only .scrb files can be opened or saved. Opens the cited page.ChemScribbleOnly .scrb files can be opened or saved.Source
Not established (73)
Chematic Draw, Zeanium Molecule Drawer, Sciformation VectorMol, MoleditPy, MolView.com, OpenReactions, PyChem-Pro, chemfig, Molecule Builder (OvOHongYu), Schrödinger Sketcher, Chemable, WaveSpeed AI Chemical Structure Drawer, cDraw, BondCraft, JChemPaint, Molsoft HTML5 Molecule Editor, Molecule Clipboard, MolGLideX, SketchScape, Structura (chem-structura), OpenChemLib JS editor, MolSketch, Dotmatics Elemental / Elemental Draw, SketchEl 2, Kekule.js, SketchEl, JSME Molecule Editor, RadSketch, Ketcherails (ketcher-rails), Butlerov, schematic, WebMolKit, ChemCanvasJS, Chemical Structure Editor (CSE), Kemia, JMolDraw, MolTouch, Chemeditor (Chemie-Lernprogramme), vue-chemdraw (0chem), MCDL Java Chemical Structure Editor, Glass, molsketch-cljs, MolPad, BKChem Python 3 Modernized, BKChem, ChemWindow (KnowItAll ChemWindow Edition), Chemistry Draw, Zoho ChemStudio, ChemPencil, Chem4Word, Chemtool, JSDraw, ChemCAD, MoleculeSketch, FX ChemStruct / FX Draw Chemical Structures, Chemistry 4-D Draw, BondDraw, ChemGraphic 2, EasyChem, MolSketchGo, MyChemise, CyBy-Draw, Chem+ Molecular Structure Editor, MolPrime+, MolGenDraw, Chirys Draw, Chem Sketcher (Non_REM.Persona Laboratory), Structo, Chemograph Plus, alvaSketcher, moled, ChemWorks, Molecule