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Why are there no structure diagrams in my STN Express 6.0 for Windows transcript?

Depending on your preference, STN Express 6.0 for windows captures transcripts in its native .trn format or in Rich Text Format (.rtf).  This document applies to .trn transcripts.  If chemical structure diagrams are missing from a transcript that was captured as RTF, contact CAS Customer Care.

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Chemical structure diagrams may appear to be missing from STN Express .trn transcripts.  The diagrams are probably not lost forever but instead cannot be seen.

STN Express transcripts that contain structure diagrams are stored in two files.  You provide the name for the files when the transcript is created.  One file, with a .trn extension, contains the text of the transcript.  The other file, with a .gra extension, contains the graphic (structure diagrams) part of the transcript.  For example, if you name the transcript registry.trn, then registry.trn contains the text part of the transcript, and the file registry.gra contains the structure diagrams for the transcript.

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View and print structures in Browse Transcript

The STN Express Browse Transcript feature knows how to combine the text and graphics transcript files and display them as one.  If there are structure diagrams in your transcript, you'll be able to see them using Browse Transcript.  Also, if you see structures while browsing, they'll be printed when you print from Browse Transcript.

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Structures in STN Edit

If you edit a transcript using the built-in STN Express text editor or any other text editor, no structures are visible.  Instead, in the place where a structure diagram should appear, there is a reference to the .gra file.  For example,

   => d l1

   L1   ANSWER 1   REGISTRY  COPYRIGHT 1998 ACS
   RN   168023-31-2  REGISTRY

   / Structure 1 in file .gra /    Do not modify this line!

The text editor does not know how to combine the two transcript files, and only the text is displayed.  Because no structures are visible, if you print the transcript from STN Edit no structures will be printed.

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Structures in a word processor

To view structure diagrams in your word processor, first use the STN Express export transcript or Save As feature to combine the graphics and text files into one document.  Otherwise, the word processor behaves like a text editor and reads only the text file.  A transcript can be exported to an RTF (Rich Text Format) file.

The export process can be started in several ways.  From the main STN Express toolbar, it can be started by selecting Export Transcript on the Results menu.  It can be started from STN Terminal Emulation while browsing a transcript by clicking the Export Transcript (W) button or by selecting Save As from the File menu.

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The STN Express Results menu

The Results menu provides several options for working with transcripts.

1. To see the options, go to the STN Express main menu and click Results.
2. Browse Transcript knows how to combine the text and graphic files and display them as if they are one file.
3. Print Transcript knows how to combine the text and graphic files and print them as one file.
4. Edit Transcript lets you edit only the text part of a transcript and does not know how to combine the two files.  Structure diagrams are not visible.
5. Export Transcript combines the text and graphic files into a single new document.

Buttons equivalent to these menu options are available.

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Export a transcript: Step A

Browse the transcript to verify its contents

1. On the main STN Express toolbar, click the Browse Transcript button.  STN Online and Results opens with the Choose File dialog inside it.  Alternatively, click Results | Browse Transcript.

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Step B

1. If necessary, navigate to the folder that contains the transcript.
2. Select the name of the transcript.
3. Click Open.

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Step C

1. Make sure the transcript contains the expected information and that structure diagrams are present.

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Step D: Create the new document

1. Go to the File menu...
2. and select Save As.
   
   
   
   
3. If desired, navigate to the folder that will hold the new document.
   
4. Type the name of the new document in the File name box, or accept the default name.
5. Click Save.  When the transcript is exported successfully, a message is displayed or your word processor opens, depending on your preference.
   
   
   
   
6. If the message appears, click OK to dismiss the message and then open the new .rtf document in the word processor or program of your choice.

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What if there are still no structures in the transcript?

• Do the transcripts text and graphics files have the same name (except that the text file as a .trn extension and the graphics file has a .gra extension)?
• Were there error messages from the export transcript process?
• Are structure diagrams actually present in the transcript?
• In Microsoft Word 97, there is a preference that replaces images with placeholders.  Go to the Tools menu and choose Options.  On the View tab, there is a checkbox labeled Picture placeholders.  If it is checked, uncheck it.
• Were references to the .gra file accidentally modified in the .trn file?

If you have any questions about viewing chemical structure diagrams in an STN Express transcript, contact CAS Customer Care.