MolDraw Docs

Word and PowerPoint

Short answer: Download your drawing as PNG or SVG and insert the picture in Word or PowerPoint. The file keeps the full MolDraw drawing inside it. To edit later, open that same picture in MolDraw: it opens as an editable structure, not a flat image.

Last updated · By the MolDraw team at LabCanvas

View .mdSection PDF

Every picture MolDraw exports or copies carries the whole drawing hidden inside it. Word and PowerPoint ignore that data and show the picture. When the picture comes back to MolDraw, the structure is editable again. This is the Office round trip.

  1. Draw your structure or scheme in the editor.
  2. Click Download and pick PNG, PNG (white) or SVG. For PNG, set the size in the Export figure dialog.
  3. In Word or PowerPoint, insert the saved file as a picture.
  4. To change the structure later, open the same file in MolDraw with File, Open, or drag it onto the canvas.
  5. Edit it, export again, and replace the picture in your document.

Which file carries the drawing#

The round trip uses the picture file itself. MolDraw stores the drawing (the same data as a .moldraw file) inside it:

File Carries the drawing
PNG Yes
SVG Yes
JPEG Yes
PDF Yes, but only PDFs exported from MolDraw

Image viewers, browsers, Word and PowerPoint ignore the extra data. A picture that did not come from MolDraw opens as a plain image. A PDF that did not come from MolDraw shows a message that it has no editable structure inside.

Size in the document#

PNG and JPEG files carry their DPI. Word and PowerPoint place them at the width you set in the Export figure dialog. SVG files are written at print size. Pick a journal width and DPI in Publication figures.

Copy and paste instead of files#

You can also copy a picture and paste it straight into a slide. See Copy as image or SVG.

  • Click Copy SVG in the top bar, or right click and pick Copy as, then PNG.
  • Paste into Word or PowerPoint with Ctrl+V. It lands as a picture.

Copy and paste works best in the desktop app. In a browser, the clipboard can re-encode the picture and drop the hidden drawing. The desktop app writes the exact picture to the clipboard. It also reads pictures copied out of Word or PowerPoint. Copy a structure from a slide and paste it back as an editable drawing.

Tips#

  • Keep the exported file, or save a .moldraw copy with File, Save. It is your safe master copy. See Save and open your work.
  • If Word or PowerPoint has edited or recompressed the picture, the hidden drawing can be lost. Open your original file instead.
  • Google Docs and Google Slides also paste the copied picture.
  • MolDraw add-ins for Word and PowerPoint are not available yet. The picture round trip works today without any add-in.

Common problems#

Problem Fix
The picture opens as a plain image It lost its MolDraw data, or it did not come from MolDraw. Open the original exported file.
A pasted slide picture is not editable in the browser The browser dropped the hidden data. Save the picture as a file and open it, or use the desktop app.
The picture is too big in Word Export again with a smaller width in the Export figure dialog.

Questions and answers

Can I edit a MolDraw structure after putting it in Word?

Yes. Open the PNG or SVG you inserted in MolDraw, with File, Open or by dragging it onto the canvas. It opens as an editable drawing.

Is there a MolDraw add-in for PowerPoint or Word?

Not yet. Insert an exported PNG or SVG instead. Open the same file in MolDraw to edit it.

Which file format should I use for PowerPoint?

Use PNG for slides, with a transparent background if your slide is colored. PNG and SVG both keep the editable drawing inside.

Why does my pasted picture open as an image, not a structure?

The hidden drawing was lost on the way, often by the browser clipboard. Open the original file, or copy and paste in the desktop app.

Last updated: