Apple Macintosh software

There are several sources of information that can aid in identifying potential spectral overlaps. Instrument manufacturers typically include spectral overlap information in the instrument software. An atlas of elemental ion spectra as well as many of the molecular ions is available in a very convenient software package, MS Interview, that was published in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica and is available in the Program Library at http //www.elsevier.nl 80/inca/homepage/saa/ sab (download file 47/1621/92 for the Apple Macintosh version, file 48/1063/93 for the PC version). This program also allows users to add additional ions to the spectra] database. 

An additional factor influencing wide use is the cost of the hardware needed to run the software. Programs that have been targeted at the huge PC and Apple Macintosh markets have been quite successful. 

Another source of information that already has been mentioned is the QCPE.2" Its primary focus traditionally has been on the research community, but some of the materials can be useful to the instructor. For a source of computer software aimed exclusively at the educational community, one can best turn to the Journal of Chemical Education Software.On a subscription basis, one or more diskettes are released each year for both the IBM and Apple Macintosh platforms. (In general, a given software package is not released on... 

American Chemical Society primary journals, production, 131 Apple Macintosh advantages, 22 short learning curve, 22 software, 23 switcher utility, 23-24 Application interface definition, 132 example, 132,133f Attachment point, description, 71 Automated patent system, software development, I4l... 

A final example in this category is ChemDraw (Stewart Rubenstein, Somerville, MA), which probably uses connection tables but does not have substructure searching or interfacing with other software. ChemDraw appears in this book see Chapter 3) because it is probably the most user-friendly package on the market for entering chemical structures and producing high-quality output. Unfortunately, it is available for use only on Apple Macintosh computers. 

The software for traversing the Web is called a browser. The earliest of these were Mosaic and Netscape Navigator. Both were free and became widely used. Microsoft s Internet Explorer is a more recent entry. Browsers run on UNIX workstations, personal computers, and Apple Macintosh computers (it has been estimated that because Macs have enjoyed popularity among scientists, these machines have been the most used platform for authoring Web documents). 

It is commercial considerations that have led to the abundance of IBM PC based software for chemical structure handling and the limited number of packages for use on the Apple Macintosh. However, the user base for the Macintosh is increasing and this situation will change. 

The Macintosh can be hooked up to a high quality laserprinter (the Apple LaserWriter) via the AppleTalk network software, or when used as a terminal, it can direct output from systems such as MACCS or SYNLIB to a local laserprinter. (The Figures in this Chapter were done on the Macintosh and printed on the LaserWriter.) Another deciding factor in the choice of the Macintosh was the availability of quality software. 

Apple Computer Corporation s Macintosh personal computer is also gaining popularity in the chemical/pharmaceutical industry. However, the availability of software is not as great as for the IBM PC. 

Hardware environments are another challenge to compatibility, especially since the most obvious choice can be risky. When we developed STN Express it was obvious that this software should be compatible with the IBM PC. But since then, the Macintosh has become increasingly popular. There are fads and fashions in the computer market just as in other areas. Today, front-end software should work not only with the IBM and Apple PCs but also with the DEC, Commodore, and NEC, to name a few. Preferences vary over time and also by country. We have seen that the Commodore is rather popular in Germany and the NEC seems to dominate the Japanese market. Those brands are virtually unknown in the United States, while the IBM PC is relatively unfamiliar in Japan. STN Express currently works with MS-DOS the standard interface should also work with, at least, the UNIX and Macintosh operating systems. Perhaps more will be necessary in the future. 

As far as the transfer from the host to the Macintosh is concerned, the current Apple-Talk connection program together with the appropriate software allows the users to access the files written on the host in the same way they access the files written on the Macintosh s hard disk. All these features, combined together, make the Macintosh one of the best solutions for the chemical reporting needs of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. 

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