Athanor by arbastro
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How to draw repeating units

Select the structure and choose Object › Compress repeating units. A run of identical units is drawn once in brackets with its count, such as 10. Object › Expand repeating units draws it out again.

Steps

  1. Draw or insert the structure, for example dodecane.

    Dodecane drawn out as a zigzag chain of twelve carbons.Dodecane drawn out as a zigzag chain of twelve carbons.

  2. Select it and choose Main menu › Object › Compress repeating units.

  3. The run of identical units is drawn once, in brackets, with the count under the closing bracket.

    Dodecane compressed: one CH2 in brackets with the count 10 between the two end carbons.Dodecane compressed: one CH2 in brackets with the count 10 between the two end carbons.

  4. To draw it out again, choose Main menu › Object › Expand repeating units.

The structure is the same molecule either way, still C12H26 in Layers.

Figures, diagrams and documentsHow to draw brackets and framesPress S for the Brackets tool, pick bracket, parentheses, box, frame or ellipse above the tools, and drag around what it should enclose.Atoms, bonds and ringsHow to use abbreviations like OMe, Boc and PhPoint at an atom, press Enter and type a label such as OMe or Ph. Object › Expand labels draws a label out as its atoms; Object › Contract to label turns selected atoms back into a label; Define abbreviation… names a group as your own label.

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Last updated Nov 12, 2026