split a multiple-structure file in multiple single-structure file

Dear colleagues

Usually, calculation softwares demand chemical structures be uploaded  
in individual files (one molecule per file). I´d like to know if  
OpenBabel can export this way from a file containing all structures.

Thanks in advance for your kind help,

Oscar


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Hi Oscar,

> Usually, calculation softwares demand chemical structures be uploaded  
> in individual files (one molecule per file). I´d like to know if  
> OpenBabel can export this way from a file containing all structures.

If you type "babel -H" (help), you'll find this:

-m Produces multiple output files, to allow:
   Splitting: e.g.        babel infile.mol new.smi -m
     puts each molecule into new1.smi new2.smi etc

Alternatively, if you are using SDF files, and you have access to Perl on a command line, I can send you a fairly simple Perl program that will split an SDF file into individual records.  It has the advantage that it doesn't alter the SDF records at all.

Craig

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> OpenBabel can export this way from a file containing all structures.

Yes, usually. I could give you an example if you told me a bit more  
about the specifics of the formats involved. But let's take this for  
an example:

babel file.sdf -xk "#n B3LYP/6-31G* Opt" -ocom -m

That should split the SDF file into multiple Gaussian input files. You  
can also do something like this in UNIX:

for x in `seq 10 20`; do babel -f $x -l $x file.sdf -xk "#n B3LYP/
6-31G* Opt" file-$x.com

This will split out the molecules from 10-20 into separate files: file-10.com
  ... etc.

Hope that helps,
-Geoff

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