# Error while reading file. Error, no molecule node found

**URL:** <https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [January 19, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391 "2021-01-19T18:03:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/gigi/32/751_2.png) [@gigi](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391/1 "2021-01-19T18:03:18Z")

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Hi all, I installed Avogadro2 on Ubuntu 20.04, after I have saved the molecules in .cml format and try to open them, Avogadro gives me the following error: "Error while reading file … cml:  
Error, no molecule node found ". How can I solve?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/ghutchis/32/456_2.png) [@ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/ghutchis)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391/2 "2021-01-23T21:21:10Z")

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Can you send me some of the files? If you try saving to a different format (e.g., CJSON) does it work?

It’s strange considering CML is supported with internal code…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gigi](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/gigi/32/751_2.png) [@gigi](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391/3 "2021-01-24T06:05:43Z")

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Hi ghutchis, I built the methane molecule, saved in cml format, then I tried to open the file with Avogadro but the error you see in the attachment appears.

 ![Schermata a 2021-01-24 06-58-27](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/uploads/default/original/1X/8a52b7df3aad125ed1d3384509a928e349df5f96.png)

On drive you will find the molecule file.

> **[ch4.cml](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ga58MlOXdnKP3_4Adoj4tesS0czZYjiG/view?usp=sharing)**
>
> Google Drive file.

Thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/user_avatar/discuss.avogadro.cc/ghutchis/32/456_2.png) [@ghutchis](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/u/ghutchis)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://discuss.avogadro.cc/t/error-while-reading-file-error-no-molecule-node-found/3391/4 "2021-01-24T15:14:16Z")

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Aha, I see. This is a CJSON with a CML extension. As a workaround, rename the extension and you should be good.

I’ll add some better error-checking in the “save file” code - if someone changes the extension to change the format.

```auto
{
  "atoms": {
    "coords": {
      "3d": [
        -1.60320246219635,
        0.8593167066574097,
        -3.969669819525734e-07,
        -0.8032059863735607,
        0.6109441697588549,
…

```