Measuring and labeling molecular properties such as distances, angles, and dihedrals is a crucial task in molecular modeling. However, the process can sometimes become cumbersome, especially when you need to track multiple measurements or share insights with colleagues. SAMSON offers an elegant solution to this challenge with its Measure Editor and labeling features.
The Measure Editor in SAMSON lets you measure key molecular properties with just a few clicks. Whether you’re inspecting the bond length between atoms, the angle formed by three atoms, or the torsion between four atoms, the Measure Editor makes it intuitive and efficient. Simply select the atoms or bonds you’re interested in and the corresponding measurement is displayed immediately.
Now, here’s where labeling comes into play. By pressing the Enter key after a measurement, you can save it as a label in the molecular document. Labels are more than just static text—they remain visible regardless of the zoom level, and they can be customized to suit your needs. If you decide not to save a measurement as a label, it will act as a temporary overlay that disappears after your next measurement. This feature helps keep your workspace uncluttered without losing crucial information when you need it.
Labels in SAMSON are more than just placeholders for measurements. They unlock comprehensive data exploration through the Inspector. When a label saved in the document is selected, the Inspector reveals not only the basic distance, angle, or torsion but also additional projections on planes for atom distances. This advanced level of detail can be critical when working on precise molecular structures.
Moreover, SAMSON allows you to customize every aspect of your labels. You can change the color of distance lines, angle planes, label text, and even adjust fonts to fit your presentation needs or personal preferences. Double-clicking on label colors in the Inspector resets them, while a dedicated clear button restores default text colors. These features ensure your visual outputs remain as informative—and visually clear—as possible.
When saving documents, SAMSON retains labels in its supported file formats (.sam or .samx). This not only ensures you can resume work later without losing track of your measurements but also facilitates sharing them with team members for collaboration or educational purposes.
Finally, SAMSON adds flexibility in global settings. Through the Preferences menu, you can set default fonts and control the number of decimal places for measurements. This is particularly useful when working on projects that require greater numerical precision or adhere to consistent formatting.
Labels aren’t just for geometry measurements—they’re versatile. Formal and partial charges for atoms can also be labeled using SAMSON, making it easy to annotate and highlight important molecular properties directly on your models.
In summary, SAMSON’s labeling system streamlines molecular modeling by making it easier to measure, save, and manage data. To learn more about the range of features available for molecular measurements in SAMSON, visit the official documentation page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.