Understanding Label Attributes in SAMSON: A Guide for Molecular Modelers

For molecular modelers navigating SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, efficient management and analysis of nodes in complex molecular structures can be a critical challenge. One powerful yet often overlooked feature that directly addresses this challenge is the use of label attributes within SAMSON’s Node Specification Language (NSL). If you’ve ever wondered how to customize or filter label nodes based on specific criteria, this guide is for you.

What Are Label Attributes?

Label attributes in NSL provide a way to manage label nodes by assigning them specific properties. These attributes allow you to filter, conceal, or visually customize labels, making it easier to focus on particular aspects of your molecular model while filtering out unnecessary complexity. The label attribute space, with the short name la, is specifically designed to match only label nodes.

Here’s an example: Let’s say you’re working on a model with thousands of labels. By using attributes like hidden or visible, you can quickly show or hide specific labels, thus tailoring your view to your immediate needs.

Core Attributes and Their Use Cases

Let’s explore the key label attributes available, along with their short names and usage examples:

Attribute Name	Short Name	Possible Values	Example Usage
hidden	`h`	`true`, `false`	`la.h` `not la.h`
name	`n`	strings in quotes	`la.n "A"` `la.n "L*"`
selected	—	`true`, `false`	`la.selected` `not la.selected`
selectionFlag	`sf`	`true`, `false`	`la.sf false` `la.sf`
visibilityFlag	`vf`	`true`, `false`	`la.vf false` `la.vf`
visible	`v`	`true`, `false`	`la.v` `not la.v`

Examples to Get You Started

Here are a couple of practical examples to demonstrate how these attributes might be used:

Show only labels with a specific name: Use la.n "L*" to filter labels whose names start with the letter “L.”
Hide all non-selected labels: Combine not la.selected with la.h true to ensure that only selected labels remain visible in your workspace.

Streamline Your Workflows

Label attributes are especially useful when working with large molecular datasets. By employing these tools effectively, you can enhance the clarity of your visual model, optimize your analysis, and save time. Whether it’s toggling visibility flags or isolating specific label types based on their attributes, the NSL provides a way to tailor your workflow to your specific modeling goals.

To dive deeper into label attributes and related concepts, you can refer to the full documentation page here.

SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.