For molecular modelers, diving into a new platform can feel overwhelming. Understanding where to find the right tools in a complex interface and how to bring theoretical workflows to life is a common challenge. SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, has an effective and user-friendly solution: Interactive Tutorials.
Interactive tutorials in SAMSON are designed to seamlessly guide you through specific tasks, directly inside the application. Whether you’re learning to manipulate molecular structures, analyze properties, or run simulations, these tutorials provide step-by-step assistance.
Why Use Interactive Tutorials?
Molecular design can be highly technical, and even the most experienced users encounter roadblocks when applying workflows to real-life problems. These tutorials are particularly useful when you want to practice a concrete workflow, rather than simply reading about it in static documentation. They support hands-on learning by embedding instructions and tips within the platform itself.
Think of them as a real-time guide that not only shows you what to do but helps you execute it in your active project. New users can use these tutorials right after exploring the basics of SAMSON’s interface, while advanced users can return anytime they want to revisit or refine specific workflows.
How to Start an Interactive Tutorial
Getting started with SAMSON’s interactive tutorials is straightforward:
- Navigate to Help > Tutorials in the main menu.
- Browse the available tutorials and select the one that matches your interest or workflow requirements.
- Click Start tutorial, and SAMSON will begin guiding you directly within the application.
Stopping or Restarting Tutorials
If you need to pause or end a tutorial, simply close the tutorial tip window in the top-right corner of the Viewport. You can return to Help > Tutorials anytime to restart the same tutorial or explore new ones that align with your evolving modeling goals.
Use Cases and Benefits
These tutorials shine in several scenarios:
- Onboarding new users: Beginners can learn the platform’s workflows while actively engaging with its powerful tools.
- Mastering specific tasks: Focused tutorials help you grasp complicated or unfamiliar workflows required for your projects.
- Saving time and effort: Tutorials eliminate confusion and guesswork, allowing you to focus on your molecular modeling.
For best results, try using interactive tutorials after exploring SAMSON’s interface through the First Look guide. You’ll be better equipped to understand how the interface areas relate to the tasks covered in tutorials.
Next Steps
Looking to practice right away? Once you complete a tutorial, you’ll gain the confidence to repeat workflows independently.
You can continue exploring SAMSON by moving on to topics like Loading Molecules, which lets you experiment with your own structures, or learning about the role of SAMSON AI as an intelligent assistant for commands, questions, or even scripting tasks.
Learn more about interactive tutorials and how they can accelerate your workflow by visiting the original documentation page: SAMSON Interactive Tutorials.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.