Molecular modeling can pose challenges, especially for those who are new to the intricacies of molecular design platforms. Whether you are analyzing molecular structures or exploring workflows, figuring out how to get started efficiently is often a major hurdle. This is where SAMSON’s Interactive Tutorials can make a big difference—they offer guided, in-application steps to help you complete specific tasks.
With SAMSON, you won’t be left to fumble through documentation for every action. Instead, the platform’s interactive tutorials take you through workflows directly inside the application. This hands-on approach is especially useful if you want to practice rather than passively reading instructions.
Why Use Interactive Tutorials?
Interactive tutorials are most helpful when you already have basic familiarity with SAMSON’s interface. For instance, after you’ve explored the interface landmarks through First Look: The Interface, these tutorials help solidify your learning by focusing on practical workflows. You follow along as SAMSON leads you through each step—a process that’s much more engaging and productive than static guides.
Think of interactive tutorials as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between concept and execution. You’ll gain confidence in tackling modeling tasks independently and know which resources to consult for additional help.
How to Start a Tutorial
Getting started with a tutorial inside SAMSON is straightforward:
- Open the application and navigate to Help > Tutorials.
- Browse the list of available tutorials and select one that matches the workflow you want to learn.
- Click Start Tutorial to kick off the interactive session.
From here, the tutorial takes you step by step through a task, with helpful tip windows guiding your progress. It’s a practical way to learn workflows like molecule loading, analysis, or interface navigation.
Pausing, Stopping, or Restarting a Tutorial
You can exit a tutorial anytime by closing the tutorial tip window located at the top-right corner of the Viewport. If you need to revisit the workflow later, simply return to Help > Tutorials and restart the tutorial from scratch. This flexibility ensures that you can always learn at your own pace without pressure to complete everything in one sitting.
When Should You Use Them?
These tutorials are entirely optional, so there’s no “right” or “wrong” time to use them. Ideally, start with tutorials after familiarizing yourself with basic navigation (e.g., Moving Around) or loading molecular structures (e.g., Loading Molecules). If a specific tutorial aligns with a workflow you’re working on, even better—it allows you to practice immediately on something useful for your project.
Once you complete a tutorial, you’ll likely have the confidence to repeat the demonstrated workflow without needing guidance. Even if you forget some steps, you’ll know where to find help for the same task.
Next Steps
If you’d like to dive deeper after completing a tutorial, SAMSON offers a clear path forward:
- If you want to experiment with your own structures, explore Loading Molecules.
- If you’d prefer AI-driven assistance for queries, selections, and scripts, check out SAMSON AI.
In summary, SAMSON’s interactive tutorials are a valuable tool for anyone in molecular modeling looking to “learn by doing.” For a more detailed guide, visit the documentation: Interactive Tutorials Documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON and start exploring molecular modeling today at https://www.samson-connect.net.