Understanding Label Attributes in SAMSON’s Node Specification Language

Molecular modelers often strive to optimize their workflows when tackling complex molecular design tasks. Modeling software like SAMSON provides powerful tools, but understanding specific functionalities—such as navigating the Label Attribute space within the Node Specification Language (NSL)—can significantly improve your efficiency. This blog post introduces the Label Attribute space, explains its practical utility, and shows how to make the most of its features in SAMSON.

What Are Label Attributes?

The Label Attribute space (label, short name: la) in SAMSON’s Node Specification Language is specifically designed to match and work with label nodes within a molecular model. These attributes allow you to query and manipulate properties of label nodes in a systematic way. Whether you’re a novice or an advanced molecular modeler, understanding these attributes helps save time and ensures precision in crafting your molecular designs.

Key Label Attributes at a Glance

What makes label attributes so useful is the clear structure provided in SAMSON’s documentation. Below are some of the key attributes, along with their short names and possible values:

Attribute Name	Short Name	Possible Values	Example Expressions
hidden	`h`	`true`, `false`	`la.h` `not la.h`
name	`n`	Strings within quotes	`la.n "A"` `la.n "L*"`
selected	(no short name)	`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 Boost Your Workflow

Let’s dive into a couple of practical examples of using label attributes:

Toggling label visibility: If you want to query all visible labels, use la.v. Conversely, to filter hidden labels, use not la.v. This is particularly helpful when reviewing only the subset of labels that require attention.
Using selection flags: Query whether labels are selected with the la.selected attribute. Combine it with selectionFlag (la.sf) for additional control over selected label nodes and their properties.
Identifying labels by name: By using the name attribute, you can match specific label names or patterns. For example, la.n "A" targets labels named “A” while la.n "L*" matches labels with names starting with “L”.

Why It Matters for Molecular Modelers

Label attributes make it possible to handle nodes intuitively and efficiently within molecular models. Whether you’re creating, filtering, or analyzing labels, the structured approach provided by NSL eliminates repetitive tasks and reduces error-prone workflows.

To make the most of the Label Attribute space, explore further details in SAMSON’s label documentation here.

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