A molecular modeling task can feel harder when you are still learning where the relevant controls live. Reading instructions helps, but it can be difficult to translate a description into actions in the application. Interactive tutorials address this gap by guiding you through a task directly inside SAMSON.
Their value is not simply that they show you where to click. A guided task gives you a chance to connect the interface to a concrete workflow, then try that workflow again on your own. That can be a more useful way to learn than exploring menus without a specific goal.
Choose a tutorial when you have a task in mind
Interactive tutorials are optional, so you do not need to complete them all before working with molecules. They are most useful when you want guided practice with a particular workflow. If you are still unfamiliar with the main areas of the interface, start with First look: the interface. A little familiarity with the workspace can make it easier to focus on the task the tutorial is demonstrating.
You can also use tutorials after learning how to move around SAMSON and load molecules. That sequence gives you a practical foundation: first get oriented, then work with a structure, and then use a tutorial to practice a workflow. If no tutorial matches what you need today, skip it and return when one becomes relevant.
Turn a guided session into something you can repeat
Start by opening Help > Tutorials, selecting a tutorial, and clicking Start tutorial. As you follow along, try to notice the purpose of each action, not only its location. Ask yourself what part of the workflow is being demonstrated and what you would need to remember to do it again.
When the tutorial is complete, use a simple check: can you repeat the demonstrated workflow without the tutorial window? If not, that is useful information, not a reason to start over immediately. Identify the step you are unsure about, then either restart the tutorial from the beginning or consult the relevant guide page. The goal is to leave with a workflow you can perform again, or at least know where to find the instructions when you need them.
This approach also helps you avoid treating tutorials as a checklist. A tutorial is useful when it connects to work you actually want to do. You can complete one, return to your project, and come back to another later when a different task calls for it.
Pause or restart without losing your place in the learning process
If you need to stop, close the tutorial tip window in the top-right corner of the Viewport. When you want to try again, return to Help > Tutorials and restart the tutorial from scratch. Knowing how to stop and restart makes it easier to explore at your own pace rather than feeling that you must finish in one sitting.
There is a distinction worth keeping in mind: the built-in interactive tutorials guide you inside SAMSON, while tutorials for SAMSON Extensions are available on the separate SAMSON Extensions Tutorials site. For questions, commands, selections, or scripts, you can also explore SAMSON AI.
For a broader onboarding route, see Start here. To learn more about launching, stopping, and restarting built-in tutorials, visit the interactive tutorials documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.