When a molecular modeling task stalls, the problem is not always the structure. Sometimes the active tool is simply not the one you need. You may be trying to select atoms while a transform tool is active, or looking for a way to create a structure among controls intended for viewport interaction. Knowing how SAMSON editors are organized can make these small interruptions easier to resolve.
Think of an editor as the tool for your next interaction
In SAMSON, editors respond to user interactions such as mouse and keyboard events. Depending on the task, an editor might generate a nanotube, deform a molecular structure while preserving local rigidity, select a region, or transform an object as a rigid body. In other words, the editor determines how your interactions are interpreted.
This is useful to keep in mind when an action produces an unexpected result. Before changing the model or repeating the gesture, check which editor is active. SAMSON has one active editor at a time, so switching editors changes the tool that responds to your next interaction.
A quick way to get oriented
- Identify the task. Are you navigating the view, selecting something, transforming objects, or creating or modifying a structure? Naming the immediate task helps narrow down which editor family to look for.
- Check the editor menu. Editors are available in the menu on the left side of the viewport. Select the editor that matches the interaction you want to perform.
- Look for active-editor commands. Quick access commands for the active editor appear in the top-left corner of the viewport. If you are unsure what options are available, this is a useful place to check.
- Search when you do not know where a tool lives. Use the Find everything search box at the top of SAMSON to find editors without browsing the menu item by item.
Once you have switched to the appropriate editor, try the intended interaction again. This simple check can save time when a gesture seems not to work as expected: the editor may be interpreting it for a different purpose.
Separate navigation from modeling operations
Not every editor-related question belongs on the same reference page. If your challenge is moving around the viewport, the Moving around guide covers view and selection editors. If you want to translate, rotate, align, or distribute objects, see Moving objects. Keeping these categories in mind can make it easier to find instructions that match the job at hand.
When the editor you need is not available
SAMSON includes editors by default, and additional editors can be added from SAMSON Connect. Editors are part of the broader SAMSON Extensions ecosystem, so the extension overview is a useful next stop when you want to understand how to install or develop extensions. If you are considering building an editor of your own, the documentation also points to resources for generating SAMSON Extensions.
A practical habit is to pause briefly before a new operation: identify the task, verify the active editor, and then interact with the model. It is a small step, but it helps distinguish a modeling problem from a tool-selection problem—and makes it easier to return to the work you intended to do.
For the editor reference and related guidance, visit the SAMSON Editors documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.