When you are working on a molecular model, a small question can interrupt a much larger task: Which node type am I looking at? Where are the camera settings? Which formats can I import? The challenge is often not finding information somewhere in the documentation, but knowing which reference page is the right one.
SAMSON’s References hub is designed for that moment. It is most useful when you already know the feature family you need and want a focused lookup, rather than a broad introduction or a step-by-step workflow.
Start with the kind of question you have
A quick way to navigate the hub is to describe your question in plain language, then match it to a reference family:
- “What kind of item is this in my document?” Start with Node types to identify the main categories, or Documents for information about documents, folders, files, notes, and paths.
- “How do I select or filter structures more precisely?” Visit Node Specification Language for NSL expressions used in advanced selections and filters.
- “Where is a setting or interface control?” Use SAMSON Interface for menus, panels, workspaces, and shortcuts, or Preferences for user-modifiable settings.
- “Can I bring in or save this file type?” Check Supported formats for import and export formats. For the extension families involved, see Importers and Exporters.
- “Which visual or presentation option should I look up?” The hub links to Visual presets, Default color palettes, and Animations.
Choose a reference, not a workflow
References answer focused questions about a feature family. If you are still deciding what to do, a reference page may be too narrow a starting point. The hub recommends Reference and help when you need to choose among FAQs, troubleshooting, and references. If you first need to orient yourself in the interface, begin with First look: the interface.
This distinction can save time: use an introductory or help page to work out your next step, then use a reference page to check the specific details. For example, once you know that your question concerns a model, the Models reference covers structural, visual, interaction, dynamical, and property models. If the question is instead about sequence-based views, go directly to Sequence view.
Keep the hub as your routing page
You do not need to memorize every destination. Treat the hub as a map: identify the object, setting, format, or extension family involved, then follow the corresponding link. Other entries cover Camera, Path Analyzer, and Versioning. The extension overview also links to Apps and Editors, alongside importers and exporters.
The practical habit is simple: when a question interrupts your modeling, identify its category before searching broadly. A precise category usually leads to a more useful lookup—and gets you back to the work at hand.
Explore the SAMSON References hub to learn more.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.