When you are modeling a molecule, the interface should help you focus on the structure—not make you hunt for the right panel. But it is easy to lose track of where a command lives, where selected-node properties appear, or how to bring back a panel you closed. A useful first step is to think of the SAMSON workspace as a set of areas with distinct jobs. Once you know that map, you can move between tasks with fewer interruptions.
Start with the job each area does
The central viewport is where you see the document in three dimensions. The Document view presents its structure, while the Inspector gives access to parameters for selected nodes such as atoms, residues, and molecules. The History lists actions you have performed. These areas answer different questions: What does the system look like? How is it organized? What is selected, and what are its properties? What actions have taken place?
The other areas support particular parts of a workflow. The Asset Browser provides access to libraries of atoms, fragments, and molecules that can be added when constructing systems. The Animator is for creating presentations and working with animation effects. The menu provides access to commands, workspaces, and open documents, and the status bar may display messages.
This division is useful when following instructions or troubleshooting your own workflow. If you need to inspect a selected molecule, look to the Inspector; if you need to understand the document’s organization, look to the Document view. The panels are not interchangeable, and recognizing their roles can make it much easier to know where to look next.
Bring a panel back without searching menus
When a panel is hidden, the Interface menu is one way to show it again. You can also use keyboard shortcuts. On Windows, the shortcuts use Ctrl; on macOS, use Cmd. For example, the Document view is Ctrl+1 or Cmd+1, the Inspector is Ctrl+2 or Cmd+2, and History is Ctrl+3 or Cmd+3.
| Area | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Document view | Ctrl+1 | Cmd+1 |
| Inspector | Ctrl+2 | Cmd+2 |
| History | Ctrl+3 | Cmd+3 |
| Asset Browser | Ctrl+4 | Cmd+4 |
| Animator | Ctrl+7 | Cmd+7 |
A small practical habit: keep the shortcuts for the panels you use most nearby until they become familiar. You do not need to memorize every panel at once. The full interface reference lists additional shortcuts, including the Asset Browser, Periodic Table, Job Manager, Python console, Code Editor, and SAMSON AI.
Make the workspace fit the task
The interface is customizable. You can rearrange the Document view, History, and Inspector by dragging their title bars, and dock or undock widgets to place them where they are useful. If a window covers something you need, move it; if a panel is not relevant to the current task, hide it using the Interface menu or its shortcut. Your interface customization is saved and loaded the next time you open SAMSON, so a layout that suits your work can remain in place.
Workspaces also change how the menu is represented. And because SAMSON’s interface is assembled from installed SAMSON Extensions, the available functionality in the menu depends on the extensions installed. If you cannot immediately spot a command, app, or editor, try the Find everything search box at the top of the menu rather than browsing through categories.
You can also mark commands, apps, and editors as favorites using the star shown when hovering over them in Find everything. Favorites appear in dedicated sections at the top of the ribbon menu and in the Editors viewport menu. This is especially handy for tools you return to often: instead of remembering where each one sits in the menu, you can create a short list of familiar starting points.
A quick orientation routine
- Locate the viewport and identify the panels you need for the current task.
- If a panel is missing, use its shortcut or the Interface menu.
- Rearrange panels by dragging their title bars if the current layout gets in your way.
- Use Find everything for commands, apps, and editors you cannot locate quickly.
- Star frequently used tools so they are easier to reach next time.
This simple routine can turn an unfamiliar workspace into a more predictable one. For camera control and viewport navigation, continue with Moving around. For the complete panel-by-panel reference, see SAMSON Interface. To revisit this orientation guide, learn more in the original documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at samson-connect.net.