When a molecular modeling task stalls, the problem is not always the structure. Sometimes the challenge is finding the right tool—or realizing that a different interaction tool is currently active. SAMSON editors respond to user input, such as mouse and keyboard events, so knowing which editor is active can make the next step much clearer.
First, check what kind of task you are doing
An editor is an interactive tool for working in SAMSON. Depending on the task, it might generate a nanotube, deform molecular structures while preserving local rigidity, select objects with a rectangle, or transform a rigid body. These are different jobs, so it helps to identify the action you want before searching for a tool.
- Changing the view or selecting things? Start with the guidance on moving around, which covers view and selection editors.
- Changing the position or arrangement of objects? See moving objects for transform editors.
- Looking for another kind of interactive tool? Browse the editor menu or search using Find everything.
This small distinction can save time: a tool for navigating the viewport is not necessarily the tool for transforming a molecular object, even if both involve clicking and dragging.
Use the interface as a quick diagnostic
Editors are listed in the menu on the left side of the viewport. Once you have chosen one, look at the top-left corner of the viewport for quick access commands associated with the active editor. If you are unsure what an editor is called, use the Find everything search box at the top of SAMSON to look for it.
Most importantly, only one editor is active at a time. That means the same mouse or keyboard action can have a different purpose depending on the current editor. If an interaction does not behave as expected, pause before repeating it: check the active editor, then confirm that it matches the task. This is a useful first troubleshooting step before assuming that something is wrong with the molecular model.
Find the right editor without guessing
A practical routine is to name the action you want, search for a matching editor, and verify that it is active before interacting with the viewport. For example, if your goal is to generate a nanotube, look for a generator rather than trying to accomplish the task with a selection or transform editor. If you need a tool that is not available in your current setup, SAMSON provides editors by default, and additional editors can be added from SAMSON Connect.
Editors are one family of SAMSON Extensions, not a synonym for every extension. If you are exploring the platform, this is a helpful way to frame the search: first identify whether you need an interactive editor, then look for the editor that fits the operation.
For the full reference, see Editors in the SAMSON documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.