When a molecular modeling task calls for a tool you do not use every day, the first challenge is often not the science—it is figuring out which extension is available, whether it works with your SAMSON version, and how to add or remove it without losing track of your setup. A little structure can make that process easier.
SAMSON Connect’s Marketplace is the place to review SAMSON Extensions, which are modules that add functionality to SAMSON. Before choosing one, open its page and check its description, supported operating systems, extension versions, and the SAMSON versions it supports. This quick compatibility check can help avoid selecting an extension that does not match your installation.
Know what the availability label means
Extensions may be included with your current plan, freely available to add, or offered through a subscription. Those options lead to different next steps, so check the extension’s page before assuming that every extension is added in the same way.
For a freely available extension, sign in to SAMSON Connect and select Add. The extension will be marked as added. After you restart SAMSON, it downloads and installs automatically. In other words, clicking Add on the website is not necessarily the final step: plan for a restart before you expect the extension to be available in your SAMSON installation.
For an extension offered by subscription, you can request a trial or subscribe. The documented trial request does not require credit card information. If you choose a subscription, the available options can include monthly or yearly plans; an academic plan is available if you have academic status. Check the extension page for the options that apply to that extension.
Keep your installed extensions manageable
If an extension is no longer useful for your current work, you can remove a free extension through its Marketplace page. Sign in, open the extension, and hover over the Added button; it changes to Remove. Select it to remove the extension from your SAMSON installation. The removal takes effect after SAMSON is restarted.
Removing an extension does not erase its Marketplace listing from your account: the documentation notes that it remains visible under Account > Settings > View my extensions, making it easier to add again later. This can be helpful if you prefer to keep your active setup focused while retaining a record of extensions you have used.
Subscriptions are managed separately. Go to Account > Settings and choose View my subscriptions to reach the My Subscriptions page. The documentation states that, once SAMSON is restarted, a removed extension will be removed from the SAMSON installation. If you are changing a subscription, review its status on that page and restart SAMSON when needed.
A quick checklist before you start
- Check compatibility: Review the extension’s supported operating systems and SAMSON versions.
- Check availability: Confirm whether it is included in your plan, free to add, or subscription-based.
- Allow for a restart: Added extensions download and install when SAMSON restarts; removals also take effect after a restart.
- Use the right account page: Manage free additions from the Marketplace or your extensions list; manage subscriptions from Account > Settings > View my subscriptions.
This simple workflow helps keep extension choices aligned with your operating system, SAMSON version, and current needs—without treating every extension as a permanent installation. For the full overview of SAMSON Connect, visit the SAMSON Connect documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.