When you are focused on a molecular modeling task, a hidden panel or unfamiliar menu can interrupt your flow. You might know what you want to do—inspect a selected molecule, review an earlier action, or add a fragment—but not where that tool lives. A quick mental map of the SAMSON interface, plus a few keyboard shortcuts, can turn that interruption into a brief detour.
The key is to think of the workspace in terms of the job each area performs. The viewport is where you see the document in 3D. The Document view shows its structure, while the Inspector gives access to parameters for selected nodes such as atoms, residues, and molecules. History lists actions already performed. The Asset Browser provides access to libraries for adding atoms, fragments, and molecules. The Animator is for creating presentations and working with animation effects. The menu gathers commands, workspaces, and open documents; the status bar may display messages.
Use the task to find the panel
Instead of trying to memorize every part of the interface, start with the question you need to answer:
- What is in my document? Look in the Document view for a structural representation.
- What are the properties of this selection? Use the Inspector to access parameters for the selected nodes.
- What have I done so far? Check History for a list of performed actions.
- Where can I find building blocks? Open the Asset Browser to access asset libraries.
- Where do I work with a presentation? Open the Animator.
- Where are commands and apps? Start with the menu, or search with Find everything.
This simple matching habit is useful when following a tutorial, too. When an instruction names a panel, you can connect it to its purpose rather than treating the interface as a collection of unfamiliar windows.
Bring a panel back with a shortcut
If a panel is missing from view, the Interface menu can show or hide parts of the workspace. The documented shortcuts below offer a faster route. Use Ctrl on Windows and Cmd on 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
There are also shortcuts for SAMSON AI (0), the Periodic Table (5), Job Manager (6), Python console (8), and Code Editor (9). You do not need to learn all of them at once. Start with the panels you use most, then keep the full list in the SAMSON Interface reference for occasional lookups.
Make the workspace fit the task
Different tasks benefit from different arrangements. If you need to inspect a document while checking selected-node parameters, place the Document view and Inspector where both are easy to reach. SAMSON lets you rearrange the Document view, History view, and Inspector by dragging their title bars. Widgets can be docked together; move a widget by its title bar and release it where you want it. Some windows, including certain Apps, may also have a Pin icon to keep them on top.
You can switch workspaces to change how the menu is represented. You can also add frequently used commands, apps, and editors to favorites, so they appear in designated favorites sections. In Find everything, search for commands, apps, editors, and documentation; hover over an item and click its star to favorite it. Click the star again to remove it. Your interface customizations are saved and loaded the next time you open SAMSON.
A small setup that saves repeat effort
Before starting a new session, take a moment to open the panels that support your next task, arrange them so they are easy to reach, and favorite the commands or editors you use regularly. When something disappears, try the relevant shortcut before searching through menus. These small habits do not change the modeling work itself, but they can reduce the time spent navigating and help you return your attention to the structure.
For the complete first-look guide and links to the next steps, see First look: the interface.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.