A problem in a molecular modeling session can be frustrating precisely because it interrupts the work you were trying to do: exploring a structure, preparing a workflow, or using a SAMSON feature. The first challenge is often not solving the problem—it is figuring out where to look. A question about an account, an error that appears while the platform is running, and a question about what a feature does may all feel like “I need help,” but they call for different routes.
The SAMSON Reference and help guide offers a simple way to choose. Instead of browsing the whole guide, identify what kind of answer you need: a quick answer, a practical fix, or detailed feature information.
First, classify the problem
Look for a quick answer when your question is a recurring one about accounts, installation, updates, or extensions. Start with the FAQ. This is a useful first stop when you have a specific question and want to see whether it has already been addressed.
Follow a troubleshooting path when you can describe what is going wrong by its symptoms—for example, you are trying to diagnose a runtime or platform problem. Go to Troubleshooting. A symptom-based route helps keep the search focused on resolving the issue, rather than reading unrelated feature descriptions.
Find a feature reference when you already know the part of SAMSON you are using and need its detailed reference information. Use References to locate the relevant reference family.
A quick decision tree
- “Is there a recurring answer to this question?” Start with the FAQ.
- “Something is not working as expected; how do I diagnose it?” Start with Troubleshooting.
- “I know which feature I need to understand.” Go to References.
If you are unsure, begin with the FAQ and move to troubleshooting if the issue is clearly symptom-based. You do not need to read every section in sequence. In particular, you can skip the broader reference collection when you only need a quick answer or fix; skip the FAQ when you already know you need to diagnose a problem; and skip troubleshooting when your goal is simply to consult a feature reference.
Keep the next step close to the task
Once the immediate question is handled, the right destination depends on what you plan to do next. For installation and first-use orientation, continue to Start here. For SAMSON Connect, permissions, groups, or shared documents and jobs, visit Share and collaborate. If you are looking for scripting, extensions, or developer-facing workflows, see Automate and extend.
The practical takeaway is simple: match the help resource to the question before spending time searching. FAQ for recurring questions, troubleshooting for symptoms, and references for detailed feature information. That small bit of triage can make it easier to get back to the molecular modeling task that brought you to SAMSON.
Learn more in the Reference and help guide.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.