You add an extension through SAMSON Connect, open SAMSON, and… nothing seems to have changed. It’s a frustrating moment, especially when you’re trying to get back to a molecular modeling task. The good news is that an extension may be installed without appearing as a new app or editor. A few checks can help you work out what’s happening before you spend time reinstalling anything.
Start with these checks in order. They follow the usual path from the simplest explanation to information that can help diagnose a real installation issue.
1. Check that the extension supports your setup
Open the extension’s page on SAMSON Connect and look beneath its name for the supported operating systems and SAMSON versions. An extension may not be available for the operating system or version you’re currently using. If it isn’t listed as compatible with your setup, contact the extension team or SAMSON support rather than repeatedly trying to install it.
2. Restart SAMSON if it was already open
SAMSON checks for newly added extensions when it launches. If you added an extension while the application was running, close and restart SAMSON so it can download and install the extension. This is an easy step to miss: adding an extension on the website does not necessarily make it appear immediately in an already-open session.
3. Look for the extension’s actual feature
Not every extension adds a visible app or editor. Some extensions provide importers, exporters, visual or interaction models, render presets, commands, or other capabilities. So, if you don’t see a new tile under Home > Apps or a new editor in the editor menu, that alone doesn’t show that installation failed.
Use Find everything near the top of SAMSON to search for apps, editors, or commands. For other extension features, check the extension’s description and documentation to learn where they are accessed. The Extending SAMSON guide explains the different kinds of extensions.
4. Check the SAMSON Log for clues
If the compatibility check and restart haven’t helped, open Interface > Show log. Filter the log for the extension’s name and look for messages that indicate whether it was added or whether a problem occurred. Lines related to an extension that are colored red may point to an issue.
If you find an error, the log can give support a more useful starting point than “the extension isn’t showing up.” Use the log’s Submit button to send it, and include your user email and a short description of what you expected to happen. This gives the team context to investigate the specific extension and setup.
A quick recap
- Confirm the extension supports your operating system and SAMSON version.
- Restart SAMSON if it was open when you added the extension.
- Search for its feature, rather than assuming every extension creates an app or editor.
- Use the SAMSON Log to check for installation messages or errors.
These checks help separate a compatibility issue, a missed restart, and a feature that lives somewhere other than the Apps or Editors menus. For more answers about installation and extensions, see the SAMSON FAQ.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.