When you are focused on a molecular modeling task, the last thing you want is to lose time searching for a command or panel. SAMSON’s interface has menus, editors, document tools, and specialized windows—and some parts change with the selected workspace. A simple way to work more smoothly is to learn a few dependable routes: search for commands, use the viewport’s editor menu, and open the panels that help you inspect and organize your document.
Start with search when you know what you want to do. The Find everything box in the top-right corner searches command, app, and editor names, tooltips, and shortcuts. Instead of guessing which menu contains an action, type a descriptive term and use the results to locate it. This is especially handy when you are learning the interface or have installed additional editors or apps.
Use the viewport as your working hub
The viewport is where SAMSON displays the visual representation of molecules. Its surrounding menus provide quick access to view and rendering commands, selection controls, favorite apps, and editors. The editor menu on the left is particularly useful during hands-on work: it gives access to common tools such as View, Point selection, Rectangle selection, Add, Bonds, and movement editors.
Some editor shortcuts are easy to remember because they use a single letter: V for View, P for Point selection, R for Rectangle selection, and A for Add. Other examples include B for Bonds and E for Erase. The menu also lists the shortcuts, so you can check them there rather than relying on memory. The available editor list includes installed editors, while the favorite section gives you a faster route to the ones you use often.
Keep the document structure and the 3D view in sync
The viewport shows the molecule visually; the Document view shows the active document as a hierarchical data graph. Use the Document view when you need to locate nodes in the document, change their visibility, select them, filter them by name or with Node Specification Language, or reorganize them by dragging and dropping.
A practical workflow is to find or select a node in the Document view, then examine its visual representation in the viewport. If the hierarchy is crowded, use Filter nodes… to narrow the displayed nodes. Context menus and context toolbars offer actions for the nodes you are working with. This can be more precise than trying to select a small or overlapping item directly in the 3D view.
Open the Document view from Interface > Document view, or use Ctrl+1 on Windows and Linux or Cmd+1 on Mac. The Inspector is another useful companion: it lets you view and edit properties of selected nodes. Its key detail is that it inspects and edits all selected nodes, so check your selection before changing a property. Open it with Ctrl+2 on Windows and Linux or Cmd+2 on Mac.
Make panel shortcuts part of your routine
Several commonly used panels have direct shortcuts. The History panel is available with Ctrl+3 or Cmd+3; the Asset Browser with Ctrl+4 or Cmd+4; and the Periodic table with Ctrl+5 or Cmd+5. The Job manager uses Ctrl+6 or Cmd+6, while the Animator, Python Console, and Code editor use the corresponding number keys 7, 8, and 9 with Ctrl or Cmd.
These shortcuts are useful when a panel is temporarily out of sight or you want to switch tools without navigating menus. You can also show or hide these windows from Interface. If a shortcut does not match your operating system, use the Interface menu as the reliable alternative.
Switch documents deliberately
SAMSON can have several documents open, but only one is active at a time. The active document is the one shown in the Document view. Switching documents is useful when working on separate molecules or copying structures between documents. Use the Documents list, choose Home > Documents, or cycle with Ctrl/Cmd+Tab. The document list also shows how many documents are open.
One final navigation tip: the ribbon menu can vary with the selected workspace, and may differ slightly across Windows, Linux, and Mac. If a command is not where you expect, try Find everything or check the current workspace before assuming the tool is unavailable.
For the full interface reference, see the SAMSON Interface documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.