In molecular modeling, a small interaction can interrupt a larger task: you want to select a region, reposition a structure, or create a nanotube, but the viewport responds in a way you did not expect. Often, the issue is not the model. It is that the current editor is designed for a different kind of interaction.
SAMSON editors are tools that respond to events such as mouse and keyboard input. They can perform very different jobs: one might generate a nanotube, another deform a molecular structure while preserving local rigidity, and others select or transform objects. Knowing which editor is active—and what kind of job it is meant to do—can make the interface easier to navigate.
First, check which editor is active
Only one editor is active at a time. That means the same mouse or keyboard action can have different results depending on which editor is selected. Before assuming a command or interaction is not working, take a moment to check the active editor. If the response does not match your intention, switching to a more suitable editor may be all that is needed.
The editor menu is on the left side of the viewport. Quick-access commands for the active editor appear above it, in the viewport’s top-left corner. These locations offer a useful orientation point: the menu helps you find editors, while the quick-access area relates to the one currently in use.
Match the editor to the task
A practical way to choose is to name the action you want to perform before interacting with the model:
- Finding or selecting something: look for a selection editor. The documentation points to the Moving around reference for view and selection editors.
- Changing an object’s position or orientation: look for a transform or move editor. The Moving objects reference covers transforms, alignment, and distribution.
- Creating or modifying a structure: choose an editor suited to that operation, such as a nanotube generator or a tool for deforming structures while preserving local rigidity.
This distinction is useful because viewport navigation, selecting objects, and transforming them are different tasks. A tool intended for one should not be expected to behave like another. If you are unsure where to begin, describe the intended outcome—navigate, select, transform, or create—and use that to narrow down the editor.
Find an editor without searching menus by memory
SAMSON provides editors by default, and additional editors can be added from SAMSON Connect. If you do not remember where an editor is listed, use the Find everything search box at the top of SAMSON. This gives you another way to locate tools without relying on a remembered menu position.
A simple troubleshooting routine is therefore: identify the task, check the active editor, and search for a more appropriate one if the current interaction does not fit. This can save time when moving between modeling steps, especially when a workflow changes from selecting to transforming or from inspecting to generating.
Editors are also distinct from the broader family of SAMSON Extensions. The Extending SAMSON page explains installing or developing extensions, while the extension generator documentation is a starting point for developing your own editors.
For a reference to editor locations and their role in SAMSON, see the Editors documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.