When modeling complex molecular systems, getting started with a new software platform can be a challenge. You open the application, browse through menus, and might find yourself wondering: Where do I even begin? If you’ve recently installed SAMSON, the integrative platform for molecular design, you’re in luck—there’s a built-in solution to help you move from hesitation to exploration.
SAMSON includes interactive tutorials directly inside the platform, designed to guide users through different workflows and tasks. Whether you’re new to molecular modeling or just getting started with SAMSON, these tutorials can accelerate your learning by removing the friction that typically comes with exploring unfamiliar software.
Learn by Doing, Right Inside SAMSON
Interactive tutorials in SAMSON aren’t just written instructions. They’re embedded guides that highlight steps and features as you use the software. This real-time feedback allows you to learn by doing, rather than switching between static documentation and the application window.
To start a tutorial:
- Open SAMSON.
- Navigate to Help > Tutorials in the top menu.
- Choose a tutorial topic that aligns with your current goal.
- Click Start tutorial.
Once started, the tutorial guides you step-by-step using tip windows that appear inside the interface. These tips will point out buttons to click, features to try, and mechanisms to explore, helping you build a mental model of how SAMSON works.
Exit and Restart with Ease
You’re not locked into a tutorial once it starts. If you want to pause or exit a session, just click the close button on the tutorial tip window (located in the top right corner of the Viewport). Don’t worry about losing progress—you can always restart the same tutorial later from Help > Tutorials.
Tip: Going Further with Extensions
Once you’ve gotten comfortable with the basics, you might want to explore advanced functionality through SAMSON Extensions. These add-ons expand the software’s capabilities and also come with their own dedicated tutorials. To access them, visit the SAMSON Extensions Tutorials section.
Why This Matters
For molecular modelers, time is often spent toggling between research questions and tool limitations. Learning new tools can slow progress. By integrating interactive tutorials into the software itself, SAMSON reduces downtime and helps users build real experience inside the environment where their work happens. This lowers the entry barrier for beginners while providing a faster path to productive workflows for experienced users.
Learn more about SAMSON’s interactive tutorials at the full documentation page: Interactive tutorials in SAMSON.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.