If you’ve ever found yourself trying to move atoms and simultaneously apply a rigid-body transformation, only to realize SAMSON won’t let you do both at once—you’ve already bumped into a crucial design feature: in SAMSON, only one editor can be active at a time.
This might feel limiting at first, especially if you’re used to multitasking in molecular modeling. But there’s a reason for this, and knowing how editors work can make your experience more predictable and efficient when using the platform.
What Exactly Is an Editor?
Editors in SAMSON are interactive tools designed to handle specific types of user interactions—typically involving mouse and keyboard input. Think of them like “modes”:
- The rectangle selection tool
- A nanotube generator that builds nanotubes in a few clicks
- A deformation tool that preserves local rigidity
- A tool to apply rigid-body transformations
Since these editors are listening for your inputs—where you’re clicking, dragging, selecting—they need to avoid conflicting with each other. This is why SAMSON only allows one active editor at a time.
Accessing and Switching Editors
To access editors, open the left-side menu in the viewport. You’ll find a list of available editors, and selecting one will instantly make it active. To make it even smoother, SAMSON provides a short command bar in the upper left of the viewport. This shows commands specific to the currently active editor, giving you fast access without needing to dive back into menus.
Need to search? Use the Find everything search bar at the top of the interface. Simply type in the kind of editor or function you’re looking for—say, “transform” or “nanotube”—and SAMSON will quickly point you in the right direction.
Adding New Editors
By default, SAMSON comes with a foundational set of editors. However, depending on your modeling needs, you can easily search and install more editors from SAMSON Connect. For example, if you’re exploring carbon nanostructures, you might want to add a specialized nanotube editor.
What If You Want to Make Your Own?
If you’re doing specialized work or just want to customize your experience, SAMSON also supports developing your own editors. You can refer to the documentation on generating SAMSON Extensions, which guides you through creating new editor tools tailored specifically to your workflow.
In Summary
Rather than trying to juggle multiple modes simultaneously, SAMSON encourages a more streamlined workflow by using one active editor at a time. Understanding this core concept—and knowing how to switch efficiently between tools—can save you time and confusion, especially in complex modeling projects.
Learn more about editors in the official SAMSON documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/editors/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.