If you’re a molecular modeler, you know how even the simplest software upgrades or new tools can throw off your workflow. Each platform has its own interfaces, buttons tucked into menus, and features waiting to be discovered—if only you knew where to click. And let’s face it: documentation is helpful, but not always easy to digest when you’re up against a clock or under pressure to deliver results.
Enter interactive tutorials in SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform. These built-in guides show—not just tell—you what to do. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish someone could just walk me through this,” you’re in luck. These interactive guides are like having a knowledgeable colleague right inside your workspace.
Why interactive tutorials matter
Let’s say you want to set up a simulation or analyze a molecular system, but don’t remember where a specific feature is, or you’re using SAMSON for the first time. Instead of searching through menus or scanning documents, you can launch an interactive tutorial that highlights the interface, walks you through steps, and responds to your actions in real-time.
These tutorials don’t just explain—they engage. When a tutorial is active, it overlays helpful tooltips inside the actual SAMSON interface as you perform tasks. That means you learn by doing, not just watching or reading.
Accessing tutorials in SAMSON
Getting started is simple. In the SAMSON interface, navigate to:
Help > Tutorials
Once there, select a tutorial that matches the task you want to learn about. Click Start tutorial, and an overlay with a guide will appear in your Viewport. Each step is interactive and designed to help you complete a real task while teaching you what each action does.
Stopping and restarting
If you want to exit a tutorial temporarily, you can simply close the tutorial tip window from the top-right corner of the SAMSON Viewport. When you’re ready to return, just go to Help > Tutorials and restart any guide at your own pace.
Bonus: Learn about specific Extensions
If you’re using SAMSON Extensions, be sure to check out Extension Tutorials tailored for each one. These offer similar step-by-step instructions, so you quickly understand new tools without sifting through reference docs.
Interactive tutorials are especially helpful for teaching students, onboarding new lab members, or working across disciplines. They reduce the learning curve and help everyone get more out of the software with less friction.
To learn more, see the full documentation page here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/interactive-tutorials/
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.