If you’re beginning your journey in molecular modeling or transitioning to a new simulation platform, the learning curve can feel steep. Working with atomic structures, simulating molecular dynamics, or analyzing chemical interactions involves numerous concepts and tools. For many researchers, the biggest initial challenge is simply knowing where to start.
That’s where SAMSON’s Interactive Tutorials come in. Built directly into the SAMSON interface, they provide step-by-step, guided experiences tailored to common modeling tasks. Whether you’re generating molecular structures, visualizing protein-ligand interactions, or learning to use extensions, these tutorials are a helpful way to gain hands-on knowledge without needing to leave the platform or search through external materials.
How to Access the Tutorials
Once SAMSON is installed and running, simply go to the top menu and select Help > Tutorials. A list of available tutorials will appear. Choose the one that interests you, and click Start tutorial. The experience begins immediately, with guidance windows appearing directly within your workspace.
What Makes These Tutorials Useful
The tutorials aren’t just static documents—they’re interactive and immersed in your workflow. As you complete each step, SAMSON’s interface visually demonstrates actions, highlights areas of the Viewport, and provides contextual tips. Whether you’re clicking through menus or manipulating molecular structures, you’re learning by doing, not by reading a manual.
These tutorials are especially helpful for users coming from different platforms or those exploring computational chemistry, bioinformatics, or nanoscience for the first time. They reduce the trial-and-error usually needed when exploring new software tools.
Pausing and Restarting
If you need a break, just close the tutorial’s tip window in the corner of the Viewport. Want to come back later? No problem. You can restart any tutorial from scratch at any moment through Help > Tutorials. This flexibility makes it easy to fit learning into your daily work, and revisiting content helps reinforce understanding.
More Learning Content
If you’re interested in extending SAMSON’s functionality with specialized modules, the SAMSON Extensions Tutorials provide additional guidance on working with specific tools. It’s a natural next step after completing the beginner tutorials embedded within the application.
If you’d like to explore these tutorials yourself, you can find more about them in the documentation here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/interactive-tutorials/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from https://www.samson-connect.net.