When working on complex molecular systems, every click counts. Being able to access the right tool at the right moment without breaking your workflow makes a significant difference, especially during long simulation or modeling sessions. But for many molecular modelers, finding the optimal interface setup can be surprisingly frustrating—some prefer quick command access, others want additional inspectors and animation tools readily visible. The good news? In SAMSON, you can fully customize the interface—tailoring your molecular design environment to the way you work best.
This blog post explores how to personalize your SAMSON interface efficiently, helping you gain time and declutter your workspace, without sacrificing any functionality.
Flexible Docking: Move What Matters
SAMSON uses a modular layout made of multiple “widgets”—like the Document view, History, and Inspector. Every widget can be rearranged using drag-and-drop. Click and hold the title bar, and move the widget wherever you want: top, bottom, sides, or even on a second monitor. Once placed, each widget docks seamlessly into your workspace.
This is especially handy when working with large systems. If you’re constantly tweaking atom parameters, consider pinning the Inspector next to the viewport. Need frequent undo-redo operations? Keep the History visible at all times.
Switch Contexts with Workspaces
Different projects call for different tools. With SAMSON’s Workspaces, you can store and quickly switch between interface layouts. For example, you may create one workspace for building molecules, another for visual analysis, and yet another for animation or presentation tasks.
Minimal or Full Toolkit? You Decide
Use the Interface menu or dedicated keyboard shortcuts to quickly show or hide any interface component. If screen space is tight or you’re presenting, consider hiding less-used widgets and activating only what’s essential.
| Component | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Document view | Ctrl + 1 |
Cmd + 1 |
| Inspector | Ctrl + 2 |
Cmd + 2 |
| History | Ctrl + 3 |
Cmd + 3 |
| Asset browser | Ctrl + 4 |
Cmd + 4 |
| Animator | Ctrl + 7 |
Cmd + 7 |
| Python console | Ctrl + 8 |
Cmd + 8 |
Favorites: One-Click Access to Your Tools
You can bookmark your most-used commands, apps, and editors in SAMSON. Just use the Find everything search bar (shortcut: Shift + E), and click the ⭐ icon next to the item. Favorited items then appear at the top of the ribbon menu and are always visible in the Editors menu.
This is ideal for workflows involving repeated actions—like energy minimization, force field assignment, or launching a custom editor.
No Setup Lost Between Sessions
Your interface configuration is automatically saved and restored the next time you launch SAMSON. Once adjusted, your optimal workspace remains persistent—allowing you to model, analyze, and simulate with less setup overhead.
Learn more about customizing the SAMSON interface and optimizing your modeling environment.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.