As molecular modelers, we often switch between tasks — selecting atoms, deforming a structure, or building new models. In SAMSON, these diverse functionalities are accessible via editors. However, one design choice tends to raise questions: only one editor can be active at a time. Why is this the case, and how should you work with it efficiently?
SAMSON’s editors act as task-specific interfaces that let you directly manipulate your molecular models based on input from your mouse, keyboard, and other controls. For example, one editor might let you construct a nanotube, while another lets you rotate a protein or perform rectangular selections. These editors provide interactive control over both the geometry and topology of your system.
Why only one editor at a time?
Allowing only one active editor at a time simplifies user interaction and ensures that input events (like click-dragging or pressing keys) are routed unambiguously to the correct task.
Imagine this: you’re using the deformation editor to tweak a molecular structure. At the same time, you have the selection editor active — your clicks could now ambiguously mean “select these atoms” or “move these atoms.” This would lead to confusion and errors.
By design, SAMSON avoids this conflict through a focused workflow: choose your task, activate the corresponding editor, perform the operation, then switch as needed. This might seem limiting at first — especially if you come from environments where multiple tools feel active at once — but it carries several benefits:
- Precision: You know exactly what the interface expects from you at any time.
- Simplicity: No need to configure or blend tool behaviors.
- Stability: Lower chance of misunderstanding or input conflicts.
How to switch between editors efficiently
There are multiple ways to activate an editor in SAMSON:
- Use the left menu in the viewport to browse and activate editors.
- Use the quick-access bar in the top-left corner of the viewport for the most common actions related to the active editor.
- Type the name of the editor into the Find everything search bar to locate it quickly.
Need more tools?
SAMSON comes with a default set of editors, but the ecosystem is highly expandable through SAMSON Connect. You can browse and install community-created editors or even develop your own if you have a specific need in your workflow. SAMSON provides tools and documentation to help you build your own editors using the Extension Generator.
Getting used to the “one editor at a time” concept may take a bit of adjustment, but it helps streamline interactions and reduces confusion in complex modeling tasks. Understanding how to switch editors easily — and when to do so — can improve your modeling precision and efficiency.
To learn more, explore the official documentation about editors here: 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.