When working on complex molecular structures, selecting the right tool for the task is crucial. In SAMSON, one of the key concepts that helps streamline molecular design workflows is the use of Editors.
Editors in SAMSON are interactive tools designed to receive events from the user—such as mouse clicks or keyboard input—and apply specific transformations or generate molecular models. Examples include nanotube generators, molecular deformation tools, and selection or manipulation interfaces.
What’s the catch? You can only use one editor at a time.
This might sound limiting at first—but here’s why it actually improves your modeling workflow.
Focused User Interaction
When you are using an editor—for example, rotating molecules rigidly or generating carbon nanotubes—it becomes your command center. SAMSON routes all interaction events to the currently active editor. This ensures that every mouse click or key press has a predictable effect related solely to that context.
This design minimizes conflicts between functionalities. Think of it as editing a photo with a brush tool active—when the brush is active, other tools like selection or eraser won’t suddenly clash with your input.
Streamlined Interface
At any moment, the interface provides quick access controls for the active editor in the top-left corner of the viewport. This localized control area changes as you switch editors, helping you avoid clutter and keep your workspace focused.
How to Switch or Find Editors
Switching to a different editor is as simple as selecting it from the left-hand menu in the viewport. You can also use the Find everything search bar at the top of the SAMSON interface to quickly locate one.
Here’s a practical workflow:
- Activate the nanotube generator to build a structure.
- Switch to a deformation editor to adjust geometry.
- Use the selection tool to isolate parts of interest.
Rather than juggling multiple tools at once, the system encourages clean, sequential actions.
Can You Add More Editors?
Yes. SAMSON comes with a set of built-in editors, but you can add more by visiting SAMSON Connect, the database of extensions. Whether you need specialized structure editors or custom user-developed ones, it’s easy to extend your toolkit.
Developing Your Own Editor
If you have specific modeling needs, SAMSON also supports custom editor development. Check out the documentation on generating SAMSON Extensions to learn how to get started with your own interactive modeling features.
So the next time you wonder why you can’t use two editors at once, think of it as a way to keep your modeling precise and your workflow structured.
To learn more, visit the original 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.