Molecular modeling often involves juggling a variety of tasks — from visualizing 3D structures and editing molecules to launching simulations and tracking project evolution. With so many tools to manage, interface clutter or inefficient layouts can become a genuine obstacle to productivity.
If you use SAMSON, you’re likely aware of its wide capabilities. But one feature that can greatly improve your efficiency, yet is often underutilized, is the modular and customizable interface.
Why Customize Your Interface?
The default layout in SAMSON is designed to be a good starting point — but your research isn’t “default.” A structural biologist exploring conformational changes, for example, might prioritize the viewport and animator, while a quantum chemist might need persistent access to the code editor and job manager. The interface flexibility allows for optimization based on what you need, when you need it.
Drag-and-Drop Simplicity
The SAMSON interface consists of dockable widgets including the Document view, History, Inspector, Asset browser, and more. You can rearrange and dock these items simply by clicking and dragging on their title bars. This includes docking widgets together or undocking them to float freely across your workspace.
For example, try undocking the Inspector and placing it next to the Document view if you’re focusing on specific atoms or residues. Or keep the Animator panel prominent when building interactive presentations.
Workspaces: Save and Switch
If you work on different types of projects, consider switching between custom workspaces. You can change the workspace through the menu in the top-left corner. Each workspace remembers your UI setup, letting you quickly switch between modeling modes — think simulation-focused, editing-based, or AI-assisted workflows.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Layout Control
Tired of clicking through menus? Use predefined shortcuts to toggle interface elements:
- Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1: Show/hide Document view
- Ctrl+2 / Cmd+2: Show/hide Inspector
- Ctrl+3 / Cmd+3: Show/hide History
- Ctrl+4 / Cmd+4: Show/hide Asset browser
- Ctrl+7 / Cmd+7: Show/hide Animator
Keep What Matters on Top
You can “pin” certain app windows so they stay visible — useful for tools you often reference side-by-side with your main viewport. Look for the pin icon in the title bar of supported windows.
Favorites: One-Click Access to Your Tools
Any command, app, or editor can be added to your favorites for faster access via the ribbon menu. Just search using the Find everything box at the top of the ribbon menu, then hover and click the star (
) icon to favorite it. You can update your list anytime — no need to remember where you last saw that app you used two months ago.
Persistence You Can Rely On
Your customized layout — including widget positions, favorites, and workspace — is automatically saved. Next time you launch SAMSON, you pick up exactly where you left off.
For molecular modelers, saving time and reducing friction in your tool is far from a luxury — it’s essential to staying focused on the science. Customizing your SAMSON interface may take just a few minutes, but the productivity payoff can be significant.
To learn more, visit the SAMSON interface documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.