A new molecular modeling workspace can feel surprisingly disorienting. You may have installed the software, but still be unsure which page to read first, where to begin in the interface, or how to get a structure into view. Jumping between setup instructions, tutorials, and feature pages can turn a simple first session into a scavenger hunt.
A useful way to avoid that is to treat onboarding as a short sequence of decisions: Can the computer run SAMSON? Is it installed? Can you find your way around? Can you load a structure? Once those basics are in place, it becomes much easier to decide which learning resources are worth your time.
Start with the situation you are in
If SAMSON is not installed on your computer, begin with Requirements and Platforms. Checking operating-system support, graphics requirements, and Linux dependencies before installation can help you avoid troubleshooting an issue that could have been caught earlier. Then follow Install SAMSON for the installer flow, sign-in steps, and key entry.
If SAMSON is already running, you can skip those setup pages. Instead, open the Quick Start Guide for a compact tour, then use First look: the interface to identify the main interface areas. This small orientation step pays off later: instructions are easier to follow when the names and locations of interface elements are familiar.
Make your first session concrete
Rather than trying to learn every tool before doing anything, set a modest first-session goal: open or fetch a structure, locate it in the workspace, and learn how to move around it. The pages on Moving around and Loading molecules support that path. Together, they connect viewport navigation and default editors with the practical task of getting a first structure into a document.
This is a helpful distinction for new users: learning the interface and working with a molecular structure are related, but they are not the same task. If navigation is still unfamiliar, pause there before adding more material. If you can already move around comfortably, focus on loading a structure and understanding where documents, files, and shared data appear.
Choose help based on how you like to learn
Once you know where the main interface parts are, you can choose a learning route that fits the question in front of you. Interactive tutorials offer built-in guided walkthroughs. SAMSON AI is an optional route for questions, commands, selections, and scripts. For a feature survey or refresher, Webinars provide recordings. You do not need to use all of these at once; pick the resource that matches your learning style or immediate task.
SAMSON Connect is useful when you need downloads, extensions, account settings, or shared documents. It is part of the onboarding picture, but it does not need to be your first stop if your immediate goal is simply to get oriented and load a structure.
A simple route to keep handy
- New computer: requirements → installation → Getting Started → Quick Start Guide → interface orientation.
- Already installed: Quick Start Guide → interface orientation → navigation → loading molecules.
- Prefer guided help: Quick Start Guide → interactive tutorials → SAMSON AI, if it suits your task.
After loading a document, continue with Work with structures for selection, inspection, measurement, and undo/redo. If your goal is to modify a system, explore Build and edit; for clearer visualization or presentation output, go to Visualize and present.
The best onboarding path is not necessarily the longest one. Start with the next obstacle you actually need to solve, and leave optional resources for when they become relevant. For the complete guided sequence, read the SAMSON start-here documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.