When working with molecular structures, efficiency matters. Whether you’re adjusting positions or reviewing properties of atoms in bulk, you’re likely dealing with a flood of information. SAMSON’s Inspector is designed to help—but if you’re not filtering attributes, you might not be using it to its full potential.
Let’s consider this common situation: you’ve selected several atoms in your system and want to tweak only their spatial coordinates. But amidst a large number of modifiable and non-modifiable attributes, finding just the ones you need can become a distraction. The solution? The filter within the Inspector.
Filtering: A Quiet Power Feature in the Inspector
The filter function in the Inspector helps extract signal from noise, especially when dealing with a wide variety of node types such as atoms, residues, or bonds, each with their own set of attributes.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
- Select one or more atoms in your molecular structure. You can refer to the Selecting guide if you’re not sure how.
- Open the Inspector (via Interface > Inspector, Ctrl + 2 on Windows/Linux, or Cmd + 2 on Mac).
- Once the Inspector is open, locate the filter bar at the top of the interface.
- Start typing the name of the attribute you’re looking for—say,
position.
As you type, the list of attributes updates automatically to show only matching attributes. For example, with position, you’ll immediately zero in on the spatial coordinates of your selected atoms without scrolling through less relevant data.
Visualizing Attribute Changes in Real Time
One key benefit of filtering before editing: you reduce the chance of inadvertently modifying the wrong property. Once you’ve isolated the attribute you’re interested in, try editing its value. For instance, update the atomic position—and watch the selected atoms move in space as soon as you press Enter.
This is particularly useful for fine-tuning molecular conformations or for positioning groups of atoms precisely. SAMSON’s real-time feedback minimizes the trial-and-error associated with batch editing.
Tips When Filtering Attributes
- Check the Relative Setting: When working with multiple atoms, ensure that the Relative option is enabled to preserve their relative arrangements while changing the position values collectively.
- Reset Attributes as Needed: Many attributes can be reset to default values by double-clicking their labels, if you change your mind.
- Undo Safely: All changes made through the Inspector can be undone easily thanks to SAMSON’s built-in history mechanism.
Filtering attributes is a small action, but in complex modeling scenarios, it can be a time-saver that boosts clarity and speed. If you’re repeatedly adjusting the same types of properties, you’ll find SAMSON’s Inspector filter indispensable for staying focused on what matters in your modeling workflow.
To explore more options and controls available in the Inspector, visit the full documentation page here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/inspecting/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.