When you open a molecular modeling platform, the structure itself is only part of what you need to see. Commands, document structure, object settings, and action history may all live in different parts of the interface. If you are unsure where to look—or a panel seems to have disappeared—it can interrupt your work before you even reach the modeling task.
A useful first step is to think of the SAMSON interface as a set of areas with distinct jobs. Once you know what each one is for, you can spend less time hunting through the screen and more time working with your molecular system.
Start with the three views of your work
The viewport is the three-dimensional space where you see a representation of the document. It is the place to orient yourself visually and inspect the model. The Document view presents the document’s structure, while the Inspector gives access to parameters for selected nodes, such as atoms, residues, or molecules.
These areas answer different questions: “What does my system look like?”, “What is in the document?”, and “What are the properties of the thing I selected?” Keeping those roles in mind makes it easier to choose the right panel when following instructions or troubleshooting a workflow.
Use the supporting panels as you need them
The History lists actions that have been performed. The Asset Browser provides access to asset libraries for adding atoms, fragments, and molecules. The Animator is where you create a presentation and add or modify animation effects. The status bar may display messages, and the menu provides access to commands, workspaces, and open documents.
You do not need to keep every panel in view all the time. If you need to check a selected object’s settings, bring up the Inspector. If you are assembling a system from library assets, open the Asset Browser. Matching the panel to the task can keep the workspace easier to read.
Bring panels back with shortcuts
If a panel is hidden, use the relevant shortcut instead of searching through menus. On Windows, the shortcuts use Ctrl; on macOS, they use Cmd:
- Document view: Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1
- Inspector: Ctrl+2 / Cmd+2
- History: Ctrl+3 / Cmd+3
- Asset Browser: Ctrl+4 / Cmd+4
- Animator: Ctrl+7 / Cmd+7
Other shortcuts open SAMSON AI with Ctrl+0 or Cmd+0, the Periodic Table with Ctrl+5 or Cmd+5, the Job Manager with Ctrl+6 or Cmd+6, the Python console with Ctrl+8 or Cmd+8, and the Code Editor with Ctrl+9 or Cmd+9. You can also use the Interface menu to show or hide parts of the interface.
Find commands without knowing where they live
When you know what you want to do but not which menu contains it, use Find everything at the top of the ribbon menu. It searches available commands, apps, editors, and documentation. Press Shift+E to access the search. You can also add commands, apps, and editors to favorites from the results by clicking the star when it appears on hover.
Favorites create a convenient route back to tools you use often: they appear in special sections at the top of the ribbon menu and in the Editors viewport menu. Click a filled star to remove an item from favorites when you no longer need it there.
Make the workspace fit the task
You can rearrange the Document view, History, and Inspector by dragging their title bars. Widgets can be docked together or moved elsewhere, so you can give the panels you need more room. Some windows, including some Apps, have a Pin icon that keeps the window on top. Workspaces can also change how the menu is represented.
Your interface customizations are saved and loaded the next time you open SAMSON. That means you can arrange a workspace around the way you work rather than rebuilding it each session.
If you are just getting oriented, a simple routine is to locate the viewport, identify the Document view and Inspector, then use Find everything whenever you do not know where a command is. For camera control, continue with Moving around; to open a structure, see Loading molecules. For more about the panels and customization, learn more in the SAMSON interface first-look guide.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.