For molecular modelers, diving into a new software platform to achieve advanced molecular design can feel overwhelming. The learning curve matters, particularly when experimenting with complex tasks like loading structures, navigating the interface, or building workflows. If you’ve recently started exploring SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, you might feel this challenge.
Fortunately, SAMSON offers an invaluable feature to ease this process: interactive tutorials. These built-in, guided tutorials let the platform walk you through common and specialized tasks directly within the application. If you’re tired of endless trial-and-error or deciphering written instructions without context, interactive tutorials can be a key resource for seeing actions in context—and practicing them yourself.
Why Should Molecular Modelers Use Interactive Tutorials?
Interactive tutorials go beyond static documentation by providing hands-on instruction directly in the SAMSON interface. They are ideal if you’re a visual learner or someone who prefers actively engaging with tools rather than passively reading manuals. With these tutorials, SAMSON becomes your in-app mentor, showing you exactly how to accomplish your goal step by step.
The tutorials fit seamlessly into the molecular modeling learning curve, especially after you’re familiar with the platform’s basic interface (covered in the “First look: the interface” guide). They offer practical insight when you need to execute specific workflows rather than just understanding features theoretically. For instance, loading molecular structures, navigation, and manipulating molecular representations are topics beginner and intermediate users often struggle with.
How to Start a Tutorial
Starting a tutorial in SAMSON is straightforward. Here’s how:
- From the main menu in the application, navigate to Help > Tutorials.
- You will see a list of available tutorials for various tasks. Choose the one that matches your area of interest.
- Click Start tutorial to begin.
Once started, the tutorial will guide you interactively through the workflow, displaying tips and steps directly in the application. This approach ensures no guesswork—each action is clear and intuitive.
How to Stop or Restart a Tutorial
Not every session goes as planned, and sometimes you might need to pause or restart a tutorial entirely. Here’s how you can manage it:
- To stop a running tutorial, simply close the tutorial tip window located in the top-right corner of the Viewport area.
- Restarting a tutorial is just as easy. Go back to Help > Tutorials, select the same tutorial, and click Start tutorial again.
This flexibility allows you to practice repeatedly without hesitation until you master each step of the process.
Tips for Best Use
While interactive tutorials are optional, they are most useful when you want guided practice for workflows that might initially seem more complex to grasp. After completing one, you should feel confident enough to execute the same task independently.
Additionally, SAMSON offers specialized tutorials for extensions (SAMSON Extensions Tutorials) that can further deepen your expertise. These advanced resources are particularly valuable if you’re expanding SAMSON’s core functionality through add-ons.
Interactive tutorials can form part of a broader learning sequence. For comprehensive understanding, consider first exploring the “Moving around” and “Loading molecules” guides to cover basics before diving into hands-on practice.
Conclusion
Molecular modeling is complicated, but SAMSON’s interactive tutorials simplify learning key workflows by combining instruction and practical application. Whether you’re onboarding yourself as a beginner or looking to refine your approach to a particular process, these guided steps meet you where you are and help you progress rapidly.
Make sure to visit the official documentation page at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/interactive-tutorials/ to learn more!
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.