For many molecular modelers, the early stages of using a new software platform can feel like learning a foreign language. From navigating a complex interface to figuring out how to run simulations or analyze data, the learning curve can be steep—even for experienced users.
If you’ve recently started using SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, and found yourself wondering how to perform a specific task, you’re not alone. The good news? SAMSON includes built-in interactive tutorials that can help speed up your learning process—right inside the platform.
What Are Interactive Tutorials?
Unlike traditional documentation that lives on a webpage or inside a PDF, SAMSON’s interactive tutorials guide you step-by-step directly within the user interface. Think of them like a layer that sits on top of SAMSON, providing contextual tips and highlighting where to click or what to change at each stage.
These tutorials are especially useful when you’re trying to perform common but technical tasks in molecular modeling—setting up structures, working with molecular trajectories, visualizing data, or using Extensions built for specialized workflows.
How to Find and Launch a Tutorial
Getting started is simple. Follow these steps inside SAMSON:
- Open the main menu and go to Help > Tutorials.
- Browse the list of available tutorials. They cover a variety of core features.
- Click on a tutorial, then choose Start tutorial.
Once launched, a small tip window appears at the top-right corner of your viewport, which will guide you through the tutorial. These tooltips are interactive themselves, often pointing directly to the UI element you need to use next.
Pause or Restart Anytime
If you need to take a break or start over, it’s easy. Just close the tutorial tip window to stop. You can always relaunch it by going back to Help > Tutorials. This flexibility is helpful if you’re multitasking or experimenting with your own molecular systems in parallel.
Why Use Them?
- Save time: No need to switch between your browser and the software interface.
- Prevent mistakes: Tutorials are step-by-step and sequential, helping prevent common setup errors.
- Build confidence: They help you master SAMSON’s workflows at your own pace.
Extending Your Learning
If you’re using specific SAMSON Extensions, there’s a separate set of Extension Tutorials you can explore. These cover advanced capabilities like quantum chemistry tools, molecular dynamics, and more.
To learn more about using interactive tutorials in SAMSON, visit the official documentation: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/interactive-tutorials/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here.