For molecular modelers dealing with increasingly complex molecules and simulations, an intuitive and customizable interface can streamline work and save precious time. If you’re diving into the SAMSON platform, one of the most useful features is the ability to adapt its interface to your needs through customization options. Whether you’re optimizing the inspector panel, rearranging widgets, or tailoring workspaces, SAMSON makes it possible to create a workspace tailored for maximum efficiency.
What parts of SAMSON can you customize?
The SAMSON interface is built on modular panels and widgets that you can arrange to suit your preferences. These include:
- Document view: Represents your molecular structure in a hierarchical format.
- Inspector: Displays the adjustable parameters of selected nodes, such as atoms, residues, or molecules.
- History: Lists your performed actions for better tracking and reproducibility.
These widgets and others provided by various SAMSON Extensions can be freely rearranged within your workspace via simple drag-and-drop functionality.
How to customize the interface?
Customizing your SAMSON interface is straightforward and requires three simple steps:
- Click and hold: Press on a widget’s title bar—this is typically located at the top of the panel.
- Drag: With the mouse button held down, move the widget to a new location. You can dock it to existing layouts or float it as a separate window.
- Release: Once the desired position is reached, release the mouse button to fix the widget in place. It will stay there until you decide to move it again.
For example, you might move the Inspector closer to the Viewport for quicker file adjustments or place the History panel in a more accessible spot when working on complex workflows.
Using shortcuts for efficiency
SAMSON also supports keyboard shortcuts to quickly show or hide different panels. For example, pressing Ctrl + 2 (or Cmd + 2 on macOS) brings up the Inspector, while Ctrl + 3 (or Cmd + 3) accesses the History. These shortcuts simplify toggling between frequently used panels without needing to manually navigate through menus.
Here’s a helpful reference example:
| Interface Part | Windows/Linux Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector | Ctrl + 2 | Cmd + 2 |
| History | Ctrl + 3 | Cmd + 3 |
Personalized workspaces
In SAMSON, workspaces provide a way to switch between different sets of interface layouts easily. For instance, a molecular modeler might create one workspace dedicated to animations, where the Animator and Viewport take prominence, and another for structural analysis, prioritizing tools like the Inspector and History. Workspaces can be toggled via the top-left corner of the menu for effortless transitions.
Save your setup for the future
The changes you make to your SAMSON interface are automatically saved and will be applied the next time you open the platform. This means you don’t need to spend time reconfiguring your workspace every time you start a project—you can pick up right where you left off.
For those new to SAMSON or looking for further information on workspace customization and panel functionality, visit the original documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at this page.