As a molecular modeler, your productivity often hinges on how quickly you can access the tools you need and how comfortable you are navigating software interfaces. It’s easy to underestimate how much time is lost hunting through menus, minimizing and restoring tools, or working around cluttered layouts.
SAMSON, the integrative platform for molecular design, offers a solution to this common pain: a fully customizable interface tailored to your workflow. Whether you’re visualizing protein structures, crafting animations, or editing chemical data using extensions, SAMSON lets you build an interface that responds to your unique usage patterns.
Drag, Dock, and Adapt
The core idea behind the SAMSON interface is flexibility. Nearly every panel can be moved, resized, docked, or hidden. This means you can:
- Minimize distractions by hiding tools you don’t often use
- Keep essential tools visible at all times
- Combine tools into grouped tabs to save screen space
To move a widget (such as the Document view, Inspector, or History), simply drag it by its title bar to your desired location. Dock it by releasing the mouse when you see the docking indicators. You can create tabbed interfaces by dragging one widget on top of another, making it easier to switch contexts without losing your layout.
Pin Windows for Persistent Access
Sometimes, a panel needs to stay on top — for example, the App you use for simulations or structural analysis. SAMSON provides a small pin icon (📌) on certain windows. Clicking it ensures the window always stays visible.
Use Shortcuts to Stay in Flow
Switching between panels with the mouse can interrupt your concentration. SAMSON offers a series of convenient keyboard shortcuts to instantly show or hide key interface components:
- Ctrl/Cmd + 1: Document View
- Ctrl/Cmd + 2: Inspector
- Ctrl/Cmd + 3: History
- Ctrl/Cmd + 4: Asset Browser
- Ctrl/Cmd + 7: Animator
- Ctrl/Cmd + 0: SAMSON AI
A full list of shortcuts is available in the SAMSON documentation, but even using just two or three regularly can make a big difference.
Save It Once. Use It Always.
Once you’ve customized your interface, SAMSON remembers your layout. The next time you start the program, everything will be exactly where you left it. This allows you to work in a consistent and optimized environment every time.
Tailor Workspaces to Different Tasks
SAMSON also supports multiple workspaces. This means you can switch between interface presets depending on what you’re working on—modeling, programming, or presenting visualizations. These are accessible from the top-left corner of the interface.
Quick Access with Favorites ⭐
The more features SAMSON Extensions you install, the more powerful your setup becomes—but this can also make it harder to find what you need. That’s where the Favorites feature helps. You can add commands, editors, or apps to your favorites directly from the Find everything search box (shortcut: Shift + E), or by pinning them when hovered. Favorites appear at the top of the ribbon menu and in editor menus for quick access.
Final Thoughts
The ability to tailor your interface is more than an aesthetic preference—it’s a boost in efficiency, focus, and ease-of-use. By customizing the SAMSON interface, you can reduce friction and make your molecular modeling sessions more productive and enjoyable.
To explore more customization options and interface features, visit the SAMSON documentation at this page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at www.samson-connect.net.