For many molecular modelers, picking up a new platform often comes with a sense of hesitation. Even with well-documented software like SAMSON, the shift in interface and workflows can slow down your research or make it harder to evaluate whether a tool is right for your use case.
Fortunately, there’s a lesser-known feature that can quickly clear the fog: interactive tutorials built directly into the SAMSON platform. These go far beyond static documentation or video walkthroughs. They’re guided, hands-on exercises inside the software that help you learn by doing — exactly where and when you need to understand something.
Why this matters
Let’s say you’ve just installed SAMSON to explore a molecular docking workflow or try out a new extension. You open the interface, and you’re not quite sure where to start. Maybe you downloaded SAMSON because someone recommended it for its flexibility, but now you’re facing a clean UI and dozens of tools with complex names.
A quick trip to Help > Tutorials inside SAMSON can immediately lower that barrier. With these tutorials, you don’t just read about features — you interact with them in real-time. A tip window guides you step-by-step in the viewport, helping you manipulate atoms, run simulations, and use tools in a realistic context.
What you can expect
- Instant access: No separate downloads or installs needed.
- Task-specific guides: Choose from focused tutorials on common SAMSON tasks.
- Self-paced learning: Start and pause anytime. Need a break? Just close the tip window — your work remains intact.
To begin, go to Help > Tutorials in the SAMSON menu, select a tutorial, and click Start tutorial. You’ll see tip windows overlaid directly in your 3D viewport. These windows provide guidance directly within the context of what you’re doing — no need to switch screens or watch external videos.
Stopping and restarting
To stop the tutorial at any time, simply close the tip window using the “X” icon in the corner. Want to start over? Just go to Help > Tutorials again and launch the same tutorial from scratch.
Extending your skills
If you’re also working with specific SAMSON Extensions, a complementary set of tutorials is available here. These are ideal when you want to dive deeper into additional functionalities beyond SAMSON’s core features.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re new to SAMSON or revisiting it after a break, interactive tutorials can help you spend less time struggling and more time exploring molecular systems. They’re built to help you get comfortable — not just with the interface, but with the workflows you care about most.
To see the full list of available interactive tutorials and learn more, visit the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.