Switching between different modeling tasks often means switching contexts — from analyzing molecular structures to preparing simulations or animating reactions. For molecular modelers, bouncing between tools and reconfiguring windows can waste valuable time and break focus. This is where SAMSON’s customizable interface helps bring order to your workflow.
SAMSON is an integrated platform designed for molecular modeling, and its interface can be fully tailored to match your preferred way of working. Whether you’re simulating biomolecular systems or building nanoscale materials, customizing your layout in SAMSON can streamline repetitive tasks and boost productivity.
Rearranging your environment
SAMSON’s interface isn’t fixed. You can drag and drop elements like the Document view, Inspector, and History to rearrange your workspace. Each element is called a widget, and you can dock it wherever it feels most natural — side-by-side, stacked, or even floating.
To move a widget, just click and hold on its title bar, drag it to the desired location, and release. SAMSON will automatically snap the widget into place, letting you organize the interface in a way that mirrors how you think.
Pin what matters most
Some windows — such as those from specific apps — offer a small Pin icon. Click it to keep the window always on top. This is especially useful for small tools or inspectors you need while interacting with the 3D viewport, helping you reduce back-and-forth clicks.
Switch between workspaces
If you work on various tasks like molecular editing, visualization, or animation, you can switch between Workspaces using the dropdown at the top-left of the menu. Each workspace has its own layout and menu configurations, optimized for different workflows. You don’t have to reconfigure everything every time — just pick the workspace that suits your current task.
Quick toggling with shortcuts
Prefer keyboard shortcuts? SAMSON offers logical key bindings to instantly show or hide interface parts:
- Ctrl (or Cmd) + 1: Document view
- Ctrl (or Cmd) + 2: Inspector
- Ctrl (or Cmd) + 3: History
- Ctrl (or Cmd) + 4–9: Access widgets like the Asset browser, Periodic table, Animator, Python console, and Code editor
This can significantly reduce clicks, especially for frequent toggling between analysis and editing modes.
Favorites: Your personalized toolbar
To further simplify navigation, SAMSON lets you add any command, app, or editor to your Favorites. These appear at the top of the ribbon menu and in the “Editors” menu near the viewport. Just hover over an item in the Find everything box and click the ☆ icon to favorite it.
This turns common operations into one-click actions so you don’t have to drill through menus every time.
Saved for next time
All your layout customizations, favorite commands, and workspace switches are saved automatically. The next time you open SAMSON, your interface looks just as you left it — ready to pick up where you stopped.
A tailored interface helps remove friction from your day-to-day modeling tasks. If you haven’t explored SAMSON’s interface customization features, giving it just a few minutes could save you hours in the long run.
To learn more, visit the detailed documentation on interface customization at https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/first-look/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.