You are working on a molecular model and hit a small but consequential question: Which setting controls this? What kind of node am I looking at? Does SAMSON support the file format I need? The challenge is often not a lack of information—it is knowing where to look without interrupting the task you were focused on.
The SAMSON References hub is designed for a particular moment: you already know the feature family you need, and you want to get to its detailed lookup page quickly. Treat it as a map of the platform’s reference material, rather than as a step-by-step guide to choosing a workflow.
Start with the question, not the menu
Before opening a reference page, put your uncertainty into one sentence. For example: “I need to identify the kinds of nodes in this document,” “I want to check which formats can be imported,” or “I need to find the settings I can change.” Then match the key noun in your question to a reference family. This small pause helps avoid browsing broadly when one precise lookup is enough.
- Working out what is in a document? Start with Node types to identify node categories, or Documents for information about documents, folders, files, notes, and paths.
- Checking how a structure or scene can be represented? Use Models for structural, visual, interaction, dynamical, and property models, or Visual presets for reusable visualization presets.
- Trying to move data in or out? Check Supported formats for import and export formats, then consult the relevant Importer or Exporter reference.
- Looking for a control or setting? The SAMSON Interface reference covers menus, panels, workspaces, and shortcuts; Preferences is the place to look for user-modifiable settings.
- Need a more specialized lookup? The hub also links to Animations, Camera, Default color palettes, Sequence view, Versioning, and Path Analyzer.
When the right category is not obvious
Sometimes the question is not “Where is the reference for this feature?” but “Which workflow should I use?” In that case, jumping between reference pages may create more uncertainty. The hub itself points users who are still choosing a workflow to Reference and help, or to the topic hub closest to their task. If you need orientation before looking up a specific detail, the First look: the interface page is another starting point.
There is also a useful distinction between extension families and the feature you are trying to use. If you know you need information about an app, editor, importer, or exporter, the hub links directly to the corresponding Apps, Editors, Importers, and Exporters references. If you do not yet know which family applies, begin with the broader task and use the reference hub to narrow the lookup.
For advanced selection and filtering questions, the Node Specification Language reference covers NSL expressions. A practical way to use it is to first decide that your problem is about expressing a selection or filter, then open that reference—rather than searching for NSL while your question is still about a different part of the workflow.
The goal is not to memorize every section. Keep the hub as a routing page: identify the kind of information you need, open the matching reference, and return to your model. When you are unsure where to begin, step back to the broader help or orientation pages instead of guessing.
Explore the SAMSON References hub to find the detailed lookup page for your task.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.