When a molecular modeling task stalls, the problem is not always the structure. Sometimes it is simply unclear which tool should respond to your next click. You might be trying to select a region, move a molecule, or build a nanotube—and the same mouse action can have a different effect depending on the active editor.
SAMSON editors are the tools that respond to user interactions, including mouse and keyboard events. Think of the active editor as the current interaction mode: only one editor is active at a time. Knowing that makes it easier to understand why a click or drag may not do what you expected.
A quick way to find the right editor
Start by naming the task, not by guessing a tool name. Are you navigating the view, selecting objects, transforming a structure, or creating something? Then look for an editor in one of three places:
- The editor menu on the left side of the viewport is a place to browse available editors.
- Quick access commands for the active editor appear in the top-left corner of the viewport.
- Find everything at the top of SAMSON can help locate an editor when you know what you want to search for.
Once you choose an editor, remember that it becomes the active one. If a familiar interaction suddenly behaves differently, check which editor is active before assuming that something has gone wrong with the molecular structure.
Match the editor to the job
Editors are not all-purpose mouse tools. They are designed for different kinds of interaction. For example, SAMSON includes editors such as a rectangle selection tool, a rigid-body transform tool, and a nanotube generator. Another example is a tool for deforming molecular structures while preserving local rigidity.
These examples suggest a useful decision rule: choose an editor based on the operation you intend to perform, rather than repeatedly trying different gestures in the viewport. A selection task calls for a selection editor; a transform task calls for a transform editor; a construction task may call for a generator. If you are unsure where a tool fits, the documentation separates viewport navigation editors from transform editors: see Moving around and Moving objects.
When the editor you need is missing
SAMSON provides editors by default, and additional editors can be added from SAMSON Connect. This is worth checking when your task calls for a specialized tool that does not appear among the editors you currently use.
It also helps to distinguish an editor from an extension. An editor is a kind of tool for interacting with SAMSON; extensions are how SAMSON can be extended, including with additional editors. If you are simply trying to complete a modeling task, look for and use an available editor. If you are investigating how to install or develop tools, the Extending SAMSON reference is the more relevant starting point.
A small troubleshooting habit
Before a sequence of viewport actions, take a moment to check the active editor. Ask yourself: What action am I trying to perform, and is the selected editor meant for that action? This simple check can prevent wasted clicks and make it easier to move between selection, navigation, transformation, and construction tasks.
For the full editor reference, visit SAMSON Editors.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at www.samson-connect.net.