For molecular modelers who are just getting started—or returning after a break—one of the biggest time sinks can be just figuring out where and how to begin in a complex modeling platform. With so many features and specialized workflows, the learning curve feels steep before you even begin building molecules, performing simulations, or analyzing results.
This is where SAMSON’s interactive tutorials can help. They’re built right into the SAMSON platform and are designed to guide users through practical tasks in a hands-on and contextual way. Rather than passively reading or watching a video, these tutorials walk you through actions inside the software interface itself. It’s like having a trainer right inside your modeling environment, available any time you need guidance. 🧪
To access these tutorials:
- Open SAMSON
- Go to Help > Tutorials
- Select a tutorial from the list
- Click Start tutorial
Once you start a tutorial, SAMSON will present guiding tips directly in the Viewport, highlighting areas of the interface and suggesting what to click or do next. For users who learn by doing, this active, embedded experience can be much more effective than trying to follow external instructions.
Why this matters for your productivity
Time spent trying to configure or understand basic workflows is time you aren’t spending on meaningful modeling work. For example, finding how to load a structure, apply a force field, or initiate a simulation can be non-trivial if you are unfamiliar with a modeling interface. By using tutorials that integrate with the software interface itself, you remove guesswork and skip ahead to the part that matters: applying your domain knowledge to real problems.
Furthermore, since SAMSON evolves rapidly and supports many extensions, the tutorials function as a reliable reference point whenever new updates might shift workflows slightly. They’re not just for beginners—they’re also helpful for experienced users encountering new SAMSON features.
Managing tutorials during use
If you ever want to exit an ongoing tutorial, just close the highlighted tip window in the top-right corner of the Viewport. You can later restart any tutorial from Help > Tutorials.
Extensions may come with their own tutorials too. See the SAMSON Extensions Tutorials page to explore those.
To summarize, SAMSON’s interactive tutorials offer a simple yet impactful way to get productive faster, whether you’re new to the platform or diving into new features.
For more information, visit the full documentation page here.
Please note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.