While working on molecular models, users often wish to interact with structures in more than one way—perhaps selecting atoms, applying transformations, and generating nanostructures all in succession. In SAMSON, this flexibility is achieved through Editors: tools designed to help you interact with and modify models directly in the workspace. But there’s a detail that catches new users off-guard: you can only have one Editor active at a time.
At first, this might feel like a limitation. Why can’t you select and transform atoms without switching tools? But once you understand the reason, it actually optimizes your workflow and keeps unexpected behavior to a minimum.
What Are Editors Exactly?
Editors in SAMSON are tools that interpret user interaction events—like mouse movements, clicks, and keyboard input—and convert them into model changes. For example, there are editors for:
- Building nanotubes with a few clicks
- Applying rigid-body transformations to selected parts of a molecule
- Interacting with and deforming molecular geometries while maintaining structural constraints
- Selecting atoms using geometric tools like rectangles or lassos
These editors allow for intuitive control, but they each interpret the same events differently. If more than one were active simultaneously, they could easily interfere with each other, resulting in frustrating outcomes. For this reason, SAMSON ensures that exactly one editor is active at any given time.
How Do You Know Which Editor Is Active?
In the top-left corner of the viewport, SAMSON displays actions specific to the active editor for quick access. The full list of installed editors can be found via the menu on the left side of the viewport or by using the search function at the top bar labeled “Find everything.” This makes switching between editors just a click or two away.
When Is Switching Editors Necessary?
Let’s say you’re building a nanotube with a nanotube generator editor. Once it’s done, you want to select a part of it to apply a rigid transformation. At this point, you need to switch from the nanotube editor to the selection editor, and then to the transform editor. This might sound tedious on paper, but in practice, it’s quite fast and ensures clear separation of tasks.
Pro tip: Organize your workflow by task type. Build first, then select, then manipulate. This matches SAMSON’s tool behavior and minimizes the time spent toggling tools.
Where to Get More Editors
SAMSON comes with a set of default editors, but you can add more from SAMSON Connect. Whether you’re editing geometries or performing simulations, chances are there’s a tool that fits your needs—or you can build one yourself using the Extension Generator.
Want to Create Your Own Editor?
If your workflow requires specialized interactions, consider developing your own editor through the SAMSON Extension Generator. The Documentation center provides guidance on how to get started.
So yes—only one editor can be active at a time in SAMSON. But rather than restricting you, this approach keeps interactions clear, consistent, and predictable, especially as you move between editing tasks.
To learn more, visit the documentation page on Editors.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.