A molecular model can be ready for sharing, simulation, or analysis—and still be difficult for someone else to use if it arrives in the wrong file format. Choosing an export format is not just a final housekeeping step: it affects whether the next person or tool can read the content you intend to share.
In SAMSON, exporters save content from a document to files. The platform includes default exporters for common structures and visualizations, and additional exporters can be added from SAMSON Connect. Examples of formats an exporter may write include PDB and XYZ. The key practical question is: what does the recipient need to do with this file?
Choose the format for the next step
Before exporting, identify the destination: another application, a collaborator’s workflow, or a later stage of your own work. Then check whether the required format is supported. SAMSON’s supported formats reference lists formats that SAMSON can import and export. Checking this before you prepare a handoff can save time and help you avoid exporting to a format that does not fit the recipient’s needs.
Also be clear about what you are trying to save. Exporters write content from the document, but different tasks may call for different kinds of output. For example, a structure-focused handoff and a visualization-focused handoff may not have the same requirements. Confirm the intended use with the recipient rather than assuming that one file will serve every purpose.
A simple pre-export checklist
- Confirm the destination. Find out which file format the receiving tool or collaborator expects.
- Check support. Consult the format list to see whether SAMSON supports the required format for export.
- Identify the content. Decide what part of your document needs to be written to a file and what the recipient needs to use it for.
- Keep the handoff understandable. Use a filename that identifies the project or purpose, and tell the recipient which format you chose.
- Verify the result. When practical, open the exported file in its intended destination or ask the recipient to confirm that it works for their next step.
The last two points are good handoff habits, not a guarantee that every format preserves every kind of document content. If the result does not contain what you expected, revisit the format requirements and confirm that the chosen exporter is appropriate for the task.
When the format you need is missing
If you cannot find the required exporter, first check the supported-formats page and SAMSON Connect for available extensions. If the exporter is still missing, the documentation invites users to contact the SAMSON team. For developers interested in building an exporter, the reference points to the guide for generating SAMSON Extensions. Exporters belong to the broader extension ecosystem, alongside importers, which handle reading files into SAMSON.
A small amount of planning before export makes scientific handoffs clearer: know the intended use, check the format, and verify the file when possible. For the reference overview, see SAMSON Exporters.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON at samson-connect.net.