A file that will not load can interrupt a modeling session at exactly the wrong moment. The cause is not always obvious: you may be looking for the steps to open a file, checking whether its format is supported, or discovering that you need an importer that is not included by default. These are different questions—and separating them is a useful first step.
Start by identifying the question
SAMSON uses importer extensions to read files and bring their contents into a document. Depending on the file and importer, that content may be a molecular structure, an electron-density map, a mesh, or another object. SAMSON includes default importers, and additional importers can be added from SAMSON Connect.
Before changing your workflow, ask: am I unsure how to open the file, unsure whether its format is supported, or missing support for a format? The documentation has a different destination for each question.
- You need the file-opening workflow. Go to Loading molecules. That page covers opening local files, fetching structures, and understanding documents. It is the right place to start when you know what you want to load but need help with the task itself.
- You need to check format support. Consult Supported formats. It lists formats SAMSON can import and export. Checking this list helps you establish whether the format is supported before spending time looking for a different loading procedure.
- You need an importer extension. Importers are the extension family responsible for reading files. SAMSON has default importers, and you can add more through SAMSON Connect. If you are looking for an importer that is not available, the documentation suggests contacting the SAMSON team.
Keep importing and exporting separate
It is easy to search for the wrong kind of extension when working with file formats. An importer reads a file into SAMSON; an exporter is the corresponding extension family for writing files. If your goal is to bring data into a document, look for importer support. If your goal is to write data out, check the exporter information instead. The Exporters page explains that matching extension family.
Make a format-support request easier to answer
If you cannot find an importer, first check the supported-formats list and clarify what you are trying to do: read a file into SAMSON or write one out. When contacting the team, include the format name and describe the kind of content you need to load, such as a structure, map, or mesh. This gives the request useful context without assuming that two files with similar names contain the same kind of data. The contact link provided by the documentation is contact@samson-connect.net.
If you are interested in building support yourself, the importer reference points developers to the documentation for generating SAMSON Extensions. For broader guidance, see the Documentation center. For an overview of how importers fit into SAMSON, return to the Importers reference.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.