A file that refuses to load can interrupt a modeling session at exactly the wrong moment. The cause is not always the structure itself: SAMSON needs an importer that can read the file’s format, and the right next step depends on whether you are opening a file, checking format support, or looking for an importer that is not installed.
Start by separating the problem into three questions
1. What are you trying to open? SAMSON importers can read different kinds of objects, including structures, maps, and meshes. Knowing the kind of data you have helps you look for the relevant format support rather than treating every file as a molecular structure.
2. Is the format supported? Check SAMSON’s supported formats list. This is the place to confirm whether a format can be imported or exported. It can also help clarify whether your issue is likely to be a missing importer rather than a problem with the file-opening workflow.
3. Is the importer available in your SAMSON setup? SAMSON includes default importers, and additional importers can be added from SAMSON Connect. If a format is supported but you cannot use it, checking the available extensions is a sensible next step.
Choose the next step based on your goal
If you simply want to open a local file or fetch a structure, use the task-oriented Loading molecules guide. The importer reference is not a step-by-step loading tutorial; it explains where importers fit into SAMSON’s file-reading system.
If you are deciding whether a particular file type is supported, go directly to the format list. If the importer you need is not available, SAMSON’s documentation suggests contacting SAMSON support about the missing importer. This is more useful than repeatedly trying the same file-opening route when the required format reader may not be present.
If you are a developer who needs to create an importer, the relevant path is different again: consult the guide to generating SAMSON Extensions. Importers belong to SAMSON’s extension family, so development starts with extension documentation rather than the user workflow for loading a molecule.
Keep importing and exporting distinct
Importers read files into a SAMSON document. Exporters are the corresponding extension family for writing files. A format being available in one direction does not, by itself, tell you whether it is available in the other; check the supported-formats list for the specific direction you need. For more on writing files, see the Exporters reference.
A quick troubleshooting checklist
- Identify what kind of data the file contains: for example, a structure, map, or mesh.
- Check the supported-formats page for the file format and whether you need import or export support.
- For the mechanics of opening files, follow the Loading molecules guide.
- If the needed importer is absent, check SAMSON Connect or contact SAMSON.
- If you intend to build an importer, start with the extension-generation documentation.
This simple separation can save time: first establish whether the format is supported, then find the appropriate importer or workflow, and only then investigate other causes if the file still will not load. For the importer reference itself, learn more about importers in SAMSON.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.