One of the most common frustrations in molecular modeling is opening data files that just won’t load correctly. Whether it’s a Protein Data Bank (PDB) file with an edge-case formatting issue or an electron density map from a crystallography experiment, molecular modelers often bump into compatibility struggles that interrupt their workflows.
If you’ve ever spent precious minutes—or hours—trying to debug why your molecular structure won’t import into your modeling software, you’re not alone. This is where SAMSON’s Importers can significantly simplify things.
What are SAMSON Importers?
In SAMSON, Importers are dedicated tools that parse various data files so you can bring your molecular models right into your workspace without worrying about technical glitches or misinterpretations. Each importer is specialized: some focus on structures (like PDB or MOL2), others load maps (such as electron density or volumetric data), and more can be added depending on your needs.
Save Time with Built-in Support
SAMSON includes a set of built-in importers that already cover a wide range of commonly used molecular and materials science file formats. So for most users, importing data is as simple as choosing the file and hitting “Open.” No manual tweaking. No external converters.
Customize Your Toolkit
Need more than the defaults? You can expand your importing capabilities directly from SAMSON Connect, the official extension marketplace. This allows you to find additional importers specialized for particular file types or research needs—offering both flexibility and extensibility, especially useful in interdisciplinary projects.
Plan to Build Your Own Importer?
If you’re handling a very specific file format that isn’t supported out of the box, or experimenting with new data types, you can also develop your own importer. SAMSON provides comprehensive development tools and documentation for this purpose. Check the section on Generating SAMSON Extensions to get started.
When Things Don’t Work
If you suspect a particular file format isn’t yet supported in SAMSON, the team encourages users to get in touch. Head over to contact@samson-connect.net and let them know. Community feedback often guides the development of new features, so your input is welcome.
Get the Full List
Curious to know which formats SAMSON currently supports? Check out the complete list of supported formats.
If you’re a molecular modeler dealing with diverse data sources, SAMSON’s importer system can help streamline your workflow and reduce friction from unsupported formats.
To learn more, visit the full documentation here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/importers/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.