One of the most persistent issues that molecular modelers face is dealing with the variety of file formats present in computational chemistry and structural biology. Between .pdb, .mol2, electron density maps, and dozens more, managing the import process often becomes a workflow bottleneck — especially when using unfamiliar platforms.
That’s where SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, tries to make things easier through its dedicated Importers system.
What are Importers in SAMSON?
In SAMSON, Importers are specialized tools designed to read and load molecule-related data from various file types. For molecular modelers who regularly work with PDB structures, electron density files, and other representations of molecular data, these Importers are essential for quickly accessing and visualizing datasets in the SAMSON environment.
Some key points:
- SAMSON includes a set of default Importers for standard file formats like PDB, MOL2, etc.
- Additional Importers can be downloaded from SAMSON Connect.
- If you’re working with a format not yet supported, you can contact the SAMSON team to suggest an importer or even create your own.
Why does this matter?
Having reliable Importers means you don’t need to worry whether your valuable data from an external simulation tool or database will load inside SAMSON. This saves time, avoids manual data cleaning, and reduces errors that can occur during file conversion. For example, if you’re transitioning from crystallographic data in .ccp4 or .mrc format to a modeling platform for further structure-based drug design, a missing parser can add hours of frustration — or even force you to temporarily abandon the tool.
Extend your workflow with custom Importers
If you’re facing file type limitations, SAMSON doesn’t stop at pre-built solutions. Developers can write their own Importers using SAMSON Extensions. This makes SAMSON adaptable to academic groups or companies with domain-specific data formats.
Start by learning more about the Extension Generator and browse through the Developer Documentation Center to build your own custom importer modules.
Whether you’re importing molecular structures from the Protein Data Bank or working with high-resolution cryo-EM maps, SAMSON’s Importer system is designed to streamline your research pipeline by getting your data into the platform without hassle.
📚 Learn more about SAMSON Importers.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.