Opening molecular structures from different file formats can be a challenge, especially when dealing with diverse data sources like PDBs, electron density maps, or proprietary modeling outputs. If you’ve ever received a structure file and SAMSON couldn’t open it, you’re not alone. Molecular modelers often face issues when jumping between tools that rely on varying standards. SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, offers a streamlined solution through its flexible system of importers.
What Are Importers?
In SAMSON, importers are tools designed specifically to parse and open a wide range of file types. This might include files containing protein structures, density maps, molecular dynamics trajectories, and more. These importers allow SAMSON to translate raw data into interactive molecular models you can work with immediately.
Why This Matters
If you’re transitioning between tools (like downloading PDB data and running simulations in SAMSON), the ability to import files accurately and quickly is critical. Without an effective importer, you might end up wasting time converting formats manually, introducing errors along the way, or worse—not being able to use your crucial data at all.
Built-in and Extendable
SAMSON comes equipped with a set of default importers for commonly used formats. These include popular ones like .pdb, .mol2, and formats typically used in structural biology and computational chemistry. However, should you come across a file type not supported out-of-the-box, you can visit SAMSON Connect—an online repository—to find additional importers developed by the community or team behind SAMSON.
What to Do If SAMSON Doesn’t Support Your Format
If you try to import a file format that SAMSON doesn’t seem to recognize, you still have options:
- Check the supported formats list: Visit the Formats Supported by SAMSON page for a full overview.
- Reach out: Can’t find the format you need? You can contact the team directly via email and let them know what you’re missing.
Advanced Users: Develop Your Own Importers
If you’re comfortable with software development, SAMSON also lets you build your own custom importer through its Extension Generator. You can read more about developing extensions in the Documentation center. This is especially useful for labs working with unique or proprietary file formats.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how importers work in SAMSON can save you time and hassle when juggling formats in your research. Whether you’re working with structural biochemistry, drug design, or molecular dynamics, having the right data pipeline in place makes a difference. And SAMSON’s modular approach ensures you’re not locked into a fixed set of features—you can always adapt and extend it to meet the needs of your project.
You can learn more about importers in the official documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from www.samson-connect.net.