Molecular modelers often face the same problem at the end of their workflow: exporting data in the right format. Whether it’s to share your findings with collaborators, prepare inputs for simulation tools, or simply archive models for future use, exporting molecular structures and visualizations to the correct file format is a critical task. But what happens when the format you need isn’t supported out of the box?
In SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, the solution is straightforward thanks to Exporters. Exporters are dedicated modules designed to export content from your document—typically molecular structures and visuals—into various file types like PDB, XYZ, and more. SAMSON includes several exporters by default, and you can extend this capability further by adding new ones from SAMSON Connect.
Default Exporters or Custom Ones?
For many everyday needs, the built-in exporters cover a wide range of standard formats used in molecular modeling. But sometimes, your work might require exporting to a specialized format that is not yet available. Don’t let that block your process.
You can explore the list of all formats currently supported by SAMSON to see if what you need is already covered. If it isn’t, you have a few options:
- Contact the SAMSON team directly at contact@samson-connect.net to suggest a new exporter.
- Or, if you or a collaborator has development skills, you can create your own exporter by following the developer documentation on generating new SAMSON Extensions.
Start Developing Custom Exporters
Developing a custom exporter may sound intimidating, but SAMSON makes it accessible even if you’re not an experienced software developer. The Extension Generator guides you through the process, and the Documentation Center provides all the technical details you need to get started. This means you can tailor your export functionality to your specific workflow and data-sharing needs.
Imagine creating an exporter for a niche visualization format used by your collaborators, or to directly feed machine learning pipelines. This level of control can significantly simplify your downstream processes.
Having trouble finding what you need? Head over to the original page about Exporters in SAMSON to learn more.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON and explore its ecosystem at samson-connect.net.