One of the first challenges many molecular modelers face when starting a new project is simply getting their data into the software. Whether you are working with molecules from a public database or simulation results from another tool, the reality is that file formats vary, and not all software platforms support every format out of the box.
In SAMSON, the integrative platform for molecular design, file import is handled by specialized components called Importers. These are dedicated to parsing different file types and bringing molecular data into the SAMSON environment.
Where Importers Help
Importers in SAMSON may handle formats like .pdb (Protein Data Bank files), electron density files, trajectory formats, and others. If you’re starting out, you’ll find that SAMSON comes with a default set of importers that already handle a broad range of common use cases.
For example, if you download a PDB file directly from the RCSB PDB database, importing it into SAMSON is as simple as choosing File > Import, selecting the file, and letting the appropriate importer do its job. If the format is supported, your data will be available for visualization, analysis, and further modeling within seconds.
But what happens when the format you need isn’t supported?
When Your Format Isn’t Recognized
This is a frequent concern among computational chemists and structural biologists who might use niche tools or experiment with emerging data formats. If SAMSON doesn’t recognize the file format you’re trying to import, you have several options:
- First, double-check the list of supported formats to confirm whether your file type is included.
- If the format isn’t listed, you can browse SAMSON Connect to see if an importer for that format is available as an extension from the community.
- Still missing? The SAMSON team encourages you to contact them. Your use case might help shape the development of a new importer.
For Developers: Build Your Own Importer
If you’re comfortable with code and want SAMSON to read your custom or experimental file format, you can develop your own importer by creating a SAMSON Extension. This gives you full control over how data is parsed and handled within the platform.
To get started, refer to the page on generating SAMSON Extensions. You’ll find everything from code templates to best practices. You can also explore the Documentation center for more detailed guidance on the APIs and architecture behind SAMSON’s extensibility.
Knowing that you can extend SAMSON to fit custom workflows gives molecular researchers a lot of flexibility—especially in interdisciplinary projects where data formats can differ greatly across labs and simulation tools.
Final Thoughts
The ability to import your molecular data seamlessly is often taken for granted—until it doesn’t work. Whether you need access to rare data types or want to customize how information is processed, SAMSON’s importer framework provides both out-of-the-box formats and the flexibility to adapt to new ones.
To learn more, visit the official Importers documentation page: 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.