One of the most frequent challenges in molecular modeling is getting your data into the software in the first place. Whether you’re working with protein structures from the Protein Data Bank, volumetric data from electron microscopy, or other simulation outputs, incompatible file formats can lead to delays and frustration. Thankfully, SAMSON provides a dedicated solution: Importers.
Importers in SAMSON are tools dedicated to parsing and loading molecular data from various file formats, such as PDB or electron density files. This means you don’t have to manually convert or clean up your data before using it in SAMSON, saving time and reducing the risk of introducing errors.
What does SAMSON support by default?
Out of the box, SAMSON includes a useful set of importers to cover common file formats in structural biology and molecular modeling. This ensures that for most users—whether you’re downloading protein models, importing ligand conformers, or loading volumetric maps—SAMSON just works.
For a comprehensive view of what you can import, check out the list of supported formats. If your format isn’t there, keep reading.
Extending with SAMSON Connect
What if you need support for a format that isn’t covered by default? This is where SAMSON Connect comes in. SAMSON Connect is an online platform where users can download Extensions, including Importers developed by the community or by the SAMSON team. It’s essentially a modular ecosystem—you only download what you need.
Use cases include:
- Importing new formats such as XYZ, DCD, or other specialized outputs from simulation packages
- Loading custom file types specific to your research or institution
- Testing community-built Importers for novel experimental formats
Didn’t find what you needed?
If you’re missing support for a format and can’t find an Importer for it, you’re not stuck. You can reach out directly via contact@samson-connect.net. The SAMSON team is open to feedback and may have solutions or tips for your specific case.
Or build your own
If you’re technically inclined, you can write your own Importer using SAMSON’s Extension system. The Extension Generator helps streamline this, and the Documentation Center provides detailed guidance for developers.
While building your own might sound complex, it offers full control over how your data is parsed and interpreted. This is especially valuable for niche domains or cutting-edge research where no standard formats exist.
Whether you’re just getting started or handling large-scale projects, having flexible import capabilities matters. Importers in SAMSON take the hassle out of integrating your data, making it faster and easier to start modeling.
👉 Learn more about Importers in SAMSON.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.