Molecular modelers often face issues when trying to load structural or experimental files into their modeling environment. Whether you’re trying to open a .pdb, a volumetric data file, or a custom format exported from lab equipment, hitting the dreaded “file not supported” error can bring your workflow to a standstill.
If you’re using SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, you might not realize just how flexible and extensible its file import system truly is. Understanding how importers work in SAMSON can help you streamline your data preparation process and avoid repeated trial-and-error steps.
What are ‘Importers’ in SAMSON?
Importers in SAMSON are specialized scripts or modules designed to read and parse external files so that SAMSON can understand and visualize your molecular or scientific data. These are the tools that convert file data into usable objects in a SAMSON workspace.
For example:
- A PDB importer reads Protein Data Bank files and constructs a complete molecular geometry.
- An electron density importer may parse volumetric maps from crystallography or cryo-EM experiments.
Why You Might Need More Importers
Out-of-the-box, SAMSON includes a variety of importers to handle many popular structural formats. However, certain workflows or instruments might use less-common formats. When that happens, SAMSON might not recognize them — not because it’s incapable, but because the right importer isn’t installed yet.
This is where SAMSON Connect becomes very useful. There, you can browse and install additional importers created by the community or your own research teams to extend the platform’s capabilities with extra file formats.
Missing an Importer?
If you encounter a file format you need but SAMSON doesn’t recognize, the team actively invites feedback. You can easily reach out to them to request support for specific file types. The platform evolves based on user support and real-world use cases.
Interested in Developing Your Own Importers?
If you have coding experience or collaborate with someone who does, you can develop your own importers through the Extension Generator. This system provides a structured approach for creating custom imports that are flexibly integrated within SAMSON’s architecture.
Resources for getting started include:
This can be especially useful for research labs who manage proprietary file formats or want to create streamlined import workflows specific to their instrumentation.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling to load your data into SAMSON, or if your lab deals with uncommon file types, understanding and customizing importers can offer a long-term solution. With the ability to install community-made importers, request new ones, or even create your own, SAMSON takes a flexible approach to one of the most common pain points in molecular modeling workflows.
You can learn more in the official documentation here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/importers/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download the platform at https://www.samson-connect.net.