Whether you’re visualizing complex proteins or running simulations on small molecules, it’s likely that at some point you’ll want to save your work in a specific format to share with collaborators, publish your results, or process your data further. That’s where exporters in SAMSON come into play.
SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, provides a system of exporters to help users easily export their molecular data in various well-known formats like PDB, XYZ, and many others. If you’ve ever tried to exchange files with others who use different tools, or submit data to repositories that require specific formats, you’ve probably run into the problem of file incompatibility. SAMSON exporters are designed to reduce that friction.
What Are Exporters in SAMSON?
Exporters in SAMSON are small functional extensions that allow users to convert and save content from their active document into different file types. For example, you may want to export the geometry of a protein in a .pdb file, or share a molecular dynamics snapshot in .xyz format. Exporters do just that, preserving relevant information from your working session.
What’s Available by Default?
When you install SAMSON, it comes with a basic set of exporters out-of-the-box. These cover several common formats that work with downstream tools or databases in computational chemistry, bioinformatics, or material science workflows. That means you won’t have to dig around to install custom scripts or external plugins for basic export needs.
Need More Formats?
Sometimes, the default exporters might not be enough—especially if your workflow involves less common formats. Fortunately, SAMSON Connect, the official SAMSON extension platform, lets you browse and install additional exporters with just a few clicks. SAMSON Connect acts as a hub for community and developer-contributed extensions that expand the platform’s capabilities.
Missing a Format?
If there’s a specific format you work with and it’s not available, you’re not stuck. The SAMSON team welcomes user feedback. You can email them directly at contact@samson-connect.net. In many cases, formats requested by users get prioritized for development.
Want to Create Your Own Exporter?
If you’re comfortable with development or your needs are highly specific, SAMSON provides a way to build your own exporters. This involves using the SAMSON Extension Generator and referring to the platform’s developer documentation. Creating a custom exporter could be a good solution if you’re working with proprietary formats, automation pipelines, or just want to fine-tune the export behavior.
Why Don’t Other Platforms Make This Easier?
One common frustration among molecular modelers is the time spent finding the right tool, converter, or script just to save data in the appropriate format. By integrating exporters into the same platform where you build, simulate, and visualize systems, SAMSON removes that extra layer of work, saving time and reducing error.
👉 Want to explore the full list of exportable formats supported in SAMSON? Check the official list here.
To learn more about SAMSON exporters and how they can support your molecular modeling workflow, visit the documentation page: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/exporters/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.