A file that will not load can interrupt a molecular modeling session at the worst moment. The first useful question is not necessarily “What is wrong with my structure?” It is: “Does SAMSON have an importer for this file type, and am I looking in the right place for the answer?”
In SAMSON, importers are the extensions that parse files and bring their contents into a document. Depending on the format, the contents might be molecular structures, electron-density maps, meshes, or other objects. SAMSON includes default importers, and additional importers can be added from SAMSON Connect.
A practical way to investigate a file
- Identify the task. Are you trying to open a file already on your computer, retrieve a structure, or understand how the loaded content fits into a document? The Loading molecules guide covers the workflow for opening files and fetching structures.
- Check the format. Compare the file type with the list of formats supported by SAMSON. This is the place to check whether a format is supported for import—and to distinguish import support from export support.
- Look for the importer. Importers are the extension family responsible for reading files. If the format is supported, the importer is the relevant part of SAMSON to investigate. The documentation page is a reference for this extension family, rather than a step-by-step file-opening tutorial.
- Consider whether an additional extension is needed. SAMSON has default importers, and more can be added from SAMSON Connect. If the format you need is missing, contact the SAMSON team rather than assuming that an exporter or an unrelated extension will read it.
Importer, exporter, or loading workflow?
These terms point to different questions, and keeping them separate can save time. An importer reads a file into SAMSON. An exporter is the matching extension family for writing files. The Loading molecules page explains the user-facing workflow for opening files and working with documents, while the Supported formats page is the reference for checking formats.
For example, if you need to know whether a particular file format can be brought into SAMSON, consult the supported-formats list and the importer information. If your goal is to save or write a file in a format, consult the Exporters page instead. If you need instructions for opening a local file, start with Loading molecules.
When the format is not listed
A missing format does not mean you need to abandon the rest of your workflow. First confirm that you are checking the import list rather than the export list. Then see whether an importer is available through SAMSON Connect. If you still cannot find the importer you need, the documentation invites users to contact the SAMSON team about missing importers.
For developers who want to build an importer, the relevant starting point is the guide to generating SAMSON Extensions. The Extending SAMSON page also provides context on extension-based capabilities. These are different paths: users looking to open an existing supported file can begin with the format list and loading guide; developers looking to add support can explore extension development.
The short version: check the task, check the supported format, then look for the importer that reads it. Separating those questions makes it easier to find the right documentation—and to identify when you need an additional extension or help from the team.
For the importer reference, learn more about SAMSON importers.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.