Molecular modelers often juggle a wide variety of file formats—PDB, MOL2, CIF, and more—each with its own quirks and limitations. When switching between tools or collaborating with others, format conversion can become a significant bottleneck, increasing the chances of errors and wasting valuable time. If you’ve ever opened a molecular file only to find part of the data missing—or if you’ve had to hunt for yet another third-party converter—you’re not alone.
This is where SAMSON’s importer system offers a more integrated approach. Rather than forcing users to rely on external tools or manual parsing, SAMSON includes a set of built-in importers that make loading unsupported or complex structures significantly easier.
What are importers in SAMSON?
In SAMSON, importers are dedicated modules designed to load molecular and structural data files. Think of them as translators that can understand formats such as:
- PDB (Protein Data Bank)
- Electron density map files
- Various molecule and structure-related files used in computational chemistry and structural biology
These importers are included by default in SAMSON, and more are available on SAMSON Connect, where developers can contribute and share new importers.
Why this matters to you
Whether you’re modeling proteins, running dynamics simulations, or visualizing crystal structures, chances are you rely on multiple tools throughout a project. Format incompatibility can not only delay workflows but also compromise project integrity.
SAMSON’s plug-and-play importers minimize these risks by ensuring:
- Fast loading of complex structures
- Consistent data interpretation
- Reduced need for third-party format converters
- Extendability, letting you add or develop your own importers
Developing your own importers
If you regularly work with niche formats or custom data, SAMSON even allows you to develop your own importers. Using the Extension Generator, developers can create importers tailored to specific file types, pipelines, or experimental setups. This kind of adaptability is particularly helpful in research environments where formats evolve or are experiment-specific.
Missing an importer?
If you find that SAMSON doesn’t yet support a particular format, the team encourages you to get in touch via email. Chances are, others in the community may benefit from the importer you’re looking for.
Helpful links
To learn more about importers in SAMSON, visit the Importers documentation page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.