One of the most persistent difficulties in molecular modeling is the variety of file formats used by different databases, instruments, and software tools. Whether you’re working with PDB files from the Protein Data Bank, volumetric electron density maps, or proprietary formats, manual conversion or troubleshooting incompatibility issues can quickly create bottlenecks and reduce productivity.
If you’ve ever dug through folders looking for a converter, Googled error phrases from your modeling tool, or written a quick Python script just to load a structure, there’s a good chance your workflow can benefit from importers in SAMSON.
What Are Importers in SAMSON?
Importers in SAMSON are dedicated components designed to parse and load molecular and structural data from various file formats. These importers handle the low-level translation between file formats and the molecular objects they represent in SAMSON’s modeling environment.
By default, SAMSON comes with several importers covering common use cases. For example:
- PDB Importer – For protein structure files from RCSB or similar sources
- Electron Density Importer – For working with cryo-EM data or volumetric datasets
However, the system is extensible. If you need support for other formats, you can easily add more importers through SAMSON Connect, the platform’s centralized extension hub.
Why This Matters
Scientific modeling platforms often force users to conform to specific input standards. This leads to wasted time on file conversions, potential data degradation, and a fragmented workflow. By using importers tailored for your data types, you reduce the chances of format-related issues and improve your ability to focus on meaningful modeling and analysis.
Having specialized importers means:
- You don’t need to manually inspect or clean up data files before importing
- You can plug new data directly into your workflow, regardless of where it came from
- Long-term, you can streamline onboarding for teams or students by offering one environment that “just works” with your molecular data
Can’t Find the Importer You Need?
If you’re working with a format that’s not yet supported, SAMSON provides a development framework for creating your own importers. You can follow detailed instructions on how to do this by reading the guide to generating SAMSON Extensions.
Not ready to code yet? You can also reach out to the SAMSON team and suggest support for the file format you need.
Start with What’s Already Supported
If you’re unsure whether your file format is supported, check the full list of supported formats. The list keeps growing, with contributions via SAMSON Connect and updates from the SAMSON core team.
Conclusion
If you’re tired of constantly reformatting files or encountering errors during import, explore how SAMSON’s importers can remove that friction. Efficiently getting data into your modeling environment can make analysis more productive and enjoyable.
Learn more about using and developing importers in SAMSON on the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here.