Working with molecular data often means juggling various file formats: PDB, MOL2, CIF, DX, CCP4, and many others. Not every software accepts all formats, and converting between them can be time-consuming and error-prone. If you’ve found yourself stuck because your favorite visualization or modeling program doesn’t support a specific format, you’re not alone. Fortunately, the SAMSON molecular design platform offers a flexible solution through its powerful Importers system.
What are Importers?
In SAMSON, Importers are modular tools designed to parse and load files into the platform. Think of them as specialized gateways that translate raw data into usable molecular models. For example:
- PDB Importers for protein structures
- Electron density importers for volumetric data
- Other structured text or binary formats used across molecular modeling applications
These Importers allow SAMSON to open a wide range of formats natively – and this significantly streamlines the workflow of molecular modelers, chemists, and educators.
Start with the Built-ins
SAMSON comes with a variety of built-in Importers that make it immediately usable for most users. Whether you’re opening structural data from the Protein Data Bank or importing volumetric data from X-ray crystallography experiments, SAMSON has you covered. This built-in support makes it easy to load structures, visualize them, and begin analysis or simulations right away.
Need More? Get Extensions
What if you receive a molecular file in a format that SAMSON doesn’t yet support? SAMSON Connect provides many additional Importers that can be installed on demand. Simply browse the SAMSON Connect platform to see what’s available and extend your loader capabilities in just a few clicks.
Still Missing One? You Can Build It
A key feature of SAMSON is its developer-friendly architecture. If you’re working with a rare or custom file format, you can create your own Importer using the SAMSON Extension Generator. With C++ and Python workflows supported, it’s possible to write an Importer specific to your organization’s needs – whether that means faster parsing, custom annotations, or proprietary file structures.
Common Use Cases
- You receive experimental structure data in a format not supported by visualization tools
- You want to directly load computed charge densities or atomic fields saved in CCP4 or DX formats
- You need to combine structural data from several sources with varying formats
In all these scenarios, Importers ease the friction and make it easier to focus on the science, not the formatting.
Learn more about how Importers work in the full documentation page here.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net