MDL2SBML

= Conversion from MDL to SBML =

Introduction

 * About MDL
 * MDL (Model Description Language) is a language for modelling large multi-scale models for the program MCell. MCell (Monte Carlo cell) is a program that uses spatially realistic 3-D cellular models and specialized Monte Carlo algorithms to simulate the movements and reactions of molecules within and between cells—cellular microphysiology.


 * About SBML
 * SBML (Systems Biology Markup Language) is a machine-readable format for representing models. It's oriented towards describing systems where biological entities are involved in, and modified by, processes that occur over time. An example of this is a network of biochemical reactions. SBML's framework is suitable for representing models commonly found in research on a number of topics, including cell signaling pathways, metabolic pathways, biochemical reactions, gene regulation, and many others. If you want to know more, you can read the Basic Introduction on SBML

Documentation
This converter was written by David Tolnay and aims to translate an MDL model into SBML using libsbml-5.8.0 using the spatial package included with this version of libsbml. Due to changes to the spatial package specifications, we cannot guarantee that this works for the latter versions. MCell runs simulations that are specified in model description language (MDL) format. These files typically have the extension .mdl, but are not required to. A MDL file is a text file with commands separated by whitespace. The nature and type of whitespace (space, tab, newline) is unimportant to MCell3. You are thus free to use white space to clarify the contents of the MDL file. For more information about MDL, please visit this page.

Download
You can download MDL2SBML and its jar dependencies here.

You will need as well the core sbfc:

End users
These converters require. To run this converter, you have to copy all the jar files from the folder:

https://sourceforge.net/p/sbfc/code/HEAD/tree/converters/mdl2sbml/lib/

to the folder SBFC_core/lib.

To test the correct installation, you can type the scripts: # Print the list of available converters. MDL2SBML should be printed. ./sbfConverterList.sh   # Print the list of available models. MDLModel and LibSBMLModel should be printed. ./sbfModelList.sh To run the converter, you can use the script sbfConverter.sh with the usual syntax: # Convert a model from MDL to SBML ./sbfConverter.sh MDLModel MDL2SBML [file.mdl | folder]

Developers
To compile MDL2SBML from source, you also need Apache Ant 1.6.5 or higher.

After editing the source code you can build the jar file by just typing in the mdl2sbml folder: # Generate the jar file ant jar

# Generate the java documentation ant javadoc