diff --git a/config/datatypes_conf.xml.sample b/config/datatypes_conf.xml.sample
index 4a181ce15e8..21b4bdd2bbc 100644
--- a/config/datatypes_conf.xml.sample
+++ b/config/datatypes_conf.xml.sample
@@ -726,6 +726,8 @@
     <datatype extension="ideaspre" type="galaxy.datatypes.genetics:IdeasPre" display_in_upload="true"/>
     <!-- End IDEAS datatypes -->
     <datatype extension="sbml" type="galaxy.datatypes.xml:Sbml" mimetype="application/xml" display_in_upload="true"/>
+    <datatype extension="spalndbnp" type="galaxy.datatypes.spaln:SpalnNuclDb" display_in_upload="true" />
+    <datatype extension="spalndba" type="galaxy.datatypes.spaln:SpalnProtDb" display_in_upload="true" />
   </registration>
   <sniffers>
     <!--
diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/spaln.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/spaln.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4df12022437
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/spaln.py
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+"""
+spaln Composite Dataset
+"""
+
+import io
+import logging
+import os.path
+
+from galaxy.datatypes.data import Data
+from galaxy.datatypes.metadata import MetadataElement
+from galaxy.util import smart_str
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+verbose = True
+
+
+class _SpalnDb(Data):
+    allow_datatype_change = False
+    composite_type = "auto_primary_file"
+
+    MetadataElement(
+        name="spalndb_name",
+        default="spalndb",
+        desc="DB name",
+        readonly=True,
+        visible=True,
+        set_in_upload=True,
+    )
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwd):
+        super(_SpalnDb, self).__init__(**kwd)
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.ent",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.ent",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.grp",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.grp",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.idx",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.idx",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.seq",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.seq",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+
+    def generate_primary_file(self, dataset=None):
+        rval = ["<html><head><title>Spaln Database</title></head><p/>"]
+        rval.append(
+            "<div>This composite dataset is composed of the following files:<p/><ul>"
+        )
+        for composite_name, composite_file in self.get_composite_files(
+            dataset=dataset
+        ).items():
+            fn = composite_name
+            opt_text = ""
+            if composite_file.get("description"):
+                rval.append(
+                    '<li><a href="%s" type="application/binary">%s (%s)</a>%s</li>'
+                    % (fn, fn, composite_file.get("description"), opt_text)
+                )
+            else:
+                rval.append(
+                    '<li><a href="%s" type="application/binary">%s</a>%s</li>'
+                    % (fn, fn, opt_text)
+                )
+        rval.append("</ul></div></html>")
+        return "\n".join(rval)
+
+    def regenerate_primary_file(self, dataset):
+        """
+        cannot do this until we are setting metadata
+        """
+        efp = dataset.extra_files_path
+        flist = os.listdir(efp)
+        rval = [
+            "<html><head><title>Files for Composite Dataset %s</title></head><body><p/>Composite %s contains:<p/><ul>"
+            % (dataset.name, dataset.name)
+        ]
+        for i, fname in enumerate(flist):
+            sfname = os.path.split(fname)[-1]
+            f, e = os.path.splitext(fname)
+            rval.append('<li><a href="%s">%s</a></li>' % (sfname, sfname))
+        rval.append("</ul></body></html>")
+        with open(dataset.file_name, "w") as f:
+            f.write("\n".join(rval))
+            f.write("\n")
+
+    def set_peek(self, dataset, is_multi_byte=False):
+        """Set the peek and blurb text."""
+        if not dataset.dataset.purged:
+            dataset.peek = "spaln database (multiple files)"
+            dataset.blurb = "spaln database (multiple files)"
+        else:
+            dataset.peek = "file does not exist"
+            dataset.blurb = "file purged from disk"
+
+    def display_peek(self, dataset):
+        """Create HTML content, used for displaying peek."""
+        try:
+            return dataset.peek
+        except Exception:
+            return "spaln database (multiple files)"
+
+    def display_data(
+        self,
+        trans,
+        data,
+        preview=False,
+        filename=None,
+        to_ext=None,
+        size=None,
+        offset=None,
+        **kwd
+    ):
+        """
+        If preview is `True` allows us to format the data shown in the central pane via the "eye" icon.
+        If preview is `False` triggers download.
+        """
+        if not preview:
+            return super(_SpalnDb, self).display_data(
+                trans,
+                data=data,
+                preview=preview,
+                filename=filename,
+                to_ext=to_ext,
+                size=size,
+                offset=offset,
+                **kwd
+            )
+        if self.file_ext == "spalndbn":
+            title = "This is a nucleotide-query spaln database"
+        elif self.file_ext == "spalndbp":
+            title = "This is a protein-query spaln database"
+        elif self.file_ext == "spalndba":
+            title = "This is a protein spaln database"
+        else:
+            # Error?
+            title = "This is a spaln database (unknown format)."
+        msg = ""
+        try:
+            # Try to use any text recorded in the dummy index file:
+            with io.open(data.file_name, "rU", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+                msg = handle.read().strip()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        if not msg:
+            msg = title
+        # Galaxy assumes HTML for the display of composite datatypes,
+        return smart_str(
+            "<html><head><title>%s</title></head><body><pre>%s</pre></body></html>"
+            % (title, msg)
+        )
+
+    def merge(split_files, output_file):
+        """Merge spaln databases (not implemented)."""
+        raise NotImplementedError("Merging spaln databases is not possible")
+
+    def split(cls, input_datasets, subdir_generator_function, split_params):
+        """Split a spaln database (not implemented)."""
+        if split_params is None:
+            return None
+        raise NotImplementedError("Can't split spaln database")
+
+    def set_meta(self, dataset, **kwd):
+        super(_SpalnDb, self).set_meta(dataset, **kwd)
+        efp = dataset.extra_files_path
+        for filename in os.listdir(efp):
+            if filename.endswith(".ent"):
+                dataset.metadata.spalndb_name = os.path.splitext(filename)[0]
+        self.regenerate_primary_file(dataset)
+
+
+class SpalnNuclDb(_SpalnDb):
+    file_ext = "spalndbnp"
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwd):
+        super(SpalnNuclDb, self).__init__(**kwd)
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.bkn",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.bkn",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.bkp",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.bkp",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
+
+
+class SpalnProtDb(_SpalnDb):
+    file_ext = "spalndba"
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwd):
+        super(SpalnProtDb, self).__init__(**kwd)
+        self.add_composite_file(
+            "%s.bka",
+            is_binary=True,
+            description="spalndb.bka",
+            substitute_name_with_metadata="spalndb_name",
+        )
