diff --git a/common/python/nomadcore/baseclasses.py b/common/python/nomadcore/baseclasses.py
index 127f4e9254bfcd7480f127c767212b28df5c65e1..46ad33bf9a1bde0474f8d74c5b53112c085273a0 100644
--- a/common/python/nomadcore/baseclasses.py
+++ b/common/python/nomadcore/baseclasses.py
@@ -346,6 +346,14 @@ class AbstractBaseParser(with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
             default_units=self.parser_context.default_units,
             metainfo_units=self.parser_context.metainfo_units)
 
+    def print_json_header(self):
+        self.super_backend.fileOut.write("[")
+        uri = "file://" + self.parser_context.main_file
+        self.backend.startedParsingSession(uri, self.parser_context.parser_info)
+
+    def print_json_footer(self):
+        self.super_backend.fileOut.write("]]\n")
+
     @abstractmethod
     def parse(self):
         """Used to do the actual parsing. Inside this function you should push