Collaboration lies at the heart of molecular design. Whether you’re part of a research group, teaching a course, or developing computational tools, the ability to share molecular structures and project files seamlessly can save time and improve reproducibility. In SAMSON, molecular modelers can take advantage of Shared Documents to collaborate more efficiently—without the friction often associated with file versioning or disparate file systems.
Let’s look at how SAMSON lets users share their projects online through SAMSON Connect, and how this feature can make collaboration easier for teams across the globe.
Why Shared Documents Matter
If you’ve ever found yourself emailing folders full of .PDB files, scripts, and screenshots, only to discover version mismatches or missing data, you’ll appreciate SAMSON’s approach. By embedding not only molecular structures but also Python scripts, datasets, and images directly within a SAMSON Document, everything needed to reproduce a result is contained in a single file. This makes sharing a matter of a few clicks.
How to Share a Document
Once you’ve completed your work in SAMSON, you can publish your document to SAMSON Connect by going to Home > Publish. This opens a window where you can set:
- Name of the document
- Description
: Public, Hidden (shared via link), or Restricted (private, controlled access)
After confirming, SAMSON provides an online link to the document hosted at SAMSON Connect. This link can be sent to collaborators or embedded in publications or teaching materials. It ensures they receive the full project—models, settings, code, and more.
How to Access Shared Documents
Your colleagues (or you, from a different location) can retrieve shared documents by selecting Home > Download in SAMSON. This brings up the SAMSON Connect document explorer. Users can browse public documents or log in to access hidden and restricted ones shared specifically with them.
Managing Shared Projects
Document access can be revoked or changed at any time via your SAMSON Connect account. This is especially useful in academic settings where documents might be used during a course, then hidden afterward. Similarly, research collaborators can update access permissions as projects evolve.
Embedding Everything You Need
One of the most powerful aspects of SAMSON’s shared documents is that you’re not just sharing molecular structures—you can embed entire workflows. From Python scripts for analysis, to datasets and supporting files, all can be packaged within a shared document. This improves reproducibility and ensures your collaborators see exactly what you see.
Whether you’re conducting computation-heavy studies or preparing lecture material for students, shared documents in SAMSON make it easier to distribute complete projects without additional setup on the receiving end.
To dive deeper into how SAMSON handles document sharing and embedding, check out the full documentation here: https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/loading-molecules/
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.