A cloud molecular-modeling job can contain more than a result worth inspecting: it may include input files, intermediate data, and details about how the work was run. When a collaborator asks to see a job, the practical question is not only “How do I send it?” but also “Who should be able to access it, and what should they be able to do?”
SAMSON makes cloud jobs available through SAMSON Connect, where you can manage jobs you created and jobs shared with you. A little thought about visibility and access before sharing can help avoid the two common headaches: a collaborator cannot get to the files, or the job is more widely visible than intended.
Choose visibility with the recipient in mind
SAMSON Connect provides three visibility options for jobs:
- Public: the job is visible to everyone.
- Hidden: a link is needed to download the files.
- Restricted: specific access rights are required to access the files or edit job details.
Jobs are set to Restricted by default. That is a useful starting point when you have not yet decided who should have access. Before changing visibility, consider the purpose of the share: is the job intended for broad discovery, for people who have a link, or for a defined set of collaborators?
These options describe visibility and access, not a substitute for deciding who should be able to work with the job. For a focused collaboration, a restricted job lets the owner grant access to a specific user or group. A public job, by contrast, is visible to everyone; do not choose it simply because it seems like the easiest way to help one colleague open a file.
A simple sharing workflow
- Find the job. On SAMSON Connect, open Jobs from your user menu. You can manage jobs you created and those shared with you.
- Check its visibility. Confirm whether the job is Public, Hidden, or Restricted. Remember that a restricted job requires specific rights; sending someone a link alone may not be enough.
- Grant access to the right people. If you are the job owner, you can grant access to a user or a group. Groups can be useful when a project involves several collaborators or membership changes over time.
- Let collaborators know where to look. A recipient with access can open the job in SAMSON Connect and view its files. Job files can also be downloaded using the context menu.
- Keep the record understandable. Job owners and editors can edit the job’s name and notes. A clear name and concise notes can help collaborators recognize the right run, especially when several jobs are part of the same project.
When a group is a better fit
If you expect to share multiple jobs with the same project team, granting access to a group can make the collaboration easier to organize than handling each person separately. SAMSON Connect supports public and private groups; group owners can manage membership and roles. You can also invite someone who does not yet have a SAMSON account by entering their email address when adding a group member.
For example, a team might use a private group for a project and grant that group access to relevant jobs. This keeps the sharing decision tied to the project team rather than to a collection of individual links. The owner remains responsible for controlling access, so it is worth checking group membership when the team changes.
Two checks that prevent confusion
First, separate visibility from editing. The documentation states that job owners or editors can change job details such as the name and notes, while job owners can grant access rights. If a collaborator only needs to retrieve files, consider that need when choosing the access arrangement rather than assuming every recipient should edit job information.
Second, verify the recipient’s route to the files. Hidden jobs require a link to download files, while restricted jobs require granted access rights. If someone cannot open a job, checking its visibility and permissions is a sensible first step before resending the link.
For step-by-step details on profiles, groups, documents, and cloud-job permissions, see the SAMSON collaboration documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.