Sharing research data and molecular models with colleagues is essential to collaborative science. But in many cases, molecular modelers face challenges when it comes to managing who can see, access, or edit their files—especially when those files are hosted in the cloud.
SAMSON Connect, the collaborative extension of the SAMSON molecular design platform, provides a way to share documents while maintaining control over their visibility and access levels.
What is a “document” in SAMSON?
In SAMSON, a “document” can be any data file generated or used within the platform—molecular structures, simulation outputs, project metadata, etc. These documents can be uploaded to SAMSON Connect and shared with others in your team, group, or institution.
Visibility Settings: More Than Just Public or Private
One pain point for many users is the lack of flexibility in traditional document-sharing platforms. With SAMSON Connect, when you publish a document, you can specify who can use or edit it based on three visibility settings:
- Public: Anyone can view or use the document; editing requires specific access rights.
- Hidden: Only people with a direct link can view or use the document; editing still requires access rights.
- Restricted: Both viewing and editing require explicitly granted access rights. This is the default setting.
To publish a document:
- In the SAMSON interface, click
Home > Publish. - Fill in the document name and description.
- Select the desired visibility option.
Once published, you get a link to your document and it appears in your shared documents list on SAMSON Connect.
Managing Access After Publication
Documents are rarely static. You may want to revoke access, update information, or grant edit rights to new collaborators later.
On SAMSON Connect:
- Go to your User Menu > Documents.
- Select the document you want to manage.
- Click Edit to update visibility or grant access.
Adding users is simple: either invite collaborators by username/email or assign access via a group.
Who is this for?
If you’re working in academia or in a collaborative industry setting, this level of control can help you:
- Publish datasets or molecular systems for others to explore while keeping edit control.
- Create private research discussions among specific collaborators.
- Maintain traceability over cloud-shared simulation outputs.
Explore more collaboration tools and document settings at the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.