Sharing a molecular model should make collaboration easier—not leave colleagues wondering whether they can open it, or make you worry that it is available more widely than intended. Before sending a document, take a moment to choose who should be able to use it. In SAMSON, you can publish a document through SAMSON Connect and select its visibility during publishing.
The key distinction is between who can use a document and who can edit it. Public and hidden documents can be used without access rights, but editing still requires them. Restricted documents require access rights to use or edit. Choosing the right setting up front helps set expectations for everyone who receives the document.
Choose visibility based on how you’ll share
- Public: Everyone can use the document. Editing requires access rights. Choose this when broad availability is appropriate.
- Hidden: Anyone with the link can use the document. Editing requires access rights. This is useful when you want to share by link rather than make the document generally available.
- Restricted: Using or editing the document requires access rights. Choose this when access should be limited to people who have been granted permission.
One practical question helps narrow the choice: should people be able to find and use the document generally, should access be through its link, or should access require rights? If you are unsure, decide who needs to use the document before publishing, then choose the visibility that matches that audience. Remember that “hidden” is not the same as restricted: anyone with the link can use a hidden document.
Publish with enough context
In SAMSON, click Home > Publish to open the publishing dialog. Enter a clear document name and description, then choose the visibility. A descriptive name helps collaborators identify the right file; a useful description gives them context before they open it. When you are ready, click Publish document. The document is shared in SAMSON Connect – Documents, and its link is provided in the same window.
Before sending the link, check that the visibility matches your intention. In particular, if you choose Hidden, keep in mind that anyone with the link can use the document. If you need access to be limited by rights, choose Restricted instead.
Find and download shared work
To download a document shared in SAMSON Connect – Documents, use Home > Download in SAMSON. This provides a direct route from the application to shared documents when you need to bring one into your workflow.
Keep track of shared documents
You can access and manage your shared documents, as well as documents shared with you, from your SAMSON Connect account. If collaboration involves access rights, groups, or managing shared documents, use the collaboration guidance alongside the publishing workflow. Keeping the sharing setting and the intended audience clear can prevent avoidable access questions later.
For the full instructions, visit the SAMSON documentation on sharing documents.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.