# Sharing a Collection

## Overview

Share your collections across federated data sharing networks or with specific users through [Access Policies](/products/publisher/access-policies.md).

Publisher provides three primary sharing services:

### **Discovery**

* Makes collection metadata publicly visible
* Includes collection name, description, and other metadata
* Required for network sharing

### **Search**

* Enables table querying
* Uses [GA4GH Data Connect](https://genomic-discovery.org/data-connect/) standard
* Requires access policy selection

### **Download**

* Allows file downloads via [GA4GH Data Repository Service API](https://ga4gh.github.io/data-repository-service-schemas/)
* Requires[ access policy](/products/publisher/access-policies/managing-an-access-policy.md) selection

## Sharing Configuration

### Enabling Services

1. Navigate to your collection from the "Collections" page
2. Access the "Sharing" tab to view and modify sharing preferences
3. Configure desired sharing services:
   * Toggle "Discovery" to enable public visibility
   * Select target Networks for sharing
   * Set access policies for Search and Download services

{% hint style="info" %}
Network sharing changes may take several minutes to propagate
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Disabling "Discovery" removes collection from all Networks
{% endhint %}

### Access Control

* Services require appropriate access policies when enabled
* Administrators retain access regardless of sharing settings
* Collection status updates automatically based on enabled services
* "Not Shared" status indicates all services are disabled

{% hint style="info" %}
Access policies are mandatory for Search and Download services
{% endhint %}

## Notes

* Collections with all services disabled can only be accessed by Administrators
* A collection's sharing status is determined by its service toggles:
  * "Shared" appears when any service (Discovery, Search, or Download) is enabled
  * "Not Shared" appears when all services are disabled


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.omics.ai/products/publisher/collections/sharing-a-collection.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.