> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nuvolos.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nuvolos.com/how-to-guides/common-workflows/object-distribution.md).

# Distribution

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Outcome**</mark>\
You push files, tables, or applications from a source instance to one or more target instances using the staging-and-distribute click-flow.

<mark style="color:$primary;">**Before you start**</mark>

* You hold at least **Instance Viewer** in the source instance and **Instance Editor** in the target.
* You are in the Current State (or in a snapshot view if you are distributing from a snapshot) of the source.
* You have decided which distribution strategy to use - Overwrite, Distribute Extra, Mirror, or Skip. See [Reference › Configuration](/reference/configuration.md) for the four strategies.

Distribution is how content moves between Instances on Nuvolos - files, tables, applications, or any combination. The same mechanical click-flow applies regardless of the source and target. This page documents the mechanic; the role-specific applications (who you distribute to, why, and what strategy to use) are covered in the role-specific documents.

You can distribute the following object types:

* Files, sets of files, or entire directories
* Tables or sets of tables
* Applications or sets of applications
* Entire snapshots

## Distributing a selected list of items

You can distribute a set of items from a single instance using the **Stage** - a temporary area for collecting objects to be distributed. To distribute from multiple sources, you must initiate a separate distribution from each source.

The procedure:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Navigate to the source instance and the Current State.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
On the sidebar, click **Files**. Select the file you want to distribute and click **STAGE**.&#x20;

You can also do mass operations on the action item row about the file list table in the vertical ... menu.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
*(Optional) On the sidebar, click Applications. Select the application you want to distribute and stage it.*
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
*(Optional) On the sidebar, click Tables. Select the tables you want to distribute, and stage them.*
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
On the sidebar, click the share icon to open the **Stage**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Review your staged objects - you can remove items using the red "X" button - and click **CONTINUE**.

*(Optional) Save the staged objects as a **named bundle** for future reference. Useful if you plan to re-run the same distribution later - you can re-distribute the bundle without re-staging individual items.*
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the target for distribution. You can distribute within the current space, to another space, or to another organisation. You can also choose whether to share with all instances (education-only) or just one. Click **CONTINUE**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
*(Optional) Enable notifications - Nuvolos can send a notification email to recipients on completion with a custom message. The message notifies all users in the target instances about a distribution having completed.*
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Select the distribution strategy. **Overwrite** is the default and almost always the correct choice.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
*(Optional) Create a snapshot in the target before distribution to guard against data loss.* Click **CONTINUE**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Review the list of items and click **SHARE OBJECTS**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Selecting a folder adds the entire file tree recursively. If a sub-folder is selected, the folder structure above it is created so paths match across all targets. Recently used Applications are auto-added to the distribution - remove them before continuing if you didn't intend to include them.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Distribution runs in the background. You will receive an email when it completes. If it fails, contact <support@nuvolos.cloud>. For large Application images, allow at least an hour before any time-sensitive deadline (such as an instructor distributing before a live lab session, or a researcher refreshing a dataset for collaborators).
{% endhint %}

### Role-specific notes

This page covers only the mechanical click-flow. For role-specific applications:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🎓 For instructors" %}
See [How-to › For Instructors › Distribute teaching material](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-instructors/distribute-to-prospective-students.md) for the cohort-distribution workflow including current and future student instances, and [Tutorials › Running a data-heavy lab session](/tutorials/tutorials-for-instructors/running-a-data-heavy-lab-session.md) for the live lab-session pattern.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="📖 For students " %}
Students are typically recipients of distribution rather than initiators. The mechanic is the same when distributing within a group instance, but the typical use case is the receiving end.
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="🔬 For researchers" %}
See [How-to › For Researchers › Create alternate Instances](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-researchers/create-alternate-approaches.md) for cross-instance distribution, and [How-to › For Researchers › Set up a dataset](/how-to-guides/workflows-for-researchers/setting-up-a-dataset-on-nuvolos.md) for distributing to a dataset space.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}