Permissions in SimCapture determine who can access locations, courses, sessions, recordings, and administrative features. Because multiple permission models work together, users may occasionally be unsure why they can perform some actions but not others.

This article provides an overview of how permissions work throughout SimCapture and helps you identify which permission type controls the access you need.

How SimCapture Permissions Work Together

SimCapture uses several permission models to control access at different levels.

Each permission type serves a different purpose:

• Location access determines where users can record, livestream, or manage sessions.
• Course permissions determine who can work within a course.
• Session permissions determine who can access a specific session or recording.
• Sharing Defaults help automate permission assignments.
• User roles determine access to administrative functions and system setup.

Understanding which permission model applies to your situation is often the first step in resolving access issues.

A Simple Way to Think About Permissions

When determining whether a user can perform an action, SimCapture generally evaluates several layers of access.

A user typically needs:

1. Access to the location.
2. Access to the course (if applicable).
3. Access to the session (if applicable).
4. Permission to perform the specific action.

For example, a user may have permission to manage course sessions, but if they cannot access the location where the session is taking place, they may still be unable to perform certain activities.

Likewise, a user may have access to a location but still be unable to view a recording if they have not been granted course-level or session-level access.

Organization-Based Location Access

Organization-Based Location Access controls which locations users can see and use .

Administrators can associate organizations with locations to restrict access to specific rooms, simulation spaces, or campuses.

Common use cases include:

• Multi-campus environments
• Shared simulation centers
• Department-specific recording spaces
• Dedicated livestreaming rooms

If users cannot see a location on their dashboard, organization assignments are often the first place to check.

Learn more: Organization-Based Location Access in SimCapture

Course Permissions

Course Permissions control access across an entire course and its associated content.

Course Owners and Course Contributors may be granted permissions to:

• View recordings
• Manage participants
• Manage evaluations
• Run reports
• Manage course sessions

Course permissions are designed for users who regularly participate in a course and need ongoing access to course content.

When sessions are associated with a course, Course Contributors can automatically receive access to those sessions based on their assigned permissions.

Learn more: Course Permissions and Course Contributors

Session Contributors and Session Viewers

Session access is managed separately from course access.

Session Contributors and Session Viewers provide access to an individual session without granting broader course access.

This is useful when providing temporary access to:

• Evaluators
• Faculty reviewers
• Debrief facilitators
• Technical support personnel
• Subject matter experts

Session permissions are commonly used when someone needs access to a specific recording or session but does not require access to the entire course.

Learn more: Session Contributors and Session Viewers

Sharing Defaults

Sharing Defaults help automate permission management.

When a Course Contributor is added to a course, Sharing Defaults can automatically assign a predefined set of permissions.

Benefits include:

• Reduced administrative effort
• Consistent permission assignments
• Faster course setup
• Fewer manual permission changes

Sharing Defaults provide a starting point and can always be modified for individual users when needed.

Learn more: Sharing Defaults and Default Contributor Permissions

How Permission Types Work Together

The following examples demonstrate how multiple permission models may apply at the same time.

Example: Multi-Campus Recording Environment

A university uses a single SimCapture site across three campuses.

Organization-Based Location Access ensures users only see locations assigned to their campus.

Course Permissions determine which courses they can access.

Session Permissions determine which recordings they can view or manage.

Example: Guest Evaluator

An evaluator needs access to a single recorded session.

The evaluator may:

• Have access to the location through their organization.
• Not be assigned to the course.
• Be added as a Session Contributor for one specific session.

This allows targeted access without granting broader permissions.

Example: Course Faculty Member

A faculty member regularly participates in a course.

They may:

• Be assigned as a Course Contributor.
• Receive default permissions through Sharing Defaults.
• Automatically gain access to sessions associated with the course.

This reduces the need to manually add the faculty member to every individual session.

Choosing the Right Permission Type

Use this table to determine which permission feature best fits your needs.

Common Permission Questions

Why can't a user see a location?

Check:

• Organization membership
• Location assignment configuration
• User role

Why can a user see a location but not access a session?

Check:

• Course Permissions
• Session Contributor assignments
• Session Viewer assignments

Why can a user access a session but not perform certain actions?

Check:

• Course Contributor permissions
• Session Contributor permissions
• Sharing Defaults configuration

Why doesn't a Course Contributor have the permissions I expected?

Check:

• Sharing Defaults settings
• Individual permission customizations
• Course-specific permission changes

Related Articles

Continue to the article that best matches the access you're trying to manage:

• Organization-Based Location Access in SimCapture
• Course Permissions and Course Contributors
• Session Contributors and Session Viewers
• Sharing Defaults and Default Contributor Permissions
• Troubleshooting Permission Issues in SimCapture