Sharing Timelines

Overview

Thea allows you to share your timelines with anyone via a secure, public link. Recipients can view your timeline without needing to create an account or log in.

Key features:

• Public, read-only access
• No authentication required for viewers
• Optional expiration dates
• Easy link revocation
• Professional viewing experience

How to Share a Timeline

1. Open the timeline you want to share
2. Click the Share button in the timeline header
3. Toggle Enable sharing on
4. Copy the generated share link
5. Send the link to your recipients

The share link will look like: https://yourapp.com/en/share/abc-123-def

Share Settings

Enable/Disable Sharing

Use the toggle switch to quickly enable or disable public access to your timeline:

• On: Timeline is accessible via the share link
• Off: Share link is deactivated (existing links stop working)

You can toggle sharing on and off at any time without generating a new link.

Link Expiration

Control how long your share link remains valid:

• Never (default): Link works indefinitely until you disable it
• 7 days: Link expires after one week
• 30 days: Link expires after one month
• 90 days: Link expires after three months

Expiration dates are enforced server-side. When a link expires, viewers see a message explaining the link is no longer valid.

Note: You can change the expiration period at any time while sharing is active.

What Recipients See

When someone opens your share link, they experience:

View-Only Access

• Full timeline visualization (all view modes available)
• Complete event details
• Interactive zooming and panning
• Category filtering
• Player information
• Exhibit details
• Markers and ranges

Disabled Features

• No editing capabilities
• No export functionality
• No event chat/AI assistance
• No fullscreen mode
• No ability to create new events

Professional Header

• Timeline title with lock icon ("View only")
• Subtle Thea branding
• Clean, distraction-free interface

Managing Share Links

Copy the Link

Click the Copy button to quickly copy the share link to your clipboard. The button shows "Copied" confirmation when successful.

View Current Status

When sharing is active, the dialog shows:

• "Shared on [date]" - When you first enabled sharing
• Current expiration status
• Full share URL

Revoke Access

To stop sharing your timeline:

1. Open the Share dialog
2. Toggle Enable sharing off

The link immediately becomes invalid. Anyone who tries to access it will see an error message.

Note: Toggling sharing back on uses the same link—you don't need to send a new URL.

Use Cases

Client Sharing

Share timelines with clients who need to review case chronology without needing system access.

Best practices:

• Set an expiration date (e.g., 30 days)
• Share only finalized timelines
• Send via secure email

Opposing Counsel

Provide discovery timelines to opposing parties in litigation.

Best practices:

• Use longer expiration periods (90 days)
• Document when you shared the timeline
• Consider watermarking in export instead for official records

Expert Witnesses

Give expert witnesses access to case chronology for their analysis.

Best practices:

• Share early in the engagement
• Set "Never expires" for long-running cases
• Revoke access when engagement ends

Team Collaboration

Share with colleagues, paralegals, or co-counsel.

Best practices:

• Encourage them to create their own account for full access
• Use sharing for quick reviews only
• For active collaboration, add them to your project instead

Presentations

Display timelines during mediations, depositions, or hearings.

Best practices:

• Test the link before the meeting
• Ensure stable internet connection
• Have a backup export (PDF) ready

Security Considerations

Link Privacy

Share links use cryptographically random UUIDs that are extremely difficult to guess. However:

• Anyone with the link can view your timeline
• Links can be forwarded or shared by recipients
• Consider using expiration dates for sensitive cases
• Review what information is visible before sharing

What's Shared

When you share a timeline, recipients can see:

• All events and their details
• Event descriptions and notes
• Categories and players
• Linked exhibits (metadata only—not document contents)
• Markers and ranges
• Timeline title and metadata

Recipients cannot see:

• Your source documents
• Other timelines in your account
• Project information
• Your account details

Access Control

You maintain full control:

• Enable/disable sharing anytime
• Change expiration dates
• No copies are created—link always shows current timeline state
• Deleting the timeline invalidates the share link

Best Practices

1. Only share finalized timelines: Recipients see live updates
2. Use expiration dates: Especially for sensitive cases
3. Track who you share with: Keep a record of recipients
4. Revoke when done: Disable sharing when no longer needed
5. Review before sharing: Verify no confidential info is visible

Sharing vs. Exporting

Use sharing when:

• Recipients need interactive access
• Timeline may be updated
• You want to revoke access later
• Viewers need to zoom and filter
• No software installation required

Use export when:

• You need an official record
• Recipients need offline access
• Archival purposes
• Court filings or formal submissions
• Timeline is final and won't change

Tip: You can use both! Share for review, then export the final version for records.

Troubleshooting

Link Not Working

Problem: Recipient says link doesn't work

Solutions:

• Verify sharing is still enabled in Share dialog
• Check if link has expired
• Ensure they copied the full URL
• Try opening in incognito/private browsing
• Check for firewall/network restrictions

Timeline Not Updating

Problem: Recipient sees old version of timeline

Solutions:

• Have them refresh the page (Cmd/Ctrl + R)
• Clear their browser cache
• Try a different browser
• Verify you saved your changes

Can't Copy Link

Problem: Copy button not working

Solutions:

• Manually select and copy the URL from the text field
• Check browser clipboard permissions
• Try a different browser
• Right-click the URL field and select "Copy"

Expired Link Issues

Problem: Link expired sooner than expected

Solutions:

• Check the expiration date in Share dialog
• Verify your system time is correct
• Create a new share link with longer expiration

Tips for Professional Sharing

Before Sharing

1. Review content: Check for errors, typos, or sensitive information
2. Organize events: Ensure proper categorization
3. Add context: Include descriptions for clarity
4. Test the link: Open it yourself in incognito mode
5. Set expiration: Choose appropriate timeline

When Sharing

1. Provide context: Explain what the timeline shows
2. Set expectations: Let recipients know it's view-only
3. Share securely: Use encrypted email or secure messaging
4. Document sharing: Record when and with whom you shared
5. Set calendar reminder: To revoke access if using expiration

After Sharing

1. Monitor access: Check if recipients viewed it
2. Gather feedback: Ask if they have questions
3. Update as needed: Remember they see live changes
4. Revoke when done: Disable sharing when no longer needed
5. Export final version: Create permanent record

Keyboard Shortcuts (View Mode)

Recipients using your shared timeline have access to these shortcuts:

• Zoom: Ctrl/Cmd + Plus/Minus
• Reset zoom: Ctrl/Cmd + 0
• Navigate events: Arrow keys (in event drawer)
• Close event: Escape

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can recipients download my timeline? A: No. The share link provides view-only access. They cannot export or download your timeline.

Q: Will they see my changes in real-time? A: Not instantly, but when they refresh the page, they'll see the latest version.

Q: Can I share multiple timelines at once? A: Each timeline has its own share link. You need to enable sharing for each timeline individually.

Q: Is there a limit to how many people can view? A: No. Any number of people can view your shared timeline simultaneously.

Q: Can I password-protect a share link? A: Not currently. Use expiration dates and careful link distribution for access control.

Q: What happens if I delete a shared timeline? A: The share link becomes invalid immediately. Recipients will see a "Timeline not found" error.

Q: Can recipients see who else is viewing? A: No. Viewing is completely anonymous and private.

Q: Does sharing cost extra or use credits? A: No. Sharing is included with your account at no additional cost.

Related Features

• Exporting: Learn about PDF and Word exports
• Projects: Organize timelines into projects
• Settings: Configure your account preferences