Create Unique Links in 4 Steps#

In Grist, “link keys” are URL parameters that when combined with the user.LinkKey variable in access rules will determine which data a link recipient is permitted to view.

You can learn to do this in four easy steps. We’ve created a simple template you can copy and edit as you follow along with this guide.

In our example, you are a private tutor who uses Grist to track hours, payments, and client data. You would like to share session and payment history with parents via a link that only shows their family’s data. A simple way to do that would be to set access rules that limit a link recipient’s view to just those records tied to their family.

Let’s do that now.

Tutor and family's views The private tutor can see all data, but a parent can only see their family’s data.

Step 1: Create a unique identifier#

In the families table, create a new column in which you will use Grist’s UUID() function to generate and assign a unique key to each family.

Create a UUID for each family

Convert the column to the data column to freeze its values.

Convert to Data Column

You’ll notice our formula has changed to a trigger formula. Select ‘Apply to new records’. This will ensure that new rows will also be assigned a unique identifier.

Apply to New Records

Step 2: Connect UUID to records in other tables#

In the Students, Sessions, and Payments tables, add a column that ties each record to the referenced family’s UUID. Name these columns “UUID”, with the simple formula $Family.UUID. Not sure how this works? Brush up on Grist’s powerful reference columns.

Use reference columns to fetch UUID

Tip: The formula $Family.UUID gets the UUID from the record that is referenced in the Family column.

In the Families table, create a new column in which you will use Grist’s SELF_HYPERLINK() function to generate hyperlinks. Use the formula SELF_HYPERLINK(LinkKey_UUID=$UUID) to create a link key called “UUID” that sets the URL parameter to a specific $UUID within a record. Convert the column type to Text > Hyperlink.

Creating unique links

How does this work? The link generated for “Raddon, Fin” is .../Private-Tutor-recUUID/p/9?UUID_=6752c258-443d-4a2c-800d-1491da265b72. The “link key” is the part of the URL that reads ?UUID_=6752c258-443d-4a2c-800d-1491da265b72.

Step 4: Create access rules#

Open the Access Rules page from the left panel, and create rules to give limited access to your clients. Let’s think about who should access each table, and which parts of it should be accessible.

  1. You, the owner of the document should have full access to Read (R), Update (U), Create (C) and Delete (D) records in each table. Add the rule user.Access in [OWNER] to each table to grant owners full access. Why user.Access? Review access rule conditions to learn more.

  2. Parents viewing the document should have Read-Only access just to those records related to their family. In previous steps, we created a unique identifier (UUID) for each family, connected relevant records in all tables to a UUID, and generated URLs with link keys that include those UUIDs. Now we must create access rules that match UUIDs and URL link keys.

    To do so, add the rule user.LinkKey.UUID == rec.UUID to each table. This tells Grist to look at the URL’s link key (named UUID) and match it to records that include that same UUID. Set access to Read-Only by clicking on the drop-down menu next to “permissions”.

  3. Make sure Public Access is turned on in the “Manage Users” panel (see Sharing).

Tip: Do not edit the default rules. Row-level access is granted in the relevant tables.

Creating unique links

You did it! This is just the beginning. There’s a lot more you can do with link keys. Check out another example to deepen your understanding of link keys even more.

Still need help? View the tutorial solution here. Make a copy to see all data:

make-a-copy