Help & Support - CCCOE Link Shortener

Help & Support Guide

Everything you need to know about using CCCOE Link Shortener

Quick Navigation

Getting Started

1. Signing In

To use CCCOE Link Shortener, you'll need to sign in with your CCCOE account:

2. Understanding the Interface

Dashboard

Overview of your links and recent activity

Create Link

Main page for creating new short links

My Links

Manage and view all your created links

Creating and Managing Links

Creating Your First Link

Best Practices: Use descriptive titles and custom codes for links you'll share frequently. This makes them easier to find and remember later.

Link Management Features

Edit Links

Update the title, description, or destination URL of existing links

Activate/Deactivate

Temporarily disable links without deleting them or their analytics

QR Codes

Generate QR codes for easy mobile access and print materials

Share Management

Grant colleagues or whole groups permission to edit and manage your links

Analytics & Reporting

Track the performance of your links with detailed analytics and reporting features.

Available Metrics

Click Counts

Total and time-based clicks

Referrer Sources

Where clicks came from

Browser Types

Device and browser usage

Click Trends

Performance over time

Accessing Analytics

Pro Tip: Use the Reports page to export your data as CSV files for presentations or further analysis in Excel.

Sharing & Groups

Sharing lets colleagues help manage a link you created. You can share with individual people, with groups of people, or with both at once.

Sharing a Link

What Shared Access Includes

Anyone you share a link with gets the same management rights you have. They can:

Edit the title, description, and destination

View analytics and QR codes

Activate or deactivate the link

Share it with others or remove access

Delete the link permanently

Share with people you trust. Deleting a link removes it for its owner and for everyone it's shared with, so only share with colleagues who should be able to manage it.

Groups

A group is a saved list of people, such as your team or department. Share a link with a group instead of adding each person one at a time. Manage your groups from Sharing → My Groups in the menu.

Creating a Group

Click New Group, give it a name, and add members by searching for them. To add a whole department at once, use Add everyone in department.

Membership Stays Up to Date

Access follows the group's current members. People you add later automatically get access to every link already shared with the group, and people you remove lose it.

Private Groups

Only you can see a private group or share links with it. This is the default.

Public Groups

Everyone can see a public group and share links with it, but only you can change its name or members. Public groups are handy for teams that many people share with.

Links Shared With You

Links others have shared with you appear on the Shared With Me page. If you have access because you're in a group, the link is labeled via that group's name.

Removing Access

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use custom short codes?

Yes! When creating a link, you can specify a custom short code instead of using the auto-generated one. Custom codes must be unique and can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens. For example: "budget-2024" or "staff-handbook".

How long do my links last?

Your links don't expire automatically. They remain active until you deactivate them. However, if you leave CCCOE or your account is deactivated, your links may be disabled for security reasons.

Can I share link management with colleagues?

Yes! Click the "Share" button on any link to give colleagues permission to manage it. You can share with several people at once, or with a group such as your team or department. See Sharing & Groups above for details.

Are there any restrictions on what URLs I can shorten?

URLs must be valid HTTP or HTTPS addresses. We recommend only shortening CCCOE-related content or educational resources. Avoid shortening links to inappropriate, commercial, or potentially harmful content.

Can I see who clicked my links?

For privacy reasons, we don't track individual user identities. Analytics show aggregate data like total clicks, referrer sources, browser types, and general geographic regions, but not specific user information.

What if I accidentally deactivate a link?

No problem! You can easily reactivate any deactivated link from your "My Links" page. All analytics data is preserved, and the link will work immediately after reactivation.

Can I edit the destination URL after creating a link?

Yes, you can update the destination URL at any time using the "Edit" function. This is useful if a document moves to a new location or you need to update the target page. The short URL remains the same.

How do QR codes work?

QR codes are automatically generated for all your links. You can download them in different sizes for use in presentations, handouts, or posters. When scanned with any QR code reader, they'll direct users to your short link.

Is there a limit to how many links I can create?

There's no specific limit on the number of links you can create. However, we encourage responsible use and regular cleanup of links you no longer need to keep the system running efficiently for everyone.

What browsers are supported?

CCCOE Link Shortener works with all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend keeping your browser updated for the best experience. The short links themselves work in any browser or device.

Still Need Help?

If you can't find the answer to your question in this guide, our IT support team is here to help!

Email Support

Send us a detailed description of your issue or question.

Report a Problem

Found a bug or technical issue? Let us know so we can fix it.

When contacting support: Please include your name, department, and a detailed description of the issue. If possible, include the short link or error message you're experiencing.