Private links and share links in Canvas

Understand which Canvas links grant access and which links only send someone to an exact page, object, comment, or chat message.

7 min read

Canvas links do two different jobs. A private link sends a person to an exact place inside a canvas: a page, object, comment thread, or chat message. A share link helps a person get access to the canvas in the first place. Mixing them up is the most common reason a recipient says a link "does not work" even though the URL was copied correctly.

Use private links for precision after access already exists. Use share links when the recipient may need access, guest entry, or a permission check before opening the canvas.

A private link answers “Where should this person land?” It follows the canvas's existing access rules.

Private canvas, page, object, comment, and chat message links open the canvas and focus the right place. They do not invite the recipient, change permissions, or make the canvas public.

A private link is a pointer, not a key. If the recipient cannot already open the canvas, the link opens an access error. When ALLO offers Request access, use Request access to a canvas or project instead of resending the same private link.

A share link answers “Can this person enter, and with what permission?” Create it from Share. Before the canvas opens, it can:

Grant the selected permission.
Ask the recipient to complete guest entry.
Require a Canvas PIN.
Check the workspace's access rules.

A share link does not bypass workspace rules. Trust the final permission shown in Share. After you copy a precise link, ALLO offers a Share action so you can confirm access before sending it.

Compare the links

Link or action	Where it starts	Who can use it	What it depends on
Private canvas link	Address bar, canvas list, or an internal open action	People who can already open the canvas	Existing canvas, project, workspace, or direct access.
Copy page link	Page menu	People who can see the page menu	Existing access and a page that still exists.
Copy link for an object	Element menu	People who can open the object menu	Existing access and an object that still exists.
Copy comment link	Comments and mentions	People who can see the thread	Existing access and a comment that still exists.
Copy chat message link	Canvas chat	People who can see the message action	Existing access, chat access, and a message that still exists.
Share link	Share a canvas	Non-guest users who can open the canvas; only access managers can change link permission	Share settings, workspace settings, and the chosen link permission.
Guest share link	Guest collaboration	People outside the workspace when guest access is allowed	Share permission, guest settings, and any Canvas PIN required for entry.

Guests do not see the normal Share control. If a guest needs another person added, a workspace member or canvas owner should manage access from Share.

Send the right link for the job

For external work, use two links on purpose:

Send the share link first. It gives the recipient an access path and the right permission.
Send the private link second. It takes them to the exact page, object, comment, or chat message.

Send one short instruction with both links: “Use this share link to enter with comment access. After it opens, use this page link to go straight to the pricing review.”

This order prevents a client from opening a precise URL before access exists, signing in with the wrong account, and assuming the canvas is broken.

If you send only one link to someone outside the workspace, send the share link. They can navigate to the right place after they enter.

Situation	Use this
Internal teammate already has access	A page, object, comment, or chat message link: they need precision, not a new invite.
Internal teammate may not have access	Share first, then the precise link.
External client review	Share link with view or comment permission; avoid edit unless they should change the work.
Contractor joining a work session	Share link with the needed permission and a clear boundary.
Guest workshop participant	A guest-capable share link, which opens the guest name flow for a first-time guest.
External website or YouTube reference	Open the link on the object; a website link follows the external site's own permissions, not ALLO access.

If a teammate cannot open a precise link, do not keep resending it. Open Share, confirm access, then resend. The first link was doing the precision job; it was missing the access job.

URL patterns

ALLO generates these values, so copy the real link from the product instead of typing one by hand.

Link type	Example pattern
Share link	`https://allo.io/s/{share-key}`
Share link with a focused destination	`https://allo.io/s/{share-key}?req=obj&cid={object-id}&perm={permission}`
Private canvas link	`https://allo.io/canvas/{canvas-id}` or the short `https://allo.io/{canvas-url}`
Private page link	`https://allo.io/canvas/{canvas-id}?page={page-token}`
Private object link	`https://allo.io/canvas/{canvas-id}?req=obj&cid={object-id}`
Private comment link	`https://allo.io/canvas/{canvas-id}?req=comment&comment_p_name={object-id}&comment_id={comment-id}`
Private chat message link	`https://allo.io/canvas/{canvas-id}?req=chat&chat_message_id={message-id}`

Keep these rules in mind:

The share key handles access. Query values tell ALLO where to focus, so the same focus query can follow a share link (/s/{share-key}?req=obj&cid=...&perm=...).
Values after page, cid, comment_p_name, comment_id, and chat_message_id are generated identifiers. They are not readable labels, reusable across canvases, or meant to be edited.
Object links can point to other canvases or sub-canvases. The viewer still needs access at the destination.
Use the copied URL as-is, even when ALLO copied it from a different entry route.

Guest and client access

For external review, comment access is safer than edit access. Use edit only when the recipient should change canvas content.

Use Guest collaboration when someone outside the workspace needs temporary or scoped access. A guest:

Sees an entry screen and enters a name.
Continues only when the shared access allows it.
Does not see Share, Present, thread resolve controls, or member-only metadata.

For a contractor who returns to the canvas over time, decide whether guest, external collaborator, or workspace member is the right role.

An exact object link is not a workaround for missing access. Grant access first, then send the precise link.

Once access exists, use the exact link that matches the destination. The comparison table above shows when to use a page, object, comment, or chat message link.

Move decisions that need to last out of chat and into a comment.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
The person sees an access error	A private link was sent before access was granted	Use Share to grant or confirm access, then resend the precise link.
The canvas opens but not the exact object/page	The target was deleted, the query value changed, or the URL was edited	Copy a fresh link from the object or page menu.
The comment link does not open the thread	The comment was deleted or resolved, or the recipient lacks access	Confirm access, then find the thread from the Comments tab if it still exists.
The chat link opens the canvas but not the message	The message was deleted, chat is unavailable, or access is missing	Confirm canvas and chat access, then send a fresh link if the message exists.
The share link opens a preview or name screen	The recipient is entering as a guest	Have them complete the guest name flow and enter any required PIN.
Share is missing after copying a link	You may be a guest or lack sharing permission	Ask a canvas owner or member with sharing access to manage Share.
A recipient uses the wrong account	Their ALLO access belongs to a different email or sign-in method	Ask them to sign in with the account that was invited or shared.

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