Use links and app links to connect your content

Links and app links in Showpad allow you to seamlessly connect to your content, making it easier for users to access related files, Pages, Courses, Paths, Experiences, and Experience folders. This guide covers the differences between these link types and how to use them effectively.

Note: Only Showpad users with access to the Experiences, Pages, Courses, or Paths can open links or app links to these items and their folders or files. Prospects cannot access these links.

See how it works

Key features

• Internally share links to files, Pages, Courses, and Paths
• Links open in either the Showpad app or a browser
• Use app links to connect to files, Pages, Experiences, and Experience folders
• Add parameters to app links

You need this to succeed

The quick way

1. Copy the link or app link URL:
   • Files, Pages, Courses, and Paths: Copy the link from the item's detail panel.
   • Files, Pages, Experiences, and Experience folders: Copy the app link from the item's detail panel or Experience Builder.
2. Insert the link or app link in a Microsoft Office document.
3. Insert the link or app link into a PDF file.
4. Add the link or app link to your Files library.
5. Or share the link or app link using any method that works for you.

Do this step by step

Understand links and app links

Links and app links are URLs that connect to specific content within Showpad. Both are available for most content types, but they’re designed for different scenarios and behave differently based on the platform and access method.

Links to files, Pages, Courses, and Paths:

Universal links are best for internally sharing Showpad content outside the app, such as in emails. They’re designed to open content in the most appropriate way based on the user’s device, platform, and whether the Showpad app is installed. When available, the content opens in the app. Otherwise, it defaults to the Web App in a browser. However, behavior differs based on how and where the link is opened.

• Universal links do not support parameters.
• For reliable app behavior, avoid using links copied from the browser's address bar.

App links to files, Pages, Experiences, and Experience folders:

App links are best for linking content within the Showpad app. Use them to create URL assets in the Files library, enabling seamless in-app navigation. 

• Always open in the Showpad app.
• Support optional parameters, like modal views, for added functionality.
• If the linked content is loaded on the iOS, Android, or Windows Desktop App, it will work offline.
• Does not fall back to a web browser if the app is unavailable.

Tip: To add a parameter to an app link, view the Showpad URL scheme article.

Copy a link to a file, Page, Course, or Path

1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the desired Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
3. Select either All Files, All Pages, Courses, or Paths.
4. Click on the item you want to link to.
5. In the Overview section of the detail panel, click the Copy icon next to Link. This copies the link URL to your clipboard.

Copy an app link to a file, Page, or Experience

1. Navigate to the Libraries tab.
2. If your organization uses multiple Divisions, select the desired Division from the top-left dropdown menu.
3. Select either All Files, All Pages, or Experiences.
4. Click on the item you want to link to.
5. In the Overview section of the detail panel, click the Copy icon under App link. This copies the app link URL to your clipboard.

Copy an app link to a Classic Experience folder

1. Click Open Experience Builder in an Experience’s detail panel.

2. Hover over a folder, click the gear icon, and then Copy app link.

   Tip: To add a parameter to the app link, view the Showpad URL scheme article.
   Example of an app link with a parameter:
   showpad://folder/4522?modal=1
   The added parameter, ?modal=1, displays the folder in a modal window, a pop-up that slides over the current content in Showpad iOS and Android. Closing it returns the user to their previous view.

3. Highlight the app link and copy it to your clipboard.

Add links to Microsoft Office documents

When you upload Microsoft Office files (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) to Showpad, the files are automatically flattened and converted to PDF format. This means that only text-based links will remain functional. Links added to other elements, such as images, shapes, or buttons, will not work after upload. Find out more about how Showpad handles Microsoft Office files.

To preserve interactive links on non-text elements, we recommend converting your Microsoft file to a PDF and adding the links directly within the PDF before uploading it to Showpad.

1. Open your DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX document.
2. Export the document as a PDF file. This is very important, as uploading this file directly to Showpad will remove macros, animations, and some links.
3. Open the newly converted PDF in Acrobat Pro and follow the instructions to insert links into a PDF file.

Insert links into a PDF file

1. Copy the link or app link as described above.
2. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
3. Under All tools, click Edit a PDF.
4. Select Link and click Add or edit a link.
5. Select the region in the document you want to link. This will open the link properties.
6. As a Link Action, select Custom link and click Next.
7. Select the Actions tab, then select Open a web link from the drop-down menu.
8. Click Add and paste the link URL that you copied. Click OK twice when you're done.
9. Save the PDF document.
10. Upload the PDF to Showpad. When the user clicks the link in the PDF file, the linked item will open.

Note: Ensure the user has access to the Experience containing the linked files.

Add links and app links to your Files library

You can create URL assets to add links to your Files library. Use them in Courses, Experiences, Pages, Announcements, and more. This lets you track them like other asset types.

To add a link to your Files library as a URL asset, follow the instructions in this article.