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Sharing Documents

Share your Opus documents with co-authors, reviewers, and collaborators.

Quick Share

  1. Open your document
  2. Click Share in the toolbar
  3. Enter email addresses
  4. Choose permission level
  5. Click Send Invite

Recipients receive an email with a link to access the document.

Permission Levels

Level Can View Can Edit Can Suggest Can Manage
Viewer ✓
Suggester ✓ ✓
Editor ✓ ✓ ✓
Owner ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Viewer

  • Read-only access
  • Can view current document state
  • Cannot make any changes
  • Ideal for: sharing final drafts, committee members

Suggester

  • Can make suggested changes (track changes)
  • Can add comments
  • Cannot directly edit
  • Ideal for: reviewers, advisors giving feedback

Editor

  • Full editing access
  • Can accept/reject suggestions
  • Can add/remove other editors
  • Ideal for: co-authors, research partners

Owner

  • Full control over document
  • Can delete document
  • Can transfer ownership
  • Only one owner per document

Inviting Collaborators

By Email

  1. Click Share
  2. Enter email address(es)
  3. Select permission level
  4. Add an optional message
  5. Click Send Invite

Invitations expire after 7 days if not accepted.

For quick sharing without email:

  1. Click Share > Get Link
  2. Choose permission level for the link
  3. Copy and share the link

Anyone with the link can access at that permission level.

Link Security

Link-based sharing is less secure. Anyone with the link has access. For sensitive documents, use email invitations.

Multiple People

Add multiple emails separated by commas:

alice@example.edu, bob@example.edu, carol@example.edu

All receive the same permission level.

Managing Access

View Collaborators

Click Share to see everyone with access:

  • Their name/email
  • Permission level
  • When they were added

Change Permissions

  1. Click Share
  2. Find the person
  3. Click their permission level
  4. Select a new level

Remove Access

  1. Click Share
  2. Find the person
  3. Click Remove

They immediately lose access.

Transfer Ownership

  1. Click Share
  2. Click the three-dot menu next to an Editor
  3. Select Make Owner
  4. Confirm the transfer

You become an Editor; they become Owner.

Invitation Management

Pending Invitations

See who hasn't accepted yet in the Share panel. You can:

  • Resend - Send another email
  • Cancel - Revoke the invitation

Accepting Invitations

When you receive an invitation:

  1. Click the link in the email
  2. Sign in to Opus (or create account)
  3. The document appears in your dashboard

Sharing Options

Notifications

Choose what collaborators are notified about:

  • All activity - Every edit and comment
  • Mentions only - Only when @mentioned
  • None - No notifications

Set per-document in Share settings.

Access Expiration

Set automatic access removal:

  1. Click Share
  2. Click a collaborator's three-dot menu
  3. Select Set Expiration
  4. Choose a date

Access is automatically revoked after that date.

Download Permissions

Control whether collaborators can download:

  1. Click Share > Settings
  2. Toggle Allow downloads

When disabled, Editors and below can view but not export.

Shared with Me

Finding Shared Documents

From your dashboard, click Shared with Me to see all documents shared with you.

Leaving a Document

If you no longer need access:

  1. Open the document
  2. Click Share
  3. Click Leave Document

You won't appear in the collaborator list.

Best Practices

Academic Collaboration

  • Give co-authors Editor access
  • Give reviewers Suggester access
  • Give committee members Viewer access

Thesis/Dissertation

  • Keep yourself as Owner
  • Give advisor Editor or Suggester
  • Give committee Viewer

Working Papers

  • All active authors: Editor
  • Use comments for discussions
  • Track changes for revisions

Sensitive Documents

  • Use email invitations, not links
  • Review access list periodically
  • Remove access when collaboration ends
  • Consider expiration dates

Troubleshooting

Invitation Not Received

  • Check spam folder
  • Verify email address is correct
  • Try resending
  • Have them check promotions/updates tab

Can't Access Document

  • Check you're signed in with the right account
  • Ask owner to verify your access
  • Try accepting invitation again

Permission Issues

  • Contact the document owner
  • Check if access has expired
  • Verify you're signed in

Next Steps