Sharing and Publishing

Learn how to share assets and boards with external stakeholders and publish boards to the web.

Overview

Playbook offers two main ways to make your content accessible to others:

Shared Links: Private, trackable links for specific assets or boards
Published Links: Public web pages showcasing your boards

Prerequisites

Access Token: API token with sharing permissions
Organization Slug: Your organization identifier
Asset/Board Tokens: IDs of content you want to share

Create temporary shared links for individual assets.

Creating an Asset Shared Link

curl -X POST "https://api.playbook.com/v1/my-org/assets/product-photo/share" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"

Response:

{
  "data": {
    "url": "https://playbook.com/s/abc123/product-photo"
  }
}

JavaScript Example

async function shareAsset(assetToken) {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.playbook.com/v1/${ORG_SLUG}/assets/${assetToken}/share`,
    { method: "POST", headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${ACCESS_TOKEN}` } },
  );

  const { data } = await response.json();
  return data.url;
}

// Usage
const shareUrl = await shareAsset("product-photo");
console.log("Share link:", shareUrl);

Create shared links for entire boards, allowing external viewers to see all assets within.

Creating a Board Shared Link

curl -X POST "https://api.playbook.com/v1/my-org/boards/main-collection/share" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"

Response:

{
  "data": {
    "url": "https://playbook.com/s/def456/main-collection"
  }
}

Shared board links include:

All assets in the board
Nested subboards (if applicable)
Asset metadata (title, description, tags)
Comments (optionally)
Download capabilities (based on permissions)

Link Controls

Board share and publish requests accept the same optional controls:

curl -X POST "https://api.playbook.com/v1/my-org/boards/main-collection/share" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "expiration_date": "2026-09-01T12:00:00Z",
    "disable_downloads": true,
    "password": "client-review"
  }'

Omitting a field preserves its existing value. Send an empty string for expiration_date or password to clear that restriction; send disable_downloads: false to allow downloads again. Sharing plans without link customization are forced to the 30-day expiry and cannot add download/password restrictions. Published-page controls are not individually plan-gated; the plan limits publishing itself.

Accepting Uploads on a Shared Link

Board share requests also accept enable_uploads. It lets anyone holding the link add files to the board without signing in — the way to collect files you cannot fetch yourself: give the URL to a client or a teammate and ask them to drop the files on it, then poll the board for what arrives.

curl -X POST "https://api.playbook.com/v1/my-org/boards/main-collection/share" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "enable_uploads": true, "password": "drop-files", "expiration_date": "2026-09-01T12:00:00Z" }'

Response:

{
  "data": {
    "url": "https://playbook.com/s/def456/main-collection",
    "uploads_enabled": true
  }
}

Three things to know before you turn it on:

There is no upload-only mode. enable_uploads is a setting on a share link, so the same URL still shows the board and its assets to whoever opens it. If the recipient should not see what is already there, share a fresh, empty board instead.
This endpoint returns the board's existing link. If the board was already shared for viewing, enabling uploads grants upload rights to everyone who was given that URL — it does not mint a separate one. uploads_enabled on the response tells you the state you just left the link in.
It requires a plan with shared-link customization. Other plans get 403 rather than a silently ignored field, so a link you were told was created is never quietly read-only.

Pair it with password and expiration_date whenever the link leaves a group you trust.

Publishing Boards

Publish boards as public web galleries accessible to anyone with the link.

Creating a Published Board

curl -X POST "https://api.playbook.com/v1/my-org/boards/portfolio/publish" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"disable_downloads": true}'

Response:

{
  "data": {
    "url": "https://playbook.com/p/my-org/portfolio"
  }
}

Published vs. Shared

Feature	Shared Link	Published Link
Visibility	Private (requires link)	Public (indexable)
Revocable	Yes	Yes (can unpublish)
Password Protection	Yes (via UI)	No
Analytics	Detailed	Basic
SEO	No	Yes
Best For	Client reviews, approvals	Portfolios, galleries

Use Cases

1. Client Review Process

Share assets with clients for feedback:

async function sendForReview(assetTokens, clientEmail) {
  // Create shared links for each asset
  const sharedLinks = await Promise.all(
    assetTokens.map((token) => shareAsset(token)),
  );

  // Send email with links
  await emailService.send({
    to: clientEmail,
    subject: "Assets for Review",
    body: `
      Please review the following assets:

      ${sharedLinks.map((url, i) => `Asset ${i + 1}: ${url}`).join("\n")}

      Reply with your feedback.
    `,
  });

  return sharedLinks;
}

// Usage
await sendForReview(
  ["design-v1", "design-v2", "design-v3"],
  "client@example.com",
);

2. Portfolio Website

Embed published boards in your website:

<!-- Embed published board -->
<iframe
  src="https://playbook.com/p/my-org/portfolio"
  width="100%"
  height="800px"
  frameborder="0"
  allowfullscreen
>
</iframe>

3. Temporary Access for Vendors

Share boards with vendors for a limited time:

async function grantVendorAccess(boardToken, vendorEmail, expiryDays = 7) {
  // Create shared link
  const { url } = await shareBo ard(boardToken);

  // Send with expiry notice
  await emailService.send({
    to: vendorEmail,
    subject: 'Asset Access Granted',
    body: `
      You have access to our assets for the next ${expiryDays} days:
      ${url}

      This link will be revoked after ${expiryDays} days.
    `
  });

  // Schedule revocation (implement based on your system)
  await scheduleRevocation(url, expiryDays);

  return url;
}

Share individual assets on social platforms:

async function shareToSocialMedia(assetToken, platform) {
  const shareUrl = await shareAsset(assetToken);

  const asset = await getAsset(assetToken);

  const shareText = encodeURIComponent(`Check out ${asset.title}: ${shareUrl}`);

  const socialUrls = {
    twitter: `https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=${shareText}`,
    facebook: `https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=${shareUrl}`,
    linkedin: `https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=${shareUrl}`,
  };

  return socialUrls[platform];
}

Downloading Shared Assets

Shared links can include download capabilities. Get download URLs for shared assets:

For Shared Assets

curl "https://api.playbook.com/v1/shared/my-org/assets/product-photo/download?sharedlinkslug=abc123" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"

Response:

{
  "data": {
    "display_url": "https://cdn.playbook.com/product-photo.jpg",
    "raw_url": "https://cdn.playbook.com/product-photo-original.jpg",
    "size": 2456789
  }
}

JavaScript Example

async function downloadSharedAsset(sharedOrgSlug, assetToken, sharedLinkSlug) {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.playbook.com/v1/shared/${sharedOrgSlug}/assets/${assetToken}/download`,
    {
      headers: {
        sharedlinkslug: sharedLinkSlug,
      },
    },
  );

  const { data } = await response.json();
  return data.raw_url;
}

Managing Shared Links

Tracking Shared Link Usage

Implement your own tracking system:

class SharedLinkTracker {
  constructor() {
    this.links = new Map();
  }

  async createTrackedLink(assetOrBoardToken, type = "asset") {
    // Create the share link
    const url =
      type === "asset"
        ? await shareAsset(assetOrBoardToken)
        : await shareBoard(assetOrBoardToken);

    // Store with metadata
    this.links.set(url, {
      token: assetOrBoardToken,
      type,
      createdAt: new Date(),
      views: 0,
      lastAccessed: null,
    });

    return url;
  }

  trackAccess(url) {
    const link = this.links.get(url);
    if (link) {
      link.views++;
      link.lastAccessed = new Date();
    }
  }

  getAnalytics(url) {
    return this.links.get(url);
  }

  listActiveLinks() {
    const now = Date.now();
    const dayAgo = now - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;

    return Array.from(this.links.entries())
      .filter(([_, link]) => link.lastAccessed > dayAgo)
      .map(([url, link]) => ({ url, ...link }));
  }
}

Revoking Access

While there's no direct API to revoke shared links, you can:

Delete the shared asset/board
Move asset to different board
Track and warn about expired links

async function revokeSharedAccess(assetToken) {
  // Option 1: Move to private board
  await updateAsset(assetToken, {
    collection_token: "private-board",
  });

  // Option 2: Archive the asset
  await updateAsset(assetToken, {
    tags: [...asset.tags, "archived"],
  });

  console.log(`Access revoked for ${assetToken}`);
}

Best Practices

Include context when sharing:

async function shareWithContext(assetToken, recipient, message) {
  const asset = await getAsset(assetToken);
  const shareUrl = await shareAsset(assetToken);

  await emailService.send({
    to: recipient,
    subject: `Shared Asset: ${asset.title}`,
    body: `
      ${message}

      Asset: ${asset.title}
      Link: ${shareUrl}
      Created: ${asset.created_at}
      Tags: ${asset.tags.join(", ")}

      This link will remain active until revoked.
    `,
  });
}

2. Organize Published Content

Use consistent naming for published boards:

const publishedBoards = {
  portfolio: "main-portfolio",
  client_work: "client-showcase",
  team: "team-photos",
};

async function publishAll() {
  for (const [name, token] of Object.entries(publishedBoards)) {
    const { url } = await publishBoard(token);
    console.log(`Published ${name}: ${url}`);
  }
}

3. Watermark Shared Assets

Add watermarks to shared assets (implementation depends on your system):

async function shareWithWatermark(assetToken) {
  // Get original asset
  const asset = await getAsset(assetToken);

  // Download and watermark
  const watermarked = await addWatermark(asset.display_url, {
    text: "CONFIDENTIAL",
    opacity: 0.3,
  });

  // Upload watermarked version
  const watermarkedAsset = await uploadAsset(watermarked);

  // Share the watermarked version
  return await shareAsset(watermarkedAsset.token);
}

4. Analytics and Monitoring

Track sharing activity:

class SharingAnalytics {
  async logShare(type, token, recipient) {
    await analytics.track({
      event: "asset_shared",
      properties: {
        type,
        token,
        recipient,
        timestamp: new Date(),
      },
    });
  }

  async getMostShared(days = 30) {
    const since = new Date(Date.now() - days * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);

    return await analytics.query({
      event: "asset_shared",
      since,
      groupBy: "token",
      orderBy: "count",
      limit: 10,
    });
  }
}

Here's a complete implementation with email and tracking:

class PlaybookSharingManager {
  constructor(orgSlug, accessToken) {
    this.orgSlug = orgSlug;
    this.accessToken = accessToken;
    this.baseUrl = "https://api.playbook.com/v1";
  }

  async shareAsset(assetToken, options = {}) {
    const response = await fetch(
      `${this.baseUrl}/${this.orgSlug}/assets/${assetToken}/share`,
      {
        method: "POST",
        headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${this.accessToken}` },
      },
    );

    const { data } = await response.json();

    // Track the share
    if (options.trackingId) {
      await this.logShare("asset", assetToken, options.trackingId);
    }

    return data.url;
  }

  async shareBoard(boardToken, options = {}) {
    const response = await fetch(
      `${this.baseUrl}/${this.orgSlug}/boards/${boardToken}/share`,
      {
        method: "POST",
        headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${this.accessToken}` },
      },
    );

    const { data } = await response.json();

    if (options.trackingId) {
      await this.logShare("board", boardToken, options.trackingId);
    }

    return data.url;
  }

  async publishBoard(boardToken) {
    const response = await fetch(
      `${this.baseUrl}/${this.orgSlug}/boards/${boardToken}/publish`,
      {
        method: "POST",
        headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${this.accessToken}` },
      },
    );

    return await response.json();
  }

  async shareWithEmail(type, token, recipients, message) {
    // Create share link
    const url =
      type === "asset"
        ? await this.shareAsset(token, { trackingId: recipients.join(",") })
        : await this.shareBoard(token, { trackingId: recipients.join(",") });

    // Get asset/board info
    const info = await this.getInfo(type, token);

    // Send emails
    for (const recipient of recipients) {
      await this.sendShareEmail(recipient, url, info, message);
    }

    return url;
  }

  async getInfo(type, token) {
    const endpoint = type === "asset" ? "assets" : "boards";
    const response = await fetch(
      `${this.baseUrl}/${this.orgSlug}/${endpoint}/${token}`,
      { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${this.accessToken}` } },
    );

    const { data } = await response.json();
    return data;
  }

  async sendShareEmail(recipient, url, info, message) {
    // Implement email sending
    console.log(`Sending to ${recipient}:`, {
      url,
      title: info.title,
      message,
    });
  }

  async logShare(type, token, trackingId) {
    // Log to your analytics system
    console.log("Share logged:", { type, token, trackingId });
  }
}

// Usage
const manager = new PlaybookSharingManager("my-org", "your_token");

// Share asset with email
await manager.shareWithEmail(
  "asset",
  "product-photo",
  ["client@example.com", "stakeholder@example.com"],
  "Please review this product photo and provide feedback.",
);

// Publish board
const published = await manager.publishBoard("portfolio");
console.log("Portfolio published at:", published.data.url);

Next Steps

Learn about Asset Management to organize shared content
Explore Webhooks to track sharing events
Read about Comments for collaboration on shared assets

Overview​

Prerequisites​

Sharing Assets​

Creating an Asset Shared Link​

JavaScript Example​

Sharing Boards​

Creating a Board Shared Link​

Board Sharing Features​

Link Controls​

Accepting Uploads on a Shared Link​

Publishing Boards​

Creating a Published Board​

Published vs. Shared​

Use Cases​

1. Client Review Process​

2. Portfolio Website​

3. Temporary Access for Vendors​

4. Social Media Sharing​

Downloading Shared Assets​

For Shared Assets​

JavaScript Example​

Managing Shared Links​

Tracking Shared Link Usage​

Revoking Access​

Best Practices​

1. Descriptive Sharing​

2. Organize Published Content​

3. Watermark Shared Assets​

4. Analytics and Monitoring​

Complete Sharing Workflow​

Related API Endpoints​

Next Steps​

Overview

Prerequisites

Sharing Assets

Creating an Asset Shared Link

JavaScript Example

Sharing Boards

Creating a Board Shared Link

Board Sharing Features

Link Controls

Accepting Uploads on a Shared Link

Publishing Boards

Creating a Published Board

Published vs. Shared

Use Cases

1. Client Review Process

2. Portfolio Website

3. Temporary Access for Vendors

4. Social Media Sharing

Downloading Shared Assets

For Shared Assets

JavaScript Example

Managing Shared Links

Tracking Shared Link Usage

Revoking Access

Best Practices

1. Descriptive Sharing

2. Organize Published Content

3. Watermark Shared Assets

4. Analytics and Monitoring

Complete Sharing Workflow

Related API Endpoints

Next Steps