Links & sharing¶
When you share a song, Leadsheet.app can create three kinds of link. They differ in what travels inside the link and in what happens over time: choose based on how self-contained, updatable or under-your-control you want the song to be.
In every case you also choose where the link opens: in View to read, or in Write to edit a copy.
Fly link — the song travels inside the link¶
With a fly link the whole song is wrapped inside the link itself. Whoever receives it needs neither an account nor access to your material: they just open the link.
- It always opens, even without signing in and even offline — because it doesn't have to download anything from the server. That's why it's perfect for a QR code.
- It's a snapshot of the song at the moment you create it: if you later edit the original, the changes don't reach whoever already has the fly link.
Things to keep in mind. Once distributed, a fly link takes on a life of its own: anyone who holds it can open it, and you can't fully recall it (copies already downloaded remain). It applies no permissions: whoever has the link sees the song as you shared it. It's the right choice for open sharing, quick run-throughs, teaching material, QR codes.
If a fly link ends up spreading content it shouldn't, it can be reported and removed (see Reporting content); but copies that have already left the app can't be recovered.
Hard link — a reference to the saved song¶
A hard link does not contain the song: it's a reference to the song saved in your library. Whoever opens it always sees the current version.
- It follows the edits: if you update the song, whoever reopens the link sees the new version.
- It stays under your control: you decide who can open it (see Who can open a link) and you can revoke access or change the settings at any time.
- It requires the app and a connection (and, if the song isn't public, access to the song).
It's the right choice for stable, controlled sharing: a link that always points to your up-to-date song, whose access you grant and revoke as you wish.
Reactive link — a reference that updates live¶
A reactive link is like the hard link (a reference to the song, with the same permissions), but with a twist: whoever is watching sees the changes in real time, as they happen.
Whoever has edit rights can "take the Lead": from that moment their changes, as soon as they're saved, appear live to everyone who has the link open for reading. It's designed for rehearsals, lessons, group performances — when everyone has to follow the same page as it changes in real time.
Who can open a link¶
Hard links and reactive links respect the song's sharing setting, which you choose:
| Setting | Who can open it |
|---|---|
| Private | only you and the people you've given a role on the song (they must be signed in) |
| With link | anyone who has the link |
| With protected link | anyone who has the link and the password |
| Public | anyone; the song also appears in the public catalogue |
A fly link, by contrast, has no access setting: whoever has the link opens it.
Before making a song public or sharing it, you're asked to declare that you hold the rights (your own work, public domain, under licence, or authorised). See the Terms of Service.
Reporting content¶
From the View reader anyone can report a song or a fly link that infringes a copyright or the usage rules. The report is reviewed and the content may be removed.
In short¶
| Fly link | Hard link | Reactive link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it contains | the song, inside the link | a reference to the song | a reference to the song |
| Sign-in / connection | not needed | needed (unless public) | needed |
| Updates over time | no (it's a snapshot) | yes | yes, live |
| Under your control | no (a life of its own) | yes (grant/revoke access) | yes (grant/revoke access) |
| Ideal for | QR, open sharing, offline | stable, controlled sharing | rehearsals, lessons, groups |