# Track invites

This guide explains how to create track invites to grant learners access to one or more tracks.

## Background

Track Invites allow you to share tracks via links or gated forms. 

### Invite types

There are two types of track invites: **self-paced** and **live event.** The [Live Event invite type](https://docs.instruqt.com/tracks/share/run-live-events) is suited for Instructors running technical workshops. The self-paced invite type is designed to be shared with learners, who will complete the tracks on their own time. 

### Invite restrictions

You can set the following restrictions to control access and consumption:

* **Expire the learner's access to the track(s) after a specific time.**\
  Use this limit to set how long a track will be available to learners by specifying a duration by years/months/days/hours/minutes. Or set it to `Forever` for unlimited access.
* **Expire the learner's access to the track(s) after a specific amount of plays.**\
  Use this limit to set how many times the track can be played. Or set it to `0` if you want unlimited plays.
* **Set the track invite link itself to expire on a given date and time**\
  Use this limit to allow the track invite link to expire on a specific date and time.
* **Set the track invite link itself to expire after the access limit is reached**\
  Use this limit to set how many times the track invite link can be accessed. Or set it to `0` if you want unlimited access.
* **Specify who can access your track invite and how**\
  Use this to restrict access to people you specify, to anyone leaving their details, or to anyone with the link.
* **Show (or hide) the sharing button**\
  Use this to make it easier for end users to share your invite with others. Note that toggling this button off does not prohibit end users from sharing the invite link with others.

## Creating a track invite

It's only possible to create a track invite from the Web UI.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌐 Web UI" %}

1. From the *Content page*, select **Share Content**.
2. From the *Manage track invites* page**,** select **Create**.
3. Click the **Sharing method**. This is either a *link* or an *embedded* track with a form.
4. If you choose link, select if the invite is **self-paced** or for a **live event.** 
5. Provide a **Title** and optionally fill in **Public/Private Descriptions**. 
6. Click which tracks you want associated with the invite. Tracks are shown to learners in the order in which you add them to the invite. 
7. Set *content restrictions*, indicating how long content will be available once an invite is accepted, and how many plays each learner can have.
8. Set *Invite restrictions*, indicating how long an invite will remain active, and how many learners can access it. You can also optionally enable easier sharing by exposing a **Share** button.
9. Set *Access settings,* indicating whether anyone can access the link, anyone who leaves their details, or only specific learners. 
10. Click **Save**. 
11. Click ••• on your newly created invite, followed by **Copy invite link**.
12. Share your invite.
    {% endtab %}
    {% endtabs %}

## Pausable Tracks in Invites

When selecting content for an invite:

* In the content selection dialog, tracks configured as pausable display a **"Track is pausable"** label
* After adding a pausable track to the invite, you'll see a toggle to enable or disable pausing for that specific track
* The default follows the track's pausable setting
* Only tracks that use virtual machines (no containers or website services) can be made pausable

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: Learners can pause and resume pausable tracks, preserving their progress. This is ideal for longer or more complex content that may require breaks.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important considerations based on access settings:**

* **Anyone with the link (anonymous)**: Paused tracks cannot be resumed if the learner returns using a different browser or device, as there's no user account to associate the progress with.
* **Anyone leaving details**: Learners can resume paused tracks by using the same email address when returning to the invite link.
* **Allowed emails only**: Authorized learners can reliably resume paused tracks as long as they use the same email to access the invite.

For the best pausable track experience, consider using "Anyone leaving details" or "Allowed emails only" access settings.

**Note on invite expiration**: When an invite expires, any paused tracks remain paused and continue counting against their pause TTL. However, learners cannot access or resume these tracks once the invite expires. The invite expiration does not force paused tracks to shut down immediately.
{% endhint %}

## Hot Start for Invites

You can ensure instant access for your invitees by linking a Hot Start pool to your invite. This creates a dedicated pool of pre-provisioned environments specifically for this invite link.

When linked, the Hot Start pool automatically syncs with your invite's configuration:

* **Tracks:** The pool includes all tracks from the invite.
* **Expiration:** The pool expires when the invite expires.

To set this up, go to the **Hot Start** page and create a new pool linked to your invite.

## Gating access with a form

Invites with the Access setting of **Anyone leaving details** are gated with a form. This form is used to collect user information on invites.

To edit the form fields, follow steps below:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌐 Web UI" %}

1. From the *Content page*, select **Share Content** from the left-side menu.
2. On the *Manage track invites* page, select the **Form** tab.
3. Edit the form fields.
4. Select **Save**.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Note that learners who have already submitted the form before (on any of your invites) will not be asked to leave their details again (regardless of changes to the form fields).
{% endhint %}

## Edit a track invite

{% hint style="warning" %}
Changes to the *tracks* and *content restriction* will not affect learners who have already claimed access to your track.
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌐 Web UI" %}

1. From the *Content page*, select **Share Content** from the left-side menu.
2. Click ••• on the track invite you want to edit, followed by **Edit**.
3. Change the fields you want to adjust.
4. Click **Save**.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

## Delete a track invite

{% hint style="warning" %}
Learners who already claimed access to the track continue to have access if you delete the track invite link. Create an invite link with track access limits to prevent unlimited access.
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌐 Web UI" %}

1. From the *Content page*, select **Share Content** from the left-side menu.
2. Click ••• on the track invite you want to edit, followed by **Delete**.
3. A confirmation box will appear, click **OK**.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

## Duplicate a track invite

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🌐 Web UI" %}

1. From the *Content page*, select **Share Content** from the left-side menu.
2. Click ••• on the track invite you want to edit, followed by **Duplicate**.
3. Change the fields you want to adjust.
4. Click **Save** when you are ready.
   {% endtab %}
   {% endtabs %}

## Invite statuses

On the *Manage track invites* page, you can see the status for each invite and filter on them. By default we filter out <mark style="color:red;">**Expired**</mark> invites. The table below explains the different statuses:

<table><thead><tr><th width="193.2896081771721">Status</th><th>Logic (when)</th><th>Definition (what)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:green;"><strong>Active</strong></mark></td><td><p><strong>Self paced:</strong> all invites that have no expiry date (inviteTTL) set, or have not yet expired.<br></p><p><strong>Live Event:</strong> less than 24 hours left until the live event starts.</p></td><td>Invites in this state are allowing new users to acces the link as long as the (optional) invite claim limit has not been reached.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:purple;"><strong>Upcoming</strong></mark> </td><td><p><strong>Self paced:</strong> not applicable.</p><p><strong>Live Event:</strong> more than 24 hours left until the live event starts.</p></td><td>Invite in this state are not yet allowing users to access the link.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:red;"><strong>Expired</strong></mark></td><td><strong>Self paced:</strong> After the invite expiry date (<code>inviteTTL</code>) has passed.<br><br><strong>Live Event:</strong> After the live event end date has passed.</td><td>Invites in this state are not allowing any new users to access the link.<br><br><em>Note: users who have previously accessed this link will remain access.</em> <a href="#delete-a-track-invite"><em>Delete the Track Invite</em></a> <em>if you want to revoke access.</em></td></tr></tbody></table>