> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.1archive.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create, Manage, and Share Collections

> Build curated collections of files from any source, generate shareable web links for clients or collaborators, and manage or revoke access to those links.

Collections are virtual libraries you assemble from files across any of your sources. Unlike source groups, which organize drives, collections organize individual files. A collection might be a selects reel, a client delivery package, a project mood board, or any other curated set of media. Collections live in the **Collections** tab of the sidebar and can be shared externally via a web link without requiring the recipient to have a 1Archive account.

## Create a collection

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to the Collections tab">
    In the sidebar, click the **Collections** tab. Your existing collections are
    listed here, and a **+** icon appears next to the Collections header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new collection">
    Click the **+** icon next to the Collections header. A new collection
    appears in the list with an editable name field, the default name is **New
    Collection**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the collection">
    Type a name for your collection and press **Enter** to confirm. Press
    **Escape** to cancel without creating the collection.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Add files to a collection

<Steps>
  <Step title="Browse to the files you want to add">
    Navigate to a source in the **Sources** tab and open the file browser.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the files">
    Click to select a single file, or use Shift-click, Cmd/Ctrl-click, or
    marquee drag to select multiple files. See [Browsing
    files](/guides/browsing-files) for full selection instructions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add to collection">
    Right-click the selection and choose **Add to Collection**. A picker appears
    listing all your collections. Click the collection you want to add the files
    to.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can add the same file to multiple collections. A file's membership in a
  collection does not affect its location on disk or in the source catalog.
</Tip>

## View a collection

Click a collection name in the **Collections** tab to open it in the file browser. The view works exactly like the source file browser, you can switch between grid and list view, apply ratings and flags, and use the context menu.

<Note>
  Files in a collection are references to the originals on their source drives.
  If a source is disconnected, the collection still shows the file's thumbnail
  and metadata, but you cannot open the original file until the drive is
  reconnected.
</Note>

## Rename a collection

Right-click the collection name in the sidebar and choose **Rename**. Type the new name and press **Enter**.

## Delete a collection

Right-click the collection name in the sidebar and choose **Delete Collection**. Confirm in the dialog. Deleting a collection removes the curated list, it does not delete the original files from their sources.

## Generate a shareable web link

Collections can be shared as a public web link. Recipients can browse the collection in a web browser without signing in to 1Archive.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the collection">
    Click the collection in the **Collections** tab to open it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate a link">
    Click the **Share** button in the toolbar or right-click the collection name
    in the sidebar and choose **Share Collection**. Click **Generate Link**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy and send the link">
    1Archive generates a unique URL. Click **Copy** to copy it to your
    clipboard, then share it with your client or collaborator.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Shareable links are public, anyone with the URL can view the collection. Do
  not share links to collections containing sensitive or confidential material
  unless you intend for the content to be publicly accessible.
</Warning>

## Manage and revoke shared links

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the collection's share settings">
    Right-click the collection name in the sidebar and choose **Manage Shared
    Links**, or click the **Share** button in the collection toolbar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="View active links">
    A list of all active links for the collection appears, with the creation
    date of each link.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Revoke a link">
    Click **Revoke** next to any link to permanently disable it. Anyone who had
    that URL will no longer be able to access the collection.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Revoking a link does not delete the collection or affect other links for the
  same collection. You can generate new links at any time.
</Note>