Using Short URLs

Quick Summary: Generate short, memorable URLs for your study links to make distribution easier via email, flyers, or social media.

What You'll Learn

• Generating short URLs for tests and chains
• Using short URLs with different participant code methods
• Tracking URL usage
• Best practices for distribution

Overview

Instead of sharing long URLs like:

https://peblhub.online/runtime/public-launcher.html?test=tower-of-london&token=STUDY<em>ABC123XYZ&participant=SUBJ001

Generate short, memorable URLs like:

https://peblhub.online/s/a3x9k2

Short URLs are easier to:

• Type manually
• Include in printed materials
• Share via SMS or social media
• Remember and communicate verbally

Key Features

✅ Auto-generation - One click creates short URL ✅ Click tracking - See how many times link was accessed ✅ Auto-copy - URL copied to clipboard automatically ✅ Reusable - Same parameters always generate same short code ✅ Participant-specific - Each participant code gets unique short URL ✅ Works with all participant methods - Except platform integration

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Navigate to Your Study

1. Log in and go to My Research Studies
2. Select your study
3. Go to Individual Tests or Test Chains tab

Step 2: Configure Participant Method

Choose how participants will be identified:

Dropdown options:

1. Auto-generate code - Automatic IDs (fingerprinting + numbering)
2. Enter a code - Manually specify participant ID
3. Participant code entry - Participants create own codes
4. Platform Integration - External platforms (Prolific, MTurk, etc.)

Note: Short URLs are not available for Platform Integration method (platform variables can't be encoded).

Step 3: Generate Short URL

For individual tests:

1. Find the test in your test list
2. (Optional) Enter a participant code if using manual method
3. Click the 🔗 Short URL button
4. Short URL generates and displays below the full URL
5. URL is automatically copied to your clipboard

For test chains:

1. Find the chain in your chain list
2. (Optional) Enter a participant code if using manual method
3. Click the 🔗 Short URL button
4. Short URL generates and displays below the full URL
5. URL is automatically copied to your clipboard

Button changes:

• Before: 🔗 Short URL
• After: ✓ Generated

Step 4: Distribute the Short URL

The short URL is ready to share via:

• Email invitations
• Printed flyers or posters
• Text messages (SMS)
• Social media posts
• QR codes (use any QR code generator)
• Verbal communication (read aloud)

Step 5: Track Usage (Optional)

The short URL section shows:

• Short URL: The generated link (clickable to test)
• Status: "(new)" or "(existing)" if previously generated
• Copy button: Click to copy again anytime

Click tracking shows:

• Total number of clicks
• First seen timestamp
• Last accessed timestamp

Examples

Example 1: Auto-Generated Participant IDs

Scenario: Recruiting via email, want automatic ID assignment

Steps:

1. Select "Auto-generate code" from dropdown
2. Leave participant code box empty
3. Click 🔗 Short URL for your test
4. Get: https://peblhub.online/s/M7x3pQ9
5. Send this one link to all participants

What happens: Each unique participant who clicks gets a unique ID automatically via fingerprinting + sequential numbering.

Example 2: Specific Participant Codes

Scenario: Lab study, need to track specific participants

Steps:

1. Select "Enter a code" from dropdown
2. Enter "SUBJ001" in participant code box
3. Click 🔗 Short URL
4. Get: https://peblhub.online/s/k2N8vRw
5. Give this link to participant SUBJ001
6. Change code to "SUBJ002"
7. Click 🔗 Short URL again
8. Get: https://peblhub.online/s/P4m7xSt
9. Give this different link to participant SUBJ002

What happens: Each short URL embeds a specific participant code.

Example 3: Participant Self-Generated Codes

Scenario: IRB requires participants create their own anonymous codes

Steps:

1. Select "Participant code entry" from dropdown
2. Click 🔗 Short URL
3. Get: https://peblhub.online/s/Q8mZrTv
4. Share this one link with all participants

What happens: Clicking the link takes participants to a page where they create and enter their own unique code before starting the study.

Example 4: Reusing URLs

Scenario: Need to resend a link to a participant

Steps:

1. Enter the same participant code you used before
2. Click 🔗 Short URL again
3. Get the same short URL as before
4. Status shows "(existing)"

What happens: The system recognizes the combination already exists and returns the same short code. Participant can reuse the same link.

Short URL Format

Short URLs follow this pattern:

https://peblhub.online/s/{CODE}

Where {CODE} is a 7-character alphanumeric string:

• Lowercase letters: a-z (excluding l to avoid confusion with 1)
• Uppercase letters: A-Z (excluding I, O to avoid confusion with 1, 0)
• Numbers: 2-9 (excluding 0, 1 to avoid confusion with letters)

Example codes: a3x9k2, M7p4Qr9, T5n8Vwx

Why exclude certain characters? To avoid confusion when reading/typing:

• 0 (zero) looks like O (letter)
• 1 (one) looks like l (lowercase L) and I (uppercase i)

How It Works

Generation

1. You click 🔗 Short URL
2. System combines: full URL + token + participant code (if any)
3. Checks if this combination already has a short code
4. If exists: returns existing code (prevents duplicates)
5. If new: generates random 7-character code
6. Saves mapping in database
7. Returns short URL and copies to clipboard

Redirection

1. Participant clicks short URL (/s/a3x9k2)
2. System looks up short code in database
3. Increments click counter
4. Updates last accessed timestamp
5. Redirects to full PEBL URL
6. Test/chain launches normally

Supported URL Types

Short URL works with:

• ✅ Individual tests
• ✅ Test chains
• ✅ All participant code methods (except platform integration)
• ✅ Manual participant codes
• ✅ Auto-generated codes
• ✅ Self-generated participant codes

Not supported:

• ❌ Platform integration URLs (variables can't be encoded)

Best Practices

1. Test Before Distribution

Always click your short URL to verify:

• Redirect works correctly
• Test/chain launches properly
• Participant code is correct (if using manual codes)
• Data uploads successfully

Use "Try it out" or test yourself as a participant.

2. Keep Records

Create a spreadsheet mapping:

• Participant ID → Short URL
• Distribution date
• Any notes about that participant

Example:

Participant | Short URL                     | Sent Date  | Notes
SUBJ001     | peblhub.online/s/k2N8vRw     | 2025-10-31 | Lab visit SUBJ002     | peblhub.online/s/P4m7xSt     | 2025-10-31 | Lab visit
SUBJ003     | peblhub.online/s/X7mZrTv     | 2025-11-01 | Remote

3. Use for Distribution, Not Development

Short URLs for:

• Sharing with participants
• Printed materials
• Email campaigns
• Social media

Full URLs for:

• Testing and development
• Technical troubleshooting
• Seeing exact parameters
• Admin work

4. Don't Share Publicly

Each short URL:

• Is tied to your study
• Uses your data storage
• May have associated costs (depending on tier)
• Should only be accessed by authorized participants

Don't post on public websites, forums, or social media where unauthorized people might click.

5. Verify Click Counts

Periodically check click counts:

• Unusually high: Possible unauthorized access
• Zero clicks: Check if URL was actually sent
• Multiple clicks per participant: Normal (may return to link)

Troubleshooting

"Invalid study token" Error

Cause: Study token doesn't exist in database

Solutions:

1. Verify you're on correct study's management page
2. Check study is active
3. Contact administrator if issue persists

Short URL Doesn't Redirect

Cause: Web server rewriting not configured

Solutions:

1. Verify Apache modrewrite or nginx rewrite rules enabled
2. Contact system administrator
3. Use full URL as fallback

Can't Generate Short URL

Causes:

• Study is inactive
• Don't have edit permissions
• Selected platform integration method (not supported)

Solutions:

1. Activate study if inactive
2. Contact study owner for permissions
3. Switch from platform integration to another participant method

Short URL Goes to Wrong Test

Cause: Cached mapping or browser cache

Solutions:

1. Clear browser cache (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
2. Try in incognito/private window
3. Check database for short code mapping
4. Contact administrator if mapping is wrong

Participant Sees Old Parameters

Cause: Short URL was created before parameter changes

Solutions:

1. Short URLs are permanent - parameters embedded when created
2. Regenerate short URL after changing parameters
3. Old short URL will keep old parameters

Important: If you change test parameters after creating a short URL, the short URL will still use the old parameters. Generate a new short URL to get updated parameters.

Limitations

Current Limitations

• Cannot edit: Once created, short codes are permanent
• Cannot delete: No UI to delete (database admin only)
• Basic tracking: Shows total clicks, not individual access logs
• No expiration: Short URLs remain active indefinitely
• Platform integration: Not compatible with platform variable URLs

Future Enhancements

Planned improvements:

• Custom short codes (choose your own code)
• Bulk generation (multiple participants at once)
• QR code auto-generation
• Detailed analytics dashboard
• Management page (list all, delete, disable)
• Expiration dates for temporary studies

Advanced: Database Storage

Short URLs are stored in the shorturls table:

Schema:

• shortcode: The 7-character code
• fullurl: Complete PEBL URL with parameters
• tokenid: Study token (for access control)
• testid: Test identifier
• participantcode: Participant ID (if specified)
• createdby: Username who created it
• clicks: Total click count
• firstseen: Creation timestamp
• last_accessed: Most recent click timestamp

Access control: Short URLs are linked to study tokens, ensuring only valid study participants can use them.

Related Topics

• Participant Codes - Understanding participant ID methods
• Getting Started - Basic study setup
• Creating Test Chains - Building test batteries

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Need more help? Contact your platform administrator or see related topics above.

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Related Topics

• Participant Codes
• Getting Started
• Creating Test Chains