AlcoveOpen the web app

Web app

Accept with the web app ​

Review your partner's invitation at psi.data-bridge.org, consent, and run the exchange from your browser.

Web app

For
An analyst who was sent an invitation to an exchange in the web app
You need
The invitation link from your partner; a CSV file with a header row, up to 200 MB; a time when your partner's page is open
Before this
Agree on terms
Your partner reads
Invite with the web app
Timing
Your partner's page waits 10 minutes for you each time it listens, and their invitation lasts 1 hour unless they chose longer. Measured runs, both browsers on one computer - sample files of 100 and 200 rows took 6 to 10 seconds; 10,000 records a side took 4 minutes 44 seconds.
On this page
Next
Run it on a schedule
  • Ask your partner for a web app invitation. The web app accepts an invitation your partner created with Live, in this browser, or a WebRTC invitation from the console or the command line (If your partner uses the console or the web app). Any other invitation stops with "This invitation does not include a connection endpoint this build can accept, so it cannot be run here." Which app accepts what: Your partner uses a different app.
  • Agree on a time. Your partner's page must be open while you accept and run. It waits 10 minutes, and your partner can choose Keep waiting to listen again.
  • Know what you agreed on. Check each term against Agree on terms as you go.

To practice first with sample data, follow Practice with sample data: you play both parties.

Accept the invitation ​

Open the link your partner sent. If your partner sent the invitation as text rather than a link, or the link arrived in pieces, paste it under Have an invitation? Paste it here on the start page and choose Review invitation.

Step 1 of 3 - Invitation from (your partner's name)

2Review the terms ​

Alcove does not verify the name shown: your partner typed it. If the invitation names a legal agreement, check it against the one you signed. Read each section against what you agreed on:

  • What you will send to your partner: the columns that leave your file, for matched records only.
  • Matching method: a list of matched records, or "Only the number of records you have in common is revealed" for a count only (A list or only a count).
  • Result sharing: "You will receive the matched result" and "Your partner (the inviter) will receive the result", each Yes or No (Who receives the result).
  • Matching strategies: the fields you match on. If the screen says some keys are marked less certain, open Matching strategies to see which (What you match on).

Open Other details and leave Let several of my records match one of my partner's unticked unless you agreed otherwise. Other details also lists the personal data used, any allowed-character rules your partner set, and notes on fields with several values per record: ask your partner about anything you did not agree on. If anything differs from what you agreed on, stop and ask your partner for a new invitation. Otherwise choose Continue: consent & your file.

Step 2 of 3 - Consent & your file

3Consent & your file ​

Tick I have reviewed the terms my partner proposed and I consent to this exchange. Enter Your name or agency. Your partner sees it. Drag your CSV onto the page, or select it to browse. Leave How your file separates fields at Comma unless your file uses tabs, pipes or semicolons. Choose Accept and continue.

Step 3 of 3 - Confirm your columns

4Confirm your columns ​

Check that the screen says every key can match, such as "All 30 keys can match". Alcove fills in each column's type and use from its name. It sends nothing by default, your ID column included.

Your ID column. Set your own ID column, whatever it is called, to Unique record identifier - not sent. Your result then starts each row with your own ID, and your partner never receives it. Alcove recognizes common ID names, such as id, Client ID, MRN, and case_number (inference table), and starts the first one as Unique record identifier - not sent, taking a record number such as case_number only when the file has no other ID column. To send your ID for matched records, choose Unique record identifier - sent to your partner. A column the app does not recognize starts as Ignored. With no column set as your ID, your result holds row numbers only, counting from 0.

Change any other column's use only as you agreed:

OptionWhat it doesPick it when
Used to match - not sentMatches on the column and never sends itUsualnames, date of birth, SSN, ZIP code
Used to match - sent to your partnerMatches on it, and sends its value for matched recordsYour partner agreed to receive this column
Unique record identifier - not sentStarts each row of your result with your own IDUsualyour own ID column, whatever it is called
Unique record identifier - sent to your partnerDoes the same, and sends the ID for matched recordsYour partner agreed to receive your IDs
Sent to your partnerSends the value for matched records; not used to matchYour partner agreed to receive this column
IgnoredNeither matches on it nor sends itUsualevery other column

A use ending "sent to your partner" sends that column for matched records. If your partner receives no result, the screen says nothing is sent, whatever you choose.

5Start the exchange ​

Choose Start the exchange. The status panel shows Connecting to your partner, then Checking settings match, then Matching records with a count of keys.

WARNING

Keep this tab open until the exchange completes: closing or reloading either tab stops it for both of you.

If your partner's page is not open, the screen shows Your partner's page did not answer. Ask your partner to open their invitation page again, then choose Keep waiting. If they no longer have it, ask them for a new invitation.

You should see: Exchange complete with the downloads below.

What you get ​

Exchange complete lists a download for each file:

FileWhat it holdsShare or keep
results.csv (Download result)One row per matched record: your ID, row_id (your partner's row number, counting from 0, so row 0 is the first data row, row 2 in Excel), and the columns your partner sends. With no ID column set, row_id is your own row number and their_row_id your partner's.Keep private
alcove-record-<time>.json (Download record (safe to share))What you and your partner agreed to and what matched, for your disclosure logKeep; not secret
alcove-record-<time>.keys.json (Download verification keys, marked keep private)The keys that check the record against your files. They cannot be recreated.Keep private

Two outcomes have no results.csv:

  • Count only: the screen reads "Exchange complete - count only" and gives the number of records in common. If your partner computed it, the screen says the figure is your partner's word for it.
  • Results withheld by the terms: the terms give you no result, so the screen shows no list and no count. You still get the record and its keys.

NOTE

The files exist only in this page. Download each one before you close the tab or choose Set up another exchange.

To run the same exchange again with this partner, follow Run it on a schedule before you leave this screen: the save offer appears only here.

More detail: How to check a record against your files later.

Cannot accept this invitation comes with one of these:

The screen saysWhat to do
"This link looks incomplete or changed in transit."Copy the whole link from your partner's message again and paste it under Have an invitation? Paste it here, or ask your partner to send it again.
"This invitation has expired. Ask your partner to send a new one."Ask your partner for a new invitation.
"This invitation does not include a connection endpoint this build can accept, so it cannot be run here."Your partner made it for SFTP or a shared folder. Ask for a Live, in this browser invitation, or use another app (Your partner uses a different app).