Preview without publishing
Use a private preview to check an application in a Project before deciding whether to publish it as a Site. The optional Sites plugin must be enabled. To request a preview, you need access to the selected Project; for a paired computer, the request must also pass that computer's Sandbox authorization.
Open a private preview
- Start the application in an active managed Project or paired computer, and note the port it listens on.
- In the conversation working in that Project, ask Elowen to preview the application on that port. The Sites preview tool creates or reuses a temporary address for the Project and port.
- Open the returned preview address and check the running application. The preview does not create a published Site or change its visibility.
- If you later want a durable Site address, use the Sites publishing workflow described in Sites.
Check access and availability
Current Project members and administrators can open the preview. Access is checked on each request and does not grant access to Project files or share them with visitors. If a non-admin loses Project membership, their next request is denied; administrators retain access while their account remains active.
The application must be running and the Project active. A stopped service or offline paired computer can make the preview unavailable; start the service or reconnect the computer, then request the preview again. Check that the application listens on the port you supplied. A preview is for temporary review, not a published or public address. It may stop working when Project access or service availability changes.