Set up Sideline

Before you start

• You: the Aissence desktop app for Windows or macOS, signed in, with screen capture permission granted.
• Your helper: a free Aissence account and a current desktop browser such as Chrome or Edge.
• One helper at a time per session. You can swap them by removing the current one.

Method A: send a link (set up before the interview)

Best when you can plan ahead. Your helper is notified automatically when you start.

1. 1

   Helper: open Sideline

   Sign in to the Aissence web app and open Sideline in the Interview studio group of the sidebar.

2. 2

   Helper: copy the Sideline link

   On the Send a link tab, choose Copy Sideline link and send it to your friend in any chat app.

3. 3

   You: open the link and link them

   Open the link while signed in, review who it is, and choose Link as my helper. You only do this once.

4. 4

   You: start your session

   In the desktop app, review the session on the preflight page. You will see "Sideline ready" with your helper’s name, then start.

5. 5

   Helper: join

   Keep the Sideline page open. Your helper sees a notification on the Send a link tab with Join session, and choosing it opens the live view.

Method B: enter a code (during a session)

Use this when the session has already started and you want help now.

1. 1

   You: open the Sideline button

   In the header of your assistant, choose the Sideline button. It shows your User ID and a 6-digit access code.

2. 2

   You: copy to share

   Choose Copy to share and paste the block into a chat. Use the refresh icon for a new code at any time. Codes last 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Helper: enter a code

   On the Enter a code tab, paste the whole block into the User ID field. Both fields fill in. Choose Join session.

During the session

• Helper view: your live screen on the left, the transcript and their sent notes on the right, and a message box with a Code mode and language picker.
• Your view: their notes appear in your assistant feed, labelled with their name and Sideline. Code comes in a block with a Copy button.
• No audio: your helper reads the transcript. Nothing is heard.
• Sharper image: the helper can ask for a sharper screen image when reading code.

Stop or change who is connected

• Switch Share my screen or Share the live transcript off in the Sideline popover. Each one stops at once.
• Choose Remove helper to disconnect them. They cannot rejoin with the old code.
• Ending your session ends the Sideline room. Use Unlink on the preflight page to stop a linked helper being notified.

If something is not working

• Code not valid: codes expire after 10 minutes and lock after five wrong tries. Refresh the code in your popover.
• Blank screen for the helper: check Share my screen is on and that Aissence has screen capture permission in your system settings.
• Helper dropped: they can reload the session page, or enter your User ID again on the Enter a code tab, and rejoin without you ending anything.
• "Not available right now": Sideline is in beta and may be switched off. Try again later or contact support.