uDots URL Shortening Services

Overview

uDots provides the secure way to shorten university URLs and create custom QR codes. Shortened URLs are useful in printed material, where the reader must type the link, or in social media to avoid character limits. uDots enhances security by providing assurance that shortened links and QR codes will go to tamu.edu or tamus.edu addresses. uDots features include:

• Open to faculty, staff and students at no charge.
• Create Groups to share editing rights to your links.
• Use randomly generated short links or create custom links (employees only).
• Make QR codes labeled with the destination link.

Creating a Short URL and Custom QR code

1. Go to https://u.tamu.edu.
   
    
2. Click Get Started [fig. 01].
   
   
   [fig. 01 – Get Started with uDots]
    
3. Log in using your NetID and your NetID password [fig. 02].
   
   
   [fig. 02 - Login with NetID and Password]
    
4. Select Add Short URL to create a new URL [fig. 03 – Add Short URL].
   
   
   [fig. 03 – Add Short URL]
    
5. On the next screen, enter the following information [fig. 04]: 
    
   • Enter the URL to shorten in the Link field
   • To customize your short link, enter a custom short-url-name (optional, employees only).
   • Select a Group to share editing rights to the link (optional).
   • Add a Description (optional, information only, not publicly displayed).
   • Add a QR Code Label (optional, appears under the QR code).
   • Click Add a New Short URL.
   
   
   [fig. 04 – Enter Short URL Information]
    
6. The short link appears in the Recent Activity screen [fig. 05].
   
   
   [fig. 05 – Recent Activity Screen]
    
7. To download the QR code or to edit or delete the short link, click Details [fig. 06].
   
   
   [fig. 06 – Details of Short URL]

Sharing Short URLs with a Group

Create a group if you want to share short URL editing privileges. Sharing with a group preserves short URLs if the student or employee who created the link leaves the university. Short URLs owned solely by an individual will be deleted when the owner leaves Texas A&M.

1. Select My Groups. To create a group, select Add New Group. To view or edit an existing group, select the name of that group [fig. 07].
   
   
   [fig. 07 – My Groups dropdown]
    
2. To add a new group, enter the Group Name and a Group Description, then select Save Group [fig. 08]. The group will appear in the My Groups dropdown list.
   
   
   [fig. 08 – Add New Group]
    
3. To add members, select Add member. Enter the member's NetID, then click Save Member [fig. 09].
   
   
   [fig. 09 - Add New Group Member]
    
4. To delete a member, click the X next to their name in the Member list.
   
    
5. To share a short URL with a group, select Details under the short URL, then click Edit.
   
    
6. Select the group in the Group dropdown. Click Save Changes [fig. 10].
   
   
   [fig. 10 – Share Short URL with Group]
    
7. A group's shared URLs can be viewed by selecting the group name from My Groups.

FAQ

How do I remove myself from a group?
Select the group name from My Groups. Click the X next to your name. All group members have the ability to delete fellow members. 

How can a group be deleted?
A group no longer exists if it has no members. Delete all members to delete the group. Important note: All short URLs owned by the group will also be deleted.