3 Ways to Share Your Data

Introduction

• Giving the other parent instant, read-only access to your records.
• Adding the parent–child call schedule to a shared Google or Outlook calendar so all caregivers always know when calls are planned.
• Letting a babysitter view your custody schedule for a specific child without exposing the rest of your records.
• Emailing a monthly PDF that lists every expense, shows who paid each item, and highlights any amounts still owed for reimbursement.

• iCloud Sync: secure, real-time sharing with other Alimentor users.
• CalSync: automated calendar export for Gmail, Outlook, and more.
• Reports and Spreadsheets: ideal for co-parenting summaries and legal documentation.

iCloud Sync provides the simplest and most secure way to share your data.

Your records are stored in a private, secure space on Apple’s cloud system (iCloud), accessible only with your Apple ID. There’s no need to create a new account or sign in to a separate service.

How It Works:

• To share your data, you simply send a secure invitation link from the app to the person you'd like to share with.
• To access your data, the person you share with must install Alimentor (for iPhone, iPad, or Mac) and accept your invitation.
• By default, sharing is one-way. The other person can view your data, but you won’t see theirs unless they send you an invitation too.
• Shared data is read-only. Others can view it, but they can’t change or delete anything.
• While Alimentor displays events from your device’s calendar (such as Gmail or Outlook), these events are not included in iCloud Sync sharing.

Pros:

• Instant, secure sharing of your entire database.
• View combined data from all caregivers sharing with you.

Cons:

• Other caregivers must install Alimentor.
• No ability to limit the scope of shared data.

How to Set It Up:

• For detailed instructions, visit the Alimentor User Guide.

Need to Edit Together?

If you’re using Alimentor with a partner and require the ability to edit each other's records, consider using a shared device, such as a family iPad or Mac. This allows anyone with physical access to the device to create, edit, and delete records.

CalSync allows you to automatically export Alimentor records to any external calendars (e.g., iCloud, Gmail) that are configured in your device’s standard Calendar app.

This feature is especially designed for sharing a specific range of information, such as custody schedules and details about important events (doctor's appointments, extracurricular activities, parent-teacher meetings, etc.), with a wide array of recipients.

It also allows you to share your Alimentor calendar indirectly with people who, for various reasons, cannot or do not wish to install our application.

Additionally, using CalSync is an efficient way to integrate your parenting schedule into your own work calendar, helping you maintain a balance between parenting responsibilities and professional commitments.

How It Works:

• Set up rules for automated export of selected record subsets to external calendars.
• Share these external calendar(s) as needed.

Pros:

• Customizable export rules for different data subsets.
• No need for Alimentor installation by others.

Cons:

• Photos and attachments are not exported.
• Changes in external calendars don’t sync back to Alimentor.

How to Set It Up:

• For detailed instructions, visit the Alimentor User Guide.

The detailed reports you can create with Alimentor serve two main purposes: to enable consistent and regular information sharing with the other parent and to offer strong support in mediation or court, acting as credible records of custody activities and expenses.

You can also export all your Alimentor data into a spreadsheet. This function is particularly useful for those who love delving into details. Imagine creating charts that offer a visual story of your co-parenting schedule or performing calculations that bring clarity to expenses.

• Provides a comprehensive overview of key custody details.
• Helps make co-parenting conversations more productive.
• Reduces potential misunderstandings.
• Serves as formal documentation for legal proceedings.

• With emails: Use read receipts to confirm opening or request an acknowledgment reply from the other parent.
• For hardcopy reports: Have the other parent sign and return a copy, affirming they've received and acknowledged the contents.

How It Works:

• Generate reports for regular sharing or legal documentation.
• Export all records to a spreadsheet.

Pros:

• Enhances communication and legal preparedness.
• Invaluable in situations where maintaining cooperative communication is challenging.

Cons:

• Requires commitment to regular report generation.

Explore Further:

• For more details on reporting, visit the Alimentor User Guide.
• For insights on custody documentation, see "Documentation in Child Custody Cases".

Summary

Each sharing method in Alimentor serves a different purpose and comes with its own setup process and level of control. iCloud Sync is the easiest to set up and perfect for secure, full-database sharing with another Alimentor user. CalSync takes a bit more configuration but offers flexible, selective sharing with anyone using a standard calendar app. Reports and spreadsheets require the most manual effort, yet provide the highest level of  customization—making them ideal for formal documentation and detailed reviews.