* *In your default web browser,* install the KeePassXC Browser extension/add-on. Instructions for [Firefox](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/keepassxc-browser/) or [Chrome](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/keepassxc-browser/oboonakemofpalcgghocfoadofidjkkk)
To make sure that your data is valid when im imported by another client, please _generate_ (or _import_) a public/private key pair and enter your _signer_ name. This way your client may verify that the imported data is valid. When Importing, you'll see the known sources with names and fingerprint in the list at the bottom. This is the place to _trust_ or _untrust_ signers. It is only possible to trust someone on application level.
If you checked _Allow export_ in the Sharing settings you now are good to go to share some passwords with others. Sharing always is defined on a group. If you enable sharing on a group, every entry under this group or it's children is shared. If you enable sharing on the root node, **every password** inside your database gets shared!
1. Open the edit sheet on a group you want to share
1. Select the sharing section
1. Choose _Export to path_ as the sharing method
1. Choose a path to store the shared credentials to
The export file will not be generated automatically. Instead, each time the database is saved, the file gets written (so please deactivate the autosafe feature). If an old file is present, the old file will be overwritten! The file should be written to a location that is accessible by others. An easy setup is a network share or storing the file inside the cloud.
Checking _Allow import_ in the Sharing settings of the database enables you to receive credentials from others. KeePass will watch sharing sources and import any changes immediately into your database using the synchronization feature.
1. Choose a share container that is shared with you
1. Enter the password for the shared container
KeeShare observes the container for changes and merges them into your database when necessary. Importing merges in time order, so older data is moved to the history, which should have a sufficient size to prevent loss of needed data.
Please note, that the import currently is not restricted to the configured group. Every entry which was imported and moved outside the import group will be updated regardless of it's location!
<imgsrc="./KeeShare/GroupSettings_Import.png"height="600"width="800"alt="KeeShare Group Import Settings">
Instead of using different groups for sharing and importing you can use a single group that acts as both. This way you can synchronize a number of credentials easily across many users without a lot of hassle.
1. Open the edit sheet on a group you want to synchronize
1. Select the sharing section
1. Choose _Synchronize with path_ as the sharing method
1. Choose a database that you want to use a synchronization file
<imgsrc="./KeeShare/GroupSettings_Sync.png"height="600"width="800"alt="KeeShare Group Synchronization Settings">
### Disable Sharing for Credentials
In case you don't want to share (import or export) some credentials, it is possible to you can
* use the application settings and uncheck the options or
* instead of selecting _Import from path_, _Export to path_ or _Synchronize with path_ you'll select _Inactive_ while leaving the path and the password untouched
### Sharing overview
There is a simple overview of shared groups to keep track of your data.
1. Open the Database Settings
1. Select the KeeShare category
<imgsrc="./KeeShare/DatabaseSettings.png"height="600"width="800"alt="KeeShare Group Sharing Ovewview">
## Technical Details and Limitations of Sharing
Sharing relies on the combination of file exports and imports as well as the synchronization mechanism provided by KeePassXC. Since the merge algorithm uses the history of entries to prevent data loss, this history must be enabled and have a sufficient size. Furthermore, the merge algorithm is location independend, therefore it does not matter if entries are moved outside of an import group. These entries will be updated none the less. Moving entries outside of export groups will prevent a further export of the entry, but it will not ensure that the already shared data will be removed from any client.
KeeShare uses a custom certification mechanism to ensure that the source of the data is the expected one. This ensures that the data was exported by the signer but it is not possible to detect if someone replaced the data with an older version from a valid signer. To prevent this, the container could be placed at a location which is only writeable for valid signers.
