Files
From Textbook
The Files panel provides central management tools for download files you want to include in your website. It keeps the file, it's description, and automatic information of filesize together, as well as organizing file lists and other functions. So you can place download links and lists of downloads in your articles or forms in a very convenient way. If you need to update a file, you can do it once in a central place and don't need to bother where you already have placed a link to it.
On this panel you can:
- as well upload a file
- as edit file properties or replace the data file
- and organize download lists (by assigning categories).
(The files panel in a way combines what for articles is divided in two panels "Write" and "Article".)
Contents |
Upload a file
The first function on the panel is a small dialogue for uploading files (see figure 1). When opening the panel for the first time, this will be the only thing you will see, because there aren't any files yet. The Existing file select box won't be visible the first time.
For large files it is recommended not to use the Upload file field, but to use FTP to upload them directly to your files folder. Once you have done that, the Existing file select box will appear, and you can use it to import your file.
Uploaded files will be stored in the files folder of your Textpattern install.
Edit File Properties
After the upload proceeded successfully the panel view will switch to edit-properties-mode (see figure XX). Here you see the following pieces of information:
- File Status. Info only. "OK" tells that the file is in the files folder. If it's "Missing" you get additional fields for repairing. (Note: labeled "Condition" in the list of files)
- Name. Info only.
- Download count. Info only. You can click the linked name and thus test the download.
- Category. Editable. With categories you organize download lists.
- Description. Editable. Text that tells something about the file.
- Status. Editable. There are three different status modes, which are equal to the articles' status: Hidden, Pending and Live (as default). (There is no "Sticky" status.)
- Timestamp. Editable. The same handling as articles' timestamp. (There isn't an Expire-setting yet.)
After editing you have to Save your edits.
File size
File size isn't there as an info (nor in the file catalogue). But you needn't enter it manually (for example in the description) for it is included as an option in the file-related tags. See there.
Replace a file
If you need to replace a file (for there is a corrected or optimized file or a new version and no need to keep the old one) you simply use the small "Replace file" dialogue. It's working the same way as "upload" but doesn't create a new content element and instead replaces the file in the current one. (Note: Even if your replacement file has another filename - e.g. your version number - it will be saved in the files-folder with the name of the replaced file. This is different from replacing an image's file.)
List of files (files catalogue)
If there are any download files in your textpattern install, a list (or catalogue) of files will be provided beneath the upload dialogue.
Search function and filter
For this list can get long, at the top there is a search function, which you can use to
- locate files individually by search phrases
- or to filter the list below.
The Search function has two components:
- A drop-down-list to specify which area is to be searched
- and a textarea for entering the search phrase.
The drop-down-list provides the following search areas:
- ID#
- Name (= default)
- Description
- Category
By default (when opening the panel) name will be selected. You can refine your search or filter by selecting another area option.
The search phrase in the textarea will be treated as a complete phrase (see Articles for details on this).
After entering your search criteria you can start searching by clicking "Go". As a result you will be given a new list of files which meet the criteria.
List of files: Information columns
The list of files provides you with basic information on your file content elements. Each row is one file. There are eight columns. (Note: The columns can be sorted. If you click the header of a column, it will sort the whole current list of files (including all its pages) according to that column. Click again to reverse sort direction. The current sort column is marked by a yellow arrow on the right side of its name indicating its direction: downwards = ascending = most recent presented first at the top.)
For files there are eight different columns:
ID# – an ID number is automatically assigned to each file. The ID# is used for identifying and placing the content element with a tag. Right from the ID# two links reside: Edit – click this (or the name of the file) to edit the properties of the content element. The panel view will switch to edit properties mode. Download – click this to download the file to your computer.
Name – filename of the file. You can click this linked name to edit the files properties. The panel view will switch to edit properties mode.
Description – what has to be told about the file. You needn't specify file size here. Filesize will be shown automatically (by tags and if you like).
Category – if the link was assigned a category, then it will reflect that here.
Tags - here you can choose between three modes how to include the correct code. There will be a tag builder opened as a pop-up, creating a tag for you to copy and paste.
Status - the current status of the file.
Condition - the day and time when this link has been created. (Note: labeled "File Status" in the edit-mode)
Downloads - an indicator how many downloads already happened.
Edit multiple content elements
You may want to perform changes on multiple content elements, for instance replace a category assignment in a group of 50 files. Textpattern provides a way to do this in a single command:
First you have to select the content elements you want to apply a change to. On the right side of the list you will find a checkbox for each content element to select. You can mark and unmark the element by clicking the checkbox. There are also three select-buttons at the bottom of the list: "All", "None" or "Range". If you want to select a range you simply mark the checkbox of both the first and the last link in the range and then click "Range". The links between will automatically be checked too. You can combine those ways to select the appropriate files.
Second, you get to the bottom of the list to the drop-down-list labeled "With selected:" and choose the function you want to perform.
For files the following changes are available:
- Change Category
- Delete
When selecting the "Change Category"-option you will get another drop-down-list below which will give you the list of categories to choose from.
After selecting the appropriate options click "Go" to start the changes. A pop-up window will ask "Are you sure?" and then (if "yes") the changes will be performed.
Pagination
At the very bottom of the list you will find a pagination and links for next and previous pages if there are more pages. By default Textpattern will show 25 files per page. You can also change the number of files per page by selecting another value in the drop-down-list "View # per page": 15, 25, 50 and 100.
