Media Library #
The Media Library is where you can find all the files that you’ve uploaded. There are two different types of views you can select from when viewing your media library. You can click the List View icon ( ) to display your images in a list, or you can click the Grid View icon ( ) to view your images in a Grid layout.
The Grid View will display a grid of thumbnail images for each of your media files. The Grid View employs infinite scrolling, rather than displaying your images over multiple pages. To view more images, simply scroll to the bottom of the page and more thumbnails are automatically loaded
The List View will display your images vertically down the page, over multiple pages. By default, it will display 20 images per page but you can change this number by clicking the Screen Options link at the top-right of the page and changing the Number of items per page.
Both views show the most recently uploaded files first. There are also dropdown lists that allow you to filter the list of files that are currently being displayed, along with a search field to help search for files.
Within the List View, the list of files contains a small thumbnail version of the image or file, the file title and the file name along with the file extension which shows the type of file (JPG, MP3, etc.), the name of the Author who uploaded the file, the Page or Post which the image was uploaded to, the number of comments and the date the file was uploaded.
When hovering your cursor over each row in the List View, a few links will appear beneath the file name.
Edit – Allows you to edit the file properties such as Title, Alt Text, Caption and Description. You can also perform some basic image manipulation
Delete Permanently – Deletes the file permanently from the Media Library
View – Will take you to the display page for that file
Viewing a File in the Media Library #
The Grid View will display a grid of thumbnail images for each of your media files. Depending on the file type, you’ll either see a thumbnail image for that particular file or an icon representation. After clicking on a thumbnail within the Grid View, a pop-up window will display the properties for that particular file, along with giving you the ability to update certain properties. If the file is an image, you’ll also see a larger version of that image. For supported audio and video files (M4a, MP4, OGG, WebM, FLV, MP3, and WAV) you’ll see the appropriate media player. For other file types such as PDF’s or Word Documents, there is a link to view the attachment page which in turn has a link to the actual file.
Within the List View, you can click the thumbnail image, the media file title or you can hover the cursor over the row and click the Edit link. The various file properties will be displayed, along with giving you the ability to update certain properties. If the file is an image, you’ll see a larger version of that image. For supported audio and video files (M4a, MP4, OGG, WebM, FLV, MP3, and WAV)
you’ll see the appropriate media player. For other file types such as PDF’s or Word Documents, you’ll simply see the file properties along with a button to view the attachment page which in turn has a link to the actual file.
Adding a File to the Media Library To add a new file to the Media Library, click on the Add New link in the left-hand navigation menu or the Add New button at the top of the page. If you click the Add New button when you’re viewing the Media Library in the List View, or click the Add New link in the menu, simply drag your images from wherever they are on your computer, into the area marked Drop files here. Your file(s) will be automatically uploaded. Once your images or files are uploaded, they’re listed below the file uploader. If you’d like to edit the file properties, click the Edit link next to the file.
If you click the Add New button when you’re viewing the Media Library in the Grid View, you can drag your images from wherever they are on your computer, to anywhere on the screen. Your file(s) will be automatically uploaded. Once your images or files are uploaded, they’re displayed below the file uploader, with the rest of your media.
When uploading files, you can also click the Select Files button and then select the files that you’d like to upload, using the dialog window that is displayed.
Editing the File Properties #
If you’re viewing your files using the Grid View, simply click on one of your media files and you’ll be presented with a pop-up window that displays the relevant properties for that particular file. After updating each field your changes will be automatically saved. You can use the arrow buttons at the top of the pop-up window to navigate to the previous or next image. Click the ‘x’ in the top-right of the pop-up window to return to the media Grid View.
To edit the properties of an existing file when using the List View within the Media Library, hover the cursor over the particular row that contains the file you wish to edit and click the Edit link. Alternatively, you can also click the file title or the thumbnail image. Clicking the Edit link next to the file after it’s just been uploaded, will also allow you to edit its properties.
After clicking Edit, the relevant properties for that particular media file are displayed, including the title, URL, filename, file type and in the case of an image, the file dimensions. When editing the file properties, the Alternative Text field will only be displayed for images.
Deleting a File from the Media Library #
To delete a file from the Media Library when using the Grid View, first click an image to view the File Properties, then click on the Delete Permanently link that appears in the pop-up window
To delete a file from the Media Library when using the List View, click on the Delete Permanently link that appears beneath the file name when hovering your cursor over each row.
After you click the Delete Permanently link in either view, you’ll be prompted with a confirmation message. Click the OK button to delete the file or click the Cancel button to return to the Media Library.