Uploading files and images

To upload a file or image to the system, this has to be done from any of the “write” or “edit” “post” or “page” admin menu options.

Before you do an upload, check that you have prepared the file appropriately.

  • For images, the image should have been resized and compressed suitably for the web. Always resize and compress from the original best quality image.
  • For non-image files, you usually should print or convert to PDF first.

Once you are sure that your file is in the best format for presentation on the web, then go to the edit option for the page or article from which you wish to link to the file.

Screen shot of the wordpress upload file screen

Below the text area for the post or page is a section starting with an “Upload” menu option.

  • Next to the “File” input field is a “Browse” button. Click the “Browse” button to browse your PC, find the file you want to upload and select it (click “open” on a windows system). The file name and address will appear in the “File” field.
  • It is a good idea to add a title and a description to the file. The wordpress system will note that information and use it to provide additional information when linking to that file.
  • Then click the “Upload” button on the right. The file will typically (depends on the options set in the “options” of your admin section) be uploaded to a subdirectory for that month.

Once the file has been uploaded it will appear in the “Browse” menu option. When you click on the thumbnail or file icon, a little submenu of options will appear. The first 2 options can be “toggled” to tell the system what you want.

For a non-image file like a PDF, it is assumed that you wish to link to the file, so the options are:
Screenshot of the browse file submenu

  • the link method:
    • Linked to File (ie: link directly to the file - preferred) OR
    • Linked to Page (ie: link so that the PDF appears from within a “page” of the web.
  • the link text
    • Using the Filename
    • Using the Title that you specified when you uploaded the file

Screenshot of the browse file submenu for an image

For an Image file, it is assumed that you wish to display possibly a thumbnail, with a link to the image or the image itself with no link, so the options are:

  • the link method:
    • Using Original(ie: show image directly on web) OR
    • Using Thumbnail (ie: show thumbnail).
  • the link
    • Linked - ie: link to the image from the image or thumbnail (usually from thumbnail)
    • Not linked - ie: just show the image or thumbnail - no link to image.

Once you are happy with the options you have set:

  • Put your cursor in the position in the text that you want the link to the file or the image to appear
  • click on the third option “Send to editor”

Viola - the necessary html will be inserted into the text for the link or image to appear.