Bulk update, do not crash ID-numbers

  • Resolved Jukka Kähkönen

    (@elkesan)


    5 years, 9 months ago

    Dear David,

    Now I have hundred images imported using MLA. Page work and all is ok.

    When I paste image or document, simply I use MLA shortcode, eg.

    [justified_image_grid ids=900]
    [mla_gallery ids=932 mla_markup=mlaelke] etc.

    This document id is “holy”, as you understand :).

    Case 1: need update any pdf-document. So I take “MLA” and then click document, “edit”. How I can replace it pdf with new one? So, I want replace pdf but keep it id-number.

    Case 2: Bulk edit image. Still I want keep id-number. Of course. All images I stock on my computer so I have 1:1 same images on my computer and homepage. Now I edit image metadata: keywords, tags etc. Then I want import edited images using MLA bulk import. As you see, image filename is same, no duplicates (all images are in same folder on my computer).

    So: How I can bulk import images and keep id-numbers?

    Both cases are similar…

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Plugin Author David Lingren

    (@dglingren)

    5 years, 9 months ago

    Thanks for your question, which has come before. You can find more information in these earlier topics:

    Image Replacements

    UPDATE ALL THE REPLACED MEDIA LINKS

    As I said in the earlier topic:

    MLA does not have any features of its own for importing or replacing files in the Media Library.

    I have explicitly avoided adding any MLA features that alter or replace the file associated with a Media Library item because it’s harder than it might seem.

    You can also see in the earlier topics that people have had good results with another plugin:

    Enable Media Replace

    I have done some tests with that plugin and it seems to do a good job. Once the new file is in place you can re-run MLA’s mapping rules to update your items with new metadata values.

    I regret that the news is not better for your application, but I am marking this topic resolved simply because your question has been answered. Thanks for your understanding and for your continued interest in the plugin.

    Thread Starter Jukka Kähkönen

    (@elkesan)

    5 years, 8 months ago

    Dear David, thank you. This Enable Media Replace works.

    As we know, in WordPress is it’s own Media tool, with basic prefs. MLA make more, most important, it add id numbers to media.

    This Enable Media Replace plugin add one simple button to WP standard Media tool.

    It is
    First, install Enable Media Replace plugin and activate it.

    Then:
    1, open the media you want replace. Do this in WP own media tool, not in MLA.
    2, now you can see new button “Replace media, upload new file”
    3, now you can search it new file. After this you can select “just replace the file”, and in this case new file name and type must be just same. Or, “replace, use new file name, update all links”.

    Looks this does not crash id-number, and also looks metadata renew.

    SO, ERM add this “button” inside WordPress own media tool. This is not support question, I say only: “Why it is not possible add this button inside MLA? Can you discuss with ERM programmers?”. Of course, all looks easy from here tree, say ape :). I know it is not so easy, but “basic replace” in many cases this is enough 🙂

    Plugin Author David Lingren

    (@dglingren)

    5 years, 8 months ago

    Thanks for your update with the good news that Enable Media Replace works for your application, and for your suggestion to “add this button inside MLA“.

    I can imagine adding a new rollover action to the existing “Edit | Quick Edit | …” list for each item. Clicking the link would bring up the “Replace Media Upload” page, where the user could browse for a new file and click the “Upload” button. When the upload completes the full-screen “Edit Media” screen would be displayed.

    That would save you the step of first opening the Edit Media screen and then clicking the “Upload a new file” button. Is that what you imagine?

    I don’t know when I would be able to work on that, but I want to make sure I understand your suggestion in case I find some time to pursue it. Thanks for any additional details you care to provide.

    Thread Starter Jukka Kähkönen

    (@elkesan)

    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hi again. Now pages are published: Not ready, but “better stop to horror than eternal horror”. https://elkesan.fi. I say it myself, we are one man company, but homepage is ok :).

    MLA is really plugin by plugin, no other so good. It is very cruel but really flexible. Sometime it is not easy to use, BUT reason of good support, flexibility, bug-free it is somethn “without it you can make webpage, but result is… and work is…”.

    So, again and again I must say good feedback.

    But it what I continue.

    Now my pages are ready. Strongly I use MLA and document id:s. Photo galleries good plugin is JIG. Of course I know all it is possible with MLA, but need much… template programming ;).

    Reason I make all from zero I found errors. Systematically I see erroneous categories on photos or erroneous keywords. Thanks to systematic work, I can fix it. All photos are on my computer: “Photos_to_homepage” and I have long csv-file containing keywords and tags. Mass crunch is easy: fix’it error and put all metadata to photos using Exiftool.

    So: This is good system. All photos on webpage are in one folder on my computer and I can make very strong crunch. Process is easy: a) I take any photo I want publish. b) I edit metadata, it is Caption, Caption-Abstract, keywords, Categories etc. c) MLA, and import this media —> and, voilá, all fields are automatically in WordPress! Not need any edit inside WordPress!

    PROBLEM AND IT QUESTION

    But, still this is not so easy. As you see, this system work. Take media, edit metadata from media, import to wordpress via mla. All metadata automatically set.

    Now I see I have some systematic error in my media. Wrong categories, wrong keywords. If I fix it, I must replace all photos manually. Mass replace is not possible. Only way make mass replace is: “delete all photos, import again” and then document id is not same.

    SO, it process is:
    Replace media (photo, pdf, any mimetype)
    – New media filename is just same as old
    – Reason of my mechanism no duplicate filenames
    – In new media metadata is updated –> in media replace reread all metadata
    – Document id number no change

    EARLIER you recommend plugin “Enable Media Replace”. It is extremely good plugin. But, only problem is: It is only for ONE file. So, if want replace all the media, only way is replace it image-by-image. Some hundred image. (Of course it is possible edit metadata inside wordpress, but better than edit metadata in original file- wordpress cannot write metadata to image)

    So:
    Document ID is holy
    Replace media rewrite metadata, so “replace media” is reread metadata from media

    Looks there is no good way make mass replace…?

    1: Any special plugin “mass replace”? “Mass replace, do not change document id, reread metadata from media”

    2: Direct database edit?
    – Log in to webpage using ftp
    – Locate media folders
    – Move updated media to media folders as present
    – In wordpress make any jinx “reread all metadata from media”

    3: Any other jinx?

    Thread Starter Jukka Kähkönen

    (@elkesan)

    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hi, now make some tests more, it clarify a little but not solve problem totally.

    2, direct is it easy way, BUT…

    Looks all my media is in one folder also in webpage.

    Using FTP I can easy move this media to image folder. So, I can make mass-update also.

    BUT NOW IT UPDATE of metadata:

    Media -> assistant
    Open media
    Click “Map custom field metadata” and click “map iptc/exif metadata”

    Voilá, all metadatafields updated.

    BUT NOW IT BUT, BUT.

    THIS METHOD WORK ONLY WITH ONE PHOTO!! There is no any selection how to update ALL PHOTOS METADATA! So, only way is make photo-by-photo.

    So: this works, but need any additional plugin… plugin names “Map iptc/exif metadata to all media”…

    Plugin Author David Lingren

    (@dglingren)

    5 years, 7 months ago

    Jukka,

    I will read your updates more carefully as soon as I have time, but I wanted to give you a quick response that may help your immediate mapping needs.

    Once you define a rule you can apply it to a single image, multiple images or all images:

    • To map a single image, go to the Media/Assistant submenu and click the thumbnail of the image you want (or click the “Edit” rollover action) to get the Media/Edit Media screen. You can click the “Map IPTC/EXIF metadata” link to run your rules on this image, then scroll down and look at the “Alternative Text” meta box to inspect the results.
    • To map two or more images, go to the Media/Assistant submenu and click the checkbox next to the images you want. Then, select “Edit” from the “Bulk Actions” dropdown above the checkboxes and click “Apply” to open the Bulk Edit area. Click the “Map IPTC/EXIF metadata” button to run your rules on the selected images.
    • To map all of your images, stay on the Settings/Media Library Assistant IPTC/EXIF tab and click the “Execute” rollover action for the ALT Text rule. This may take a while.
    • The Settings/Media Library Assistant IPTC/EXIF tab also has an “Execute” Bulk Action you can use to apply several rules at once, and an “Execute All Rules” button to run all of the rules against all of your items.

    Let me know if that helps.

    Plugin Author David Lingren

    (@dglingren)

    5 years, 7 months ago

    I have now had a chance to read your updates more carefully. Thank you for your detailed explanation of your approach to managing the metadata in both your original files and within WordPress. Your process looks very careful and thorough.

    You wrote “Photo galleries good plugin is JIG.” I agree, Justified Image Grid is an excellent plugin and I have found the author to be responsive and supportive of the JIG/MLA combination. I could not duplicate all the features JIG provides within my own plugin even if I had the large amount of time required to do the work.

    The method you describe has several pieces; CSV files, Exiftool and direct FTP transfer of updated image files to WordPress. I do not know if you have considered Adobe Lightroom, but it is widely used and provides most of the features you need. There is another excellent plugin, WP/LR Synch, that works with Lightroom to update your WordPress Media Library in the same way you describe. It might make your life easier. It has a “Switch Photos” module that could enable the “mass replace” you asked about.

    I believe the metadata update options I gave in my previous post can satisfy your “reread all metadata from media” requirements; let me know if you have any problems or further questions regarding the tips.

    I am still happy to consider your “add this button inside MLA” suggestion. As I wrote earlier:

    I can imagine adding a new rollover action to the existing “Edit | Quick Edit | …” list for each item. Clicking the link would bring up the “Replace Media Upload” page, where the user could browse for a new file and click the “Upload” button. When the upload completes the full-screen “Edit Media” screen would be displayed.

    That would save you the step of first opening the Edit Media screen and then clicking the “Upload a new file” button. Is that what you imagine?

    Let me know if I understand your suggestion and if you are still interested in something like it.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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