Title: Using MLA with Admin Columns
Last modified: August 24, 2016

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# Using MLA with Admin Columns

 *  Resolved [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/)
 * Hi David,
 * I’ve been using this plugin for a few years and it’s really awesome! There are
   so many useful features! I know I’m definitely not using it to its full potential,
   but the features I do use are fantastic. I’m a huge fan of the mla gallery shortcode,
   the where-used reporting, and the improved search functionality. Thanks so much
   for making this plugin available 🙂
 * I’m wondering if it would be possible to integrate the [Admin Columns](https://wordpress.org/plugins/codepress-admin-columns/)
   plugin’s custom columns into the MLA screen. The custom columns which the plugin
   makes available for the regular Media Library screen are very useful, but so 
   are the ones added on the MLA screen. I find it annoying and time-consuming to
   have to visit two different screens to see media information.
 * Suggestions for an integration solution would be greatly appreciated. Would there
   perhaps be a hook or filter (or something) I could use to add the Admin Columns
   custom columns to the MLA screen?
 * Thanks very much for considering this question. Cheers!!
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/media-library-assistant/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/media-library-assistant/)

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062268)
 * Thank you for all of your positive feedback on MLA and its various features.
 * I will have a look at the free version of Admin Columns and see what kind of 
   integration might be possible. In the interim, I would be very interested to 
   know which “**_custom columns which the plugin makes available for the regular
   Media Library screen_**” you find particularly useful. Using the hooks provided
   by MLA it may be possible to add the columns you want with or without Admin Columns
   in the mix.
 * Thanks for any additional information you can provide and for your support of
   MLA.
 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062289)
 * I have done some research at the Admin Columns web site, and have looked over
   this page:
 * [Documentation/Media column types](https://www.admincolumns.com/documentation/faq/content-types/media/)
 * I believe most of this information is already supported by MLA or can be added
   with the existing MLA IPTC/EXIF and Custom Field support. Once I know specifically
   what you are looking for I am confident we can find a way to make it available
   on the Media/Assistant submenu screen. Let me know what you need.
 *  Thread Starter [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062385)
 * Hi David,
 * Thanks for looking into this for me! There are only three columns I’d like to
   be able to replicate on the MLA screen:
 * 1) Available Sizes (list of available size names, such as full, medium…)
    2) 
   Dimensions (list of available dimensions, such as 250 x 250…) 3) File Size (in
   kb — I imagine this matches full size)
 * I took a look through the MLA documentation again, but there is just so much 
   there — and so many terms I don’t know — that I can’t figure out where to start.
   If you could guide me in the right direction, I’d be very grateful!
 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062460)
 * Thanks for your update with the three fields you are interested in. I have been
   able to define Custom Field rules that approximate what you see in Admin Columns.
   If you are not happy with the format or content of the MLA equivalents you can
   implement a small custom plugin to replicate the Admin Columns results more closely.
 * This recent support topic is very similar:
 * [Adding parent’s post MetaData](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/adding-parents-post-metadata)
 * For the first part (create a mapping rule) go through these steps three times:
    1.  Navigate to the Settings/Media Library Assistant “Custom Fields” tab.
    2.  Scroll down to the “Add a new Field and Mapping Rule” area, since you will 
        be adding three new fields.
    3.  In the first text box, enter your field name, “Available Sizes”, “Dimensions”
        or “File Size”.
    4.  From the Data Source dropdown list, select “size_keys”, “dimensions” or “file_size”.
        Match the choice here to the name you just entered.
    5.  In the “Existing Text” dropdown list, select “Replace”.
    6.  In the “Format” dropdown list, select “Native” (for Available Sizes), “Native”(
        for Dimensions) or “Commas” (for File Size).
    7.  Click the “MLA Column” check box to make the field available in the Media/Assistant
        submenu table. If you want to edit the field manually, check the “Quick Edit”
        and perhaps the “Bulk Edit” checkbox as well.
    8.  In the “Option:” dropdown list, select “Multi” (for Available Sizes), “Text”(
        for Dimensions) or “Text” (for File Size).
    9.  Check the “Delete NULL Values” checkbox to save database space for non-image
        items with no value for your fields.
    10. Click the “Add Field and Map All Attachments” button to save your new rule 
        and run it to update all of your items. You can also click “Add Field” and 
        then click the “Map All Rules, All Attachments Now” after all three rules are
        entered and saved.
 * Do this much and look at the results in the Media/Assistant table.
    - The Available Sizes column will look similar to that in Admin Columns, but
      the links work differently. Admin Columns links to the file for each item-
      size, while MLA filters the display on that size name.
    - The Dimensions column is very similar; MLA does not have spaces separating
      the parts of the text.
    - The MLA File Size column shows the exact byte count, not the “KB” equivalent.
 * If any of these differences are important, you can go on to the second step, 
   implement a small custom plugin to alter the results. I can give you more specific
   help with that if you need it.
 * I will leave this topic unresolved until I hear back from you with the results
   of the above suggestions.
 *  Thread Starter [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062462)
 * Thanks so much, David! All of this works very well, and I think I prefer the 
   ability to filter than linking to the file.
 * I just have one question about the Dimensions column. It currently only lists
   the dimensions of the full size image. Is it possible to list the dimensions 
   of all the available image sizes, or would that require a custom plugin?
 * Thanks again, and cheers!
 *  Thread Starter [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062463)
 * Oops! I’ve got this to work already 🙂 I just switched dimensions to size_dimensions,
   and Text to Multi, updated the rule, and mapped everything again. Perfect! Thanks
   again for your help with solving this, David!
 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062464)
 * Thanks for your update and the good news.
 * As you discovered, you can “**_list the dimensions of all the available image
   sizes_**” by using `size_dimensions` as the data source for your rule.
 * A complete list of the available data sources can be found in the “Field-level
   data sources” section of the Settings/Media Library Assistant Documentation tab.
 * By the way, if you want this data automatically populated for new items you add
   to the Media Library, make sure the “Enable custom field mapping when adding 
   new media” box is checked towards the top of the Settings/Media Library Assistant
   Custom Fields tab.
 * I am marking this topic resolved, but please update it if you have problems or
   further questions about creating and using Custom Field rules. Once you’ve mastered
   defining rules to make this data available through MLA there are many choices.
   Enjoy!
 *  Thread Starter [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [11 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062465)
 * Yes, now that I’ve been through your “tutorial” and understand a little more,
   I’m looking forward to taking another look at the documentation to see what I
   can come up with. I always knew I was sadly underusing this plugin 😉
 * And thank you for that last tip; I’ve adjusted the settings to be enabled on 
   upload.
 * I’ve contributed a small token of appreciation to your cause — what a marvelous
   thing for you to do! And perhaps you can tell from my profile image that supporting
   a fair trade organization suits me very well 🙂
 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [10 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062563)
 * I have uploaded a new MLA Development Version dated 10251222 that contains support
   for the Admin Columns plugin. You can use Admin Columns to re-order, re-size 
   and remove columns from the Media/Assistant submenu table. You can also add custom
   columns from Admin Columns such as Available Sizes. To get the Development Version,
   follow the instructions in this earlier topic:
 * [Shortcode not working in (special) widget](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-not-working-in-special-widget?replies=3#post-7753687)
 * It would be great if you can try the Development Version and let me know if the
   new features work for you. Thanks for your earlier help, your donation to our
   work and for your patience in awaiting these new features.
 *  Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/)
 * (@dglingren)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062564)
 * I have released MLA version 2.22, which contains support for Admin Columns. If
   you have any trouble or further questions regarding the new version, post an 
   update and I will address them; thanks.
 *  Thread Starter [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * (@habannah)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062565)
 * Hi David,
 * Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Thanks so much for adding support
   for Admin Columns! I installed the update and everything seems to integrate very
   well. The MLA columns I created with your help are even available in Admin Columns
   🙂
 * Sorry again that I wasn’t able to help with testing the development version, 
   but it looks great so far! I’ll let you know if I do run into any issues…
 * Thanks again!

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

The topic ‘Using MLA with Admin Columns’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 11 replies
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 * Last reply from: [Julie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/habannah/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-mla-with-admin-columns/#post-6062565)
 * Status: resolved