Adding media

Written by David Farmer

This FAQ item explains how to add media (other than simple images) into an article. This can include Flash, Quicktime, Director, Windows Media, Real Media or DivX files. Here's how:

This process of adding media to an article generally take place as part of Adding or editing a content item. To add a media file:

1. Position your cursor at the point in the authoring window's display of the article where you want the media to appear.
2. Click on the Insert/Edit Media icon towards the right end of the third row of icons at the top of the authoring window. This will open up a Media Manager window.
3. If you want to add an media file already on an external website and you know its type and URL, you can simply enter the URL directly in the URL field and choose the type from the Type drop-down field - then go to step 6.
4. If you want to add a media file already on this website and you know where the media file is stored, you can simply navigate to the file using the folder tree (bottom left) and then select the file (bottom centre) so that the URL appears in the URL field - then choose the media type from the Type drop-down field and go to step 6.
5. If you want to add a media file currently on your computer then you need to first upload the file to the appropriate folder on this site so that you can access it (via step 4 above). To upload the media file:
   A. Select and open the appropriate folder (bottom left) in which to upload the image - this folder would normally be named for the Information Section that the article belongs to. You can create a new sub-folder if necessary, using the New Folder  icon (centre right).
   B. Click on the Upload icon (centre right) to bring up an additional Upload window, in which you:
   - Click on the Add button to browse to the file on your computer and list it in the upload queue - you can repeat this for multiple files
   - Optionally choose to set the options to define the actions in the case of finding a file of the same name as part of the upload process
   - Click on the Upload button to upload the files, then the Cancel button to close this Upload window
   C. Back in the Media Manager window, select the media file to insert so that the URL appears in the URL field
6. Once the URL field is populated and media type is chosen,  set the dimensions, alignment and margin. Generally set the alignment to Left or Right, leave the margin at 5, and the dimensions no more than 250 x 250.
7. Click on the Insert button to insert the media file into the article - it will display in the authoring window. Click on the Cancel button to close the Media Manager window.
8. If the result is not as you would like, select the image and click on the Insert/Edit Media icon and edit the settings above as appropriate.

This Help/FAQ item is designed to help people who are new to this Community. If you think it can be improved, please contact the webmaster.