Document and file libraries

You display and manage all created libraries on Documents & Files page.

The Documents & Files page displays the number of documents or files in each library, the date of the last uploaded document or file, and where those documents and files are stored.

Display and edit the documents and files in a library

  1. You can display all documents, files, and sub-libraries in a library in one of the following ways:
    • On Libraries page, click the library whose documents and files you want to display.
      All documents and files in the library appear.
    • On Documents & Files page, click the library thumbnail in the right side of page.
      The system displays a page with all the documents and files from the selected library together with the Library actions link.
  2. To edit the documents or the files in the library, perform procedure Sitefinity CMS overview.
  3. To go back to all documents and files, click All items link in the right side of the page or in the main menu in the upper part of the screen, click Content » Documents & Files.

Create a document and file library

  1. On Documents & Files page, click Create a library button in the toolbar.
    The Create a library page appears.
  2. Enter a name for the library.
  3. To add a description of the library, click Click to add a description.

    NOTE: The information you provide here is not public, it is for your reference only.

  4. You can define the maximum size of the library and of each document and file in the library by clicking Advanced.
    The Max library size and the Max document/file size input fields appear. There you enter the limit of the size in MB and KB respectively.
  5. Under URL name, you can change the URL of the library.
    The automatically generated URL of the library appears.
    To change it, click Change and enter a new URL name.
  6. Under Parent library, choose where to create the library.
    Select one of the following:
    • No parent
      This will be a top level library that has no parent.
    • Select parent library…
      A treeview with existing libraries appears.
      Select the library that will be parent of the library you are creating.

      NOTE: If the library you are creating is located in another library, it has the same settings as its parent. You can only set cache options, storage providers, and resizing options for a root library, located at top level.

  7. If in Step 6, you have chosen your library to be a top level library that has no parent, under Root library settings, you can configure the following:
    • You can set the maximum size of the library in MB and of each image in the library in KB.
    • You can choose where to store the documents and files uploaded in this library.
      For example, you can store them on the database, in the file system, or in an external storage.

      In Storage provider dropdown box, select where to store the documents and files.
      The list that appears contains all available storage providers.
      For more information, see Storage providers for libraries.

    • You can configure the server and browser caching.
      Configuring caching can increases your performance. 
  8. When you are finished, click one of the following:
    • Create and go upload documents
      The system creates the library and takes you to upload documents or files.
      Perform procedure Upload documents and files » Step 3 to Step 9.
    • Create this library
      The system creates the library and returns you to Libraries page or Documents & Files page, depending on where you have started creating the library.
    • The Back to link
      The system does not save the library you were working on and returns you to Libraries page or Documents & Files page, depending on where you have started creating the library.

Supported files and file icons

In the document and file library, you can upload any file format. The following file formats have dedicated icons that are automatically displayed in the backend and on the frontend together with each file:

.ace, .css, .mobi, .sfb, .fb2, .epub, .iba, .book, .wmv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .avi, .mp4, .ogg, .wma, .wav, .mp3, .ppsx, .pps, .pptx, .rar, .csv, .jpeg, .xlsx, .docx, .html, .ppt, .png, .gif, .jpg, .zip, .xls, .txt, .rtf, .doc.pdf

For all other file extensions, Sitefinity CMS displays a default icon.

Edit document and file libraries

  1. To edit the library properties, on Documents & Files page click the Actions link of the library you want to edit.
  2. From the dropdown box, click Edit Properties.
    The Edit a library page appears.
  3. Perform Step 2 to Step 7 of the above procedure.

    NOTE: If you are changing the URL of the library, Sitefinity CMS changes the URLs of the items one by one. In case of external storage, changing the library URL may cause data transfer from one storage to another. In case of failure, some of the items might keep their previous URLs and some of the items will have the updated URLs. You can try to resume to get the rest of the items relocated.

  4. Click Save changes.
    The system returns you to Documents & Files page.

Change the parent library of a documents and files library

Once created, a library can be moved together with all of its content to another library, by changing its parent library.

To do this, perform the following:

  1. Click the Actions link of the library that you want to move and from the dropdown, select Move to…
    The Change parent library dialog appears.
  2. Select the new parent library and click Move.

Move documents and files to another storage

You can change the blob storage provider of a library, which moves all items in a different storage. For example, an image library kept in the database can be moved to the cloud, or a library from one cloud account can be moved to another.

To do this, perform the following:

  1. Click the Actions link of the library whose items you want to move and from the dropdown, select Move to another storage.
    In the Blob storage provider dropdown box all available storage providers appear.
  2. Select where you want to move the items from the library and click Move to another storage.
    Sitefinity CMS processes the library items one by one and displays a progress indicator in the grid. You can stop and resume the operation.

Sitefinity CMS processes the library items one by one. It displays a progress bar in the grid.
You can Stop and Resume the operation.

Transfer failure

If one or more of the files cannot be transferred, they are skipped, and the system continues to process the rest of the files.

In this case, the system displays a Failed indication and you have the following links:

  • Details link
    When you click it, you can see a lists of all files that failed to transfer.

    NOTE: For more information, you can check the Error.log file that is located in your project's ~\App_Data\Sitefinity\Logs folder.

  • Restart link
    The system will attempt to transfer the files that failed.

IMPORTANT: During the process of moving to another storage, you are not able to edit or delete the library items.

For more information, see Storage providers for libraries.

Delete document and file libraries

To delete a library, perform one of the following:

  • On Documents & Files page, select one or more libraries you want to delete and click Delete button in the toolbar.
  • On Documents & Files page, click the Actions link of the library you want to delete and then click Delete.
  • On Edit a library page, click More actions » Delete.

A dialog box appears where you must confirm the deletion.

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