Files and Images

You will use the files tab for any files or images that you want to store.

The tab gives you access to a series of folders where you can store files, including images.  

Uploads

1. Be logged in
2. Go to the files tab.
3. Click on the directory that you want to use (you can add directories and subdirectories).
4. Click on choose files -- it is going to let you choose them from a directory on your computer.
5. Click on the file you want to upload.
6. Hit upload.
7. Copy the URL.

There is a size limit -- I think it is set at 5meg by default.  Please contact the webteam if you the size increased -- but please, the web is not the place for huge files.  You don't need 40meg images!  2-3 meg images are more than big enough for web use. Know what the size of your image is.  Anything over 1500 pixels wide is not useful -- so, don't upload huge images -- the only exception is things like background images.

Allowable uploads include common image types (jpg, png, gif) but not photoshop files (they cannot be displayed on the web anyway).  For newsletters, we recommend pdf files -- Word files do not display natively on websites.  

We recommend that file names not include spaces -- spaces are special characters on the web and unless you like typing in URLs with %20 mixed in with your letters, turn those spaces into underscores or dashes before you upload them.  The web can also be funny about characters like "&" and various types of quote marks  -- best advice is not to put special characters into file names.

We also recommend that you name your files sensibly esp. if there are going to be a lot of them.  IMG156234.jpg  is not exactly going to be obvious when it comes to finding and using your files.

If you try to upload a file type that is not supported, please contact the WebTeam -- it is is harmless, we will make it allowed -- file types with high potential to carry malware are not generally allowed.

Using Images

Unless you know to float images and text, then avoid needing to.  You can do it in the editor, but doing it well is difficult given that the editor will no know what css is needed for your particular theme.  Programs like Facebook limit where you can put images which is their version of avoiding you needing knowledge -- they put images into a space dedicated to images.

I suggest putting images on their own lines.

In the editor, create at least one blank line and put your cursor on it.

Click on the image symbol in the first line of the header box.  It will ask for the URL of your image.  Fill in that blank.

It will come up showing the image size -- that is fine for old school fixed width sites, but problematic for sites that need to morph.

Delete that width and height unless the width is 500 px or less (in which case, you can ignore this).

For all images wider than 500 px, hit advanced, and put in the following code into the style box:

max-width: 100%;

Punctuation and spacing must match precisely.  This is CSS.

You may want to center your image or align it to the left or right.

While you can display images directly from other websites -- it is considered to be impolite because it steals their bandwidth and is often blocked.  Just don't do it. 

It is a good idea to add alt text, and they text can be used to also show a photographer's name.

Using Files

1. These will show as links
2. Go to the files, click on the file to display its URL and copy it.
3. Type in the link text
4. Click on the little chain link symbol with a green plus in the top line of the edit box.  
5. Fill in the information.
6. If the file (or a URL) you are linking to is not on this website, you can go to Target and select new window.  This will prevent someone from wandering away from your website never to return.
7. Save.