Nothing is more annoying than having a super interesting website project but no more free storage space on your own hosting. With the WordPress plugin External files in the media library you can free up space and save large files elsewhere, for example.
Preliminary remarks
Distributing files to other storage locations may seem attractive at first, but there are various aspects that need to be taken into account:
- When outsourcing images, you must bear in mind that they may no longer be optimized for output in the frontend. Plugins like EWWW Image Optimizer cannot access them.
- Be sure to observe the guidelines applicable in your country for integrating external sources into websites (such as the GDPR in Germany). You may have to deliver these files via the proxy contained in the proxy, which in turn requires storage space in your hosting. However, this is not possible with all file types.
My recommendation would therefore be to use this option only for really large files, e.g:
- PDF files with an enormous size
- PowerPoint presentations
- ZIP files
Prerequisites
To export files, you only need to have the „External files in the media library“ plugin installed and activated. At the same time, of course, you also need access data to the external storage space where you want to store the files.
Furnishings
Activate export in the plugin
- Go to Settings > External files in the media library > Export.
- Check the box here to activate the export functions.
Set up external source
To save files elsewhere, you first need an external source. You must configure this for the export. If you have not yet set up an external source, proceed as follows:
- Go to Media library > Add external files.
- Select the source where you want to save files.
- Enter the access data for this source in the form that appears.
- Once the connection has been established, click on „Save the directory to your external sources“ above. You will receive a confirmation as soon as it has been saved.
- Then go to Media library > Your external sources. Here you will find the external directory you have just created.
- Click on „To“ in the „Export“ column. This activates this source for the export.
Use
As soon as the external source for the export has been activated as described above, you have the following options.
Upload new files
Every file uploaded to the media library will be exported to the external source in future and then stored as an external file in the media library.
Export existing files individually
You can use the „Export file“ option for any file already in the media library. This will export it to the external source and convert it into an external file in the media library.
Export multiple files
- Go to Media library and view the list as a table.
- Check the box on the left to select which files you want to export.
- Then select the „Export files“ action above and confirm the change.
This exports the selected files to the external source and converts them into external files in the media library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I also use several external sources for the export?
Yes, you can do that. This has the advantage that the files can automatically be stored in several external sources. However, you will only be able to use one of them as the external source for the file in the media library. The plugin automatically sets the first activated external source as the default for this. You can change the setting at any time in 2 places:
- Media library > Your external sources > Configure export > Check the box for main source.
- Or. Settings > External files in the media library > Export > set the external source as the main source.
What happens if I deactivate the export?
The files remain in the media library as well as on your website. They are still stored in the external source. Only the export of new files is no longer possible.
What happens if I delete the external source that I use as export destination?
The same as when deactivating the export: the files remain in the media library and website.
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