I saw an answer in one post about changing global configuration settings to change where media files are stored on upload. When I go to global settings and choose the system tab (or any other tab for that matter) I do not see any media configuration settings. Where is it hidden?

I also want to move my media files into that new location - is there a way to do it without uploading the images again? Do I need to install an extension to accomplish this?

Hi Dmwesq,

Welcome to OSTraining!! We are happy to have a new user here and we are the friendliest people you will ever meet. ;-)

First off, the directions you read only works for J!1.5 and under. Since J!1.5, they moved these options located somewhere else.

Go to Content > Media Manager > Options

And you can change the path here.

Thanks for that quick reply! I am still trying to wrap my head around transitioning from traditional web development to using CMS. I attended a class in NYC that was primarily 2.5 based, but unfortunately they gave us a version of Joomla explained that was 1.6 based, which has added a bit to my confusion. Over the past month I have been working through the book and using online help where needed to try to do each exercise in the book. I have run into a few stumbling blocks which I have not been able to resolve, some of which I will soon post here in the hopes of getting a better understanding. Right now I am a bit confused by where my images are and how to move them around.

When I go into media manager, it shows in the address bar that my images are in a folder public_html/joomla/images, but there is no folder named images in my tree on the left side of the page. In fact, it appears that my root folder is named images. That of course makes no sense to me. The setting in the media manager options shows the default file and image folder to be the same, named images, which also leads me to think the default setup when I installed joomla has the root folder set to images. I assume this is not what the setup is supposed to be. Since this is just a learning experience, it is not critical to cure this right now, but I would like to know where I went wrong so I don't repeat this setup the next site I build.

HiThe first part is correct. The tree on the left hand side of the page; the top folder of the tree is the image folder (it just does not have a name against it) - the other folder names are sub folders within the image folder. You can create or delete folders within the image folder. Your set up seems to be the standard default joomla settings.
Why would you want to change the location of the media files? Other image folders do exist within joomla for instance there will be an image folder within template folders.
Open up a copy joomla in your desktop and explore the file structure.

Hope this helps

In retrospect I probably don't want to change the location of the media files. What started me down the path was a mix of things. First, confusing the tree to be a site tree rather than a tree limited to the media files (that comes from my dreamweaver experience). 2nd, what is the purpose of the various empty folders created in the image folder that corresponds to each category I set up? The banner folder has a few images in it, but are these folders created each time I create a new category?

3rd, I was working on installing modules from Chapter 11, and was following the book and installing simple image gallery module. The steps in the box were to give the module a title, a position (position-8), set to publish, and assign to all pages. Then it says to save and it should be on your site. What I had was an inactive link saying Joomlaville Photos. To figure out why the link did not work or the photo gallery itself was not working I went into the module manager and opened the module created. Then I went to basic options and image directory, and that's where I really got lost. There was no way to choose just the root image folder, all the choices were the category sub-folders that correspond to the categories. That is not the default folder where my images are, so I get the sense the image gallery module is pointing to an empty sub-folder when looking for images.

I hope I made this clear enough to follow.

Hi
The initial installation has some folders already in existence which might or might not have content depending on if you chose to install the default content.
It sounds as though you have applies the correct steps for the image gallery apart from pointing the module to the images. If you have say created a folder called gallery1 say and uploaded images to it then the path would be something like
images/gallery1
A screen shot of your parameters would help.
In the mean time have you viewed these tutorials.
www.ostraining.com/courses/class/joomla-25/j25-beginner/view/
with particular reference to www.ostraining.com/courses/session/jooml...reate/media-manager/
Regards

I have viewed those basic videos, which were covered in far greater detail in the training class. What isn't clear is my question about the photo gallery and why it is not working or changing where it is pulling photos from. The first screenshot attached is the basic option for the module gallery, which is set to an image sub-folder. The 2nd shot show the dropdown expanded, and all the available selections, none of which are the root image folder which is where the default image upload location is. I don't even see a way to select a new location outside of the ones contained in this dropdown.

Hi
Have you created a folder within the media manager and placed your images within it?
The drop down box might be automatically creating the image path options from the media manager - just can't check this out tonight - not near a computer.
Can you give me a link to the gallery module please
Regards

I have many folders within media manager, but as per the book that I am working through the bulk of the images are in the root images folder.

Hi
It would be helpful to know what the extension is called and who makes it.
Software evolves and could be different from the book.
Please try and place a few images in a folder.
Regards

Software may evolve but the version of the book mentioned at the start of this thread remains the same - joomla explained (for version 1.6 though). The module is Simple Image Gallery 2.7 by JoomShaper.

If I choose a folder with images in it, the images appear directly on pages where the gallery module is positioned, so the module works as designed. So it would appear that the module will only work if photos are placed in a sub-folder rather than in the root image folder itself.

I am trying my best to understand the book written by Steve and as far as I can tell the images are being uploaded directly to the root folder. I can certainly upload them to a sub-folder if need be, but that was not the directions I read, and my goal was to first work through the entire book as it was written. If using a sub-folder was the intended design I can switch gears - just looking for some clarity on this, and also the best and perhaps easiest way to move photos already uploaded to a different folder rather than re-uploading them.

Thanks for the dialogue and help.

Hi
Pleased that the gallery is working along with your joomla installation. I am sure that Steve will be able to answer your question directly. He did kindly send me a copy of his book but unfortunately it never arrived so I am unable to comment.
All The Best

Hi and welcome to OSTraining, dmwesq

Yes, I believe that's correct. It wouldn't be workable to use the root folder as a gallery, simply because the root folder normally contains so many images and folders.

Hopefully the book is useful when done that way, but I wouldn't fixate on doing that perfectly. What we're trying to help you do is learn the workflows and processes that make your Joomla life quicker. If you can pick those up quickly and move on to your building your own site, with different extensions, the book will have served its purpose.

Steve,

Thanks for weighing in. I wouldn't say I'm fixated on following the book precisely - I've come across several things that didn't exactly match up but I got the concept and moved on. However, I was stuck with this whole photo issue, and went back and re-read things and really didn't see anywhere the thought that uploaded photos should go in sub-folders - the exercises did mention creating folders for various articles, but the uploads apparently went to the root image folder. Now I will focus on putting the photos in sub-folders.

Now for part 2 - is there a way (preferably an easy one) to move photos to another folder? This is a simple task in non-CMS web maintenance, but I don't see a way in Joomla and from reading it seems you need an extension to move photos around?

I do appreciate the help - when you have been doing web sites one way for years and try moving to Joomla it can be a bit confusing. I would prefer to put in the time upfront and get these concepts down in the hope it will reduce issues when building real sites.

Hi
Me back again!
Your correct that you can not move files within the media manager but the good news is that you can do this within the JCE Editor.
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/5-useful-...es-that-people-miss/
Regards

Mark,

Thanks, I was going to install the JCE Editor at a later point, but I guess now would be an ideal time!

Hell0 dmwesq,

Don't be thrown off by the book being about 1.6 and the current version of Joomla being 2.5. The instructions are exactly the same. 2.5 is a more stable version of 1.6. There are a few additions, but the basic procedures are the same.

Your questions are good ones and you are correct in what you learned. The module pulls the images from the public_html folder (the main directory) by design. So you do need to create subfolders manually if you want to change the location.

When you use the media manager it automatically uploads images to public_html/images, which is Joomla's default images folder. You shouldn't try to change that. You can create subfolders under images by simply adding a subfolder using the media manager, then opening that folder and doing the upload while the folder is open.

The only way to upload pictures anywhere other than the images folder is to use an FTP client or a file manager.

Here's a tutorial on a free filemanager you can use if you don't have access to one.
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/extplorer/

The confusion comes in because you are using a third party module. Third party modules have their own way of working and their own documentation. In the case of this module, the developers have made it easy by automatically making the basic path root/user/public_html/ so you would always be going to the correct main directory when using the module.

It is up to you to point it at your desired directory by adding to the path so it will pull the pictures you want. YOu do that by completing the path in the modules basic options. See the screen shot. That pulls from public_html/images/avatars

The avatars directory has to already exist. The module won't create it for you. The only folder that is created by Joomla when you install it for images is public_html/images.

When you are having trouble with a third party extension the best place to get help is the website of the developer of the third party extension. They have their own forums and documentation and usually know more about their product than people on the forum.

The website for that extension is joomshaper.com and they do have a forum for getting answers on their products.

But I think you both got sidetracked from the main issue. Try to submit one question at time. There are really two problems here. One is trying to understand the file system, the other is about how the module works. It would be easier, and you would get faster answers if you try to get one question per post.

I read the ticket you posted. Steve is not the only person who can answer your questions. Our paid staff does not work on the weekends. Mark is an extremely knowledgeable volunteer, and I want to give him huge thank you for tackling this on the weekend.

And also thanks to Tessa, who is on our staff. We are closed on the weekends and they were very generous to use their spare time to answer off-hours. Please see the FAQ for a description of our support. www.ostraining.com/support-faq/

Thanks for taking our class. And thanks for your persistence and patience. If you still have more questions. Please submit another post with your question. This thread is getting long and complicated and will be hard for others to follow.

Cheers,
Ed