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File and Image Upload

ecto offers the ability to upload any file to your blog directory or other locations as offered by additional third-party uploader plugins (Flickr is an uploader plugin that is included by default). Files can be uploaded directly via the Media Manager (accessible via Window menu) or by inserting them into a draft (via File Selection dialog, iLife Importer or using drag and drop). Files embedded into drafts are referred to as attachments.

Attachment settings can be edited by double-clicking on the attachment in Rich Text mode, or single-clicking the link in HTML mode. Via the settings sheet you can also opt to immediately upload an attachment).

For images and movies, ecto provides a range of options for resizing, converting, and creating the appropriate HTML tags. The HTML image tag options are as follows (as displayed under the "Style" tab):

  • float: Indicate how you want the image to be aligned with respect to the text.
  • border: Specify whether you want a border around the image and what its thickness should be.
  • margin/padding: The amount of white space that will separate the image from surrounding text.
  • class: An arbitrary CSS tag. For example, you may want a more stylish border, such as: "border:1px #cccccc inset;" or you use a specific class definition for images.

If you want to create thumbnails or convert images, set the appropriate settings under the "Upload" tab.

  • Scaling: Indicate the desired size for the thumbnail. This can be in pixel values or percentage. If you use proportional scaling, press the Tab key after entering a value in one of the size boxes. That will create a matching proportional value in the other size box.
  • Format: ecto supports the following image formats for uploading: JPEG, PNG, PDF, GIF, JPG 2000. JPEG is best for photographs and PNG is best for graphics such as screenshots.

It is possible to customize thumbnail link format and img tag attributes via ecto ▶ Settings ▶ Weblog…, under the "Templates" tab.

Movie files allow the following additional options:

  • Poster frame: If the embedded option is chosen, you can optionally set the poster movie option. This will create an embedded object that initially loads a selected frame and when a visitor clicks this frame, the full movie is loaded.
  • Thumbnail: If you choose the thumbnail option, the thumbnail can be generated from any frame you select.
  • Controller: Optionally set the movie object to play automatically or to show a controller. This only applies to the embedded option.

Some blog systems and plugins offer the option to specify a directory in the "Upload into subdirectory" field. This should be relative to your blog directory.

Once you've set your desired options, you can save them as a preset so that the settings are reusable for new attachments. ecto also remembers the last uses preset so that you can reapply the same settings automatically when adding attachments without having to open the attachment settings sheet.

ecto remembers all used attachments. Attachments that have been uploaded can be automatically removed after a number of days, configurable via Via ecto ▶ Settings ▶ General… To access cached attachments, select Window ▶ Media Manager. Each attachment can be re-used by simple drag and drop.

For more information, click "Tell me more."