Cover images and media files
A title carries its cover and other media (back cover, contributor picture, sample content…) as ONIX <MediaFile> composites in ONIX 2.1 and <SupportingResource> composites in ONIX 3.0. The entry form lets you add them from a file on your computer or from a URL, fills in the descriptive metadata for you, uploads the files to your Media Space when you save, and turns them into links your partners can download.
Where to find it
- Simplified form: the drop zone at the top left of the form, labelled Add media file by dropping it here! Or click to browse (or Add cover image by dropping it here! Or click to browse when only the front cover is allowed for your account), with the carousel of existing files below it.
- Advanced form: the MediaFile tab (ONIX 2.1) or the Supporting Resource sub-tab of Collateral Detail (ONIX 3.0), where each item is a carousel entry with all its fields.
Adding, editing and removing require the Modify right (or Add for a new title); with Read only, the drop zone and the buttons are hidden. The types of media you may add, their size limits and the minimum image width are account settings maintained by ONIXEDIT.
Screen overview
In the simplified form the carousel shows the front cover first, then the other files; hovering an image reveals a delete button and an edit button, and the caption gives the media type and file name.
How to add a media file from your computer
- Click the drop zone (or drop the file on it). In the advanced form, click Add in the carousel instead.
- In the Add a media file dialog, choose From a file... and pick the file. Dropping a file skips this dialog.
- The form checks the file at once: it is refused with Not enough media space if it does not fit in the remaining space, with Unable to upload if it exceeds the size limit of every media type, and with Image too small if it is narrower than the minimum width configured for your account.
- In Add a new Media file to this product, pick the media type under What kind of file do you want to add? (types whose size limit is exceeded are greyed out with their maximum). Some types ask for a Unique id. Press Ok.
- Save the title. The upload happens now: the top bar shows Uploading files to server..., the file is stored in your Media Space and its URL replaces the file name in the link element.
The first image type available (front cover) is selected by default. In the advanced form, the Add a media file dialog also offers Add a new empty Media File / Add a new empty Supporting Resource for a composite you want to fill in by hand.
How to add a media file from a URL
- Open the drop zone or Add, then choose From a URL ....
- In Add a media file from a URL, paste the address in URL of the image. A Preview: appears as soon as the URL loads.
- Press OK, choose the media type, then Ok.
Nothing is uploaded: the URL is written as the link, and it does not use your Media Space.
What is filled in for you
Every value below is written only when the field is still empty, so your own entries are kept.
ONIX 2.1 <MediaFile> | ONIX 3.0 <SupportingResource> | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | MediaFileTypeCode from the chosen type | ResourceContentType from the chosen type, ResourceMode from the file kind, ContentAudience 00 |
| Link | MediaFileLink, MediaFileLinkTypeCode (URL after upload) | ResourceLink, ResourceForm (02 downloadable file, 01 linkable resource for a URL) |
| Date | MediaFileDate = today | ContentDate with role 17 (last updated) = now |
| Format | MediaFileFormatCode from the extension | ResourceVersionFeature 01 = file format |
| Details | DownloadCaption = file name | ResourceVersionFeature 02/03 = image height/width in pixels, 04 = file name, 05 = approximate size in MB |
After an upload, the server also adds the real image height and width and a file hash (feature 06) to the ONIX 3.0 resource, and generates a thumbnail of the front cover (Image: front cover thumbnail / Cover thumbnail) unless the title already has one.
How to change or remove a media file
- Simplified form: hover the image in the carousel. The pencil opens Edit Media file for this product, where What kind of file is this? changes the type; the bin removes the file from the title.
- Advanced form: move to the item and press Remove, or edit its fields directly.
Removing a file only detaches it from the title. The file stays in your Media Space (it may be referenced by a duplicate or already sent to partners); delete it there when you no longer need it — see Media Space.
Uploads and the Media Space quota
- The quota is checked twice: when you pick the file, against the space left minus the files already waiting in the form, and again when you save, against a running total for the whole batch. A file that no longer fits at save time is skipped and listed in Some files were not uploaded with the reason You do not have enough free space in your media space to copy this file.; the title itself is still saved.
- The out-of-space dialogs offer Buy extra media space and Manage media space to the account administrator of a Cloud account, only Manage media space to a Server Edition administrator (Contact ONIXEDIT to purchase additional media space for your account.), and Contact your account administrator to free up or buy more media space. to other users.
- Uploads run in the background: open the Uploading files menu of the top bar to follow the progress of each file, Pause this upload, Resume this upload, Cancel this upload or Clear this upload once completed. A limited number of files upload at the same time; the others wait in the queue.
- A file whose upload failed stays attached to the title and is retried at the next save.
Tips
Many covers at once
To attach covers to many titles, name the image files after the ISBN-13, ISBN-10 or record reference, zip them and use Import Media Files from the title list — see Importing titles.
Keep the file until it is uploaded
The file is read from your computer when you save. If you close the browser before the save completes, add the file again.
Frequently asked questions
When is my cover image uploaded?
When you save the title. The file is sent to your Media Space, its URL is written into the title, and the Uploads menu of the top bar shows the progress.
Does a media file added from a URL use my Media Space?
No. Only files uploaded from your computer count against the quota; a URL is stored as a link.
Does removing a media file from a title free space in my Media Space?
No. The title only stops referencing the file. Delete the file itself from the Media Space application, reachable from the Media Space menu.
Why was my file refused?
Either it does not fit in the remaining Media Space, it is larger than the limit allowed for that media type, or the image is narrower than the minimum width configured for your account.