Scrivito’s Content Browser lets you access and manage the resources that have been uploaded to or created using the CMS. The Content Browser is also used when selecting an image or a link target.
Managing Resources Using the Content Browser
Managing Resources Using the Content Browser
At the top left, there is a search function available for filtering the resources by the search terms entered. Also, predefined (and customizable) filters for narrowing down the choice exist. The search functionality built into Scrivito ensures that all changes made to resources are instantly reflected in the search results.
In the main area of the Content Browser, a thumbnail image or an icon as well as the name or title are displayed for every resource. To insert a resource into an image widget on a page, for example, or to edit its properties or delete it via the Content Browser, you can select it simply by clicking its thumbnail.
Stand-alone vs. selection mode
The Content Browser can be opened either in stand-alone mode or from within a page. As a stand-alone tool it can be opened by clicking the folder button on the sidebar, whereas it opens automatically after clicking inside an image widget on a page, for example.
In both modes, you can add files to the CMS either by clicking the “Browse files to upload” button at the bottom, or by dragging them from your desktop or your file system browser to the main section of the Content Browser and dropping them there.
In stand-alone mode, you can use the Content Browser for content maintenance purposes, i.e. for deleting old resources, adding new ones, and modifying their data. In this mode, a switch, “multi-select”, is available at the top for selecting several images using checkboxes and deleting them in one go.
When opened from within a page, the main purpose of the Content Browser is to replace the clicked resource with a different one, but, of course, you can add, delete, or modify content in selection mode, too. If the widget clicked already contained a resource, it is preselected in the Content Browser.
Selecting and modifying resources
Clicking a thumbnail in the Content Browser’s main area causes the resource to be selected and its details view to be displayed on the right hand side of the Content Browser window. For a resource containing metadata, e.g. a title, image dimensions, etc., a corresponding tab allowing you to view or edit this data is available at the top of the details view.
By the way, the small “<” button on the left border in the middle of the details view is for maximizing this view for editing the data more comfortably.
Binary resources like images but also PDF files, etc., can be downloaded or replaced using the small toolbar overlaying the preview in the details view at the bottom right.
With images, this toolbar includes a pen button you can click to adjust the look of images according to your needs or taste. Add effects to them, rotate, mirror or crop them, make them brighter, etc., using the image editor built into Scrivito:
All image editing functions are accessible from the toolbar underneath the image. After selecting a tool, its variation options become visible, e.g. the rotation directions of the rotation tool, or a slider for specifying the strengh of an effect.
Applying tag filters
As the number of resources in your CMS increases, assigning tags to them to be able to find specific content using a tag filter should be considered. For tag filtering to be available, at least one tag must have been assigned to at least one item in the list.
A CMS object matches a tag-based search if at least all of the selected tags have been assigned to it.
For assigning tags to a CMS object, first make sure that you are in editing mode, and then select the item concerned from the main view of the Content Browser. Then, the tag editor appears in the details view to the right (you might need to scroll down a bit to see it).
After clicking the input field, enter a single tag you wish to assign to the CMS object. As you type, auto-completion will suggest existing tags starting with the characters you entered.
Make sure to hit the tab or enter key to finally add the tag to the object. To delete a tag, click the small gray × icon or hit the backspace key.
Getting an overview
As an alternative to the thumbnail view, the Content Browser offers a list view, which is particularly useful if your resources are properly named and you would like to know or compare their types or sizes:
Of course, this view lets you select elements, inspect or change their properties in the details view, etc., as well.