Thread

Hi,

How do I go about replicating the file manager over to the front-end? My website has a image media section which allows authenticated users to access an image bank, filter for images they need, select and download as a zip file. (Which is what the back-end file manager currently is, except for uploading and editing)

Have checked out the {exp:files} tag but it doesn’t have searchby:title parameters like the {exp:channel}.

Have checked out the index file under ‘system/expressionengine/views/content/files/index.php’. Can I replicate this over on the front-end to make it work?

Regards,
Rin

Help and suggestions appreciated, thanks.

Regards,
Rin

Hello nekorin,

Thank you for posting your questions in the forum, let’s see what I can do to help.

How do I go about replicating the file manager over to the front-end? My website has a image media section which allows authenticated users to access an image bank, filter for images they need, select and download as a zip file. (Which is what the back-end file manager currently is, except for uploading and editing)

So this means you already have an image and media section set up?

Are you asking how to upload images on the front end?

A great way of doing this is to use SafeCracker to build a form. There are also Add-On’s that you can search for at Devot://ee that help with form building, ProForm is one such Add-on.

Another way to handle images in channels is through an Add-On like Channel Images.

I hope I have understood your request and given you helpful information. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Cheers,

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the reply. I guess my question is not phrased correctly.

I intend to have a media section for my website. The media section can only be accessed by member login (a designated user group). What the media section does is as follows:

- Users can browse through the images in a directory/sub directories.
- They can select the images they like by clicking the thumbnail, and download as a compiled zip file.
- Users cannot delete, modify or upload images.
- The media section will have tags and filters to allow easy searching and filtering of images.
- Images are to be uploaded using the control panel’s file manager. (Only content editors and Super Admins are able to upload)

This is almost exactly like the control panel’s file manager except it does not have delete/modify/upload capabilities.

Currently I have thought of 2 ways to go about doing it (Sorry I am new in expressionengine and have limited php knowledge)

Method 1: Using {exp:file} tag.
With this I can create channel entries that is able to draw all images from a directory. But what is missing is the searchby:field_name tag which the channel entries have. Another problem for this is the numerous amount of ‘upload destinations’ I will need to create if the images are further sorted down in to ‘sub-categories’ as {exp:file} tag doesn’t allow me to ‘filter’ the results.

Method 2: Using Assets and {exp:channel} tags.
Assets from ‘Pixel & Tonic’ (kudos to them for creating such a wonderful module plugin) is able to solve the sub-folder issue but to use the Assets, I need to select all the images I want to display by inserting them in a file_field for a channel entry (‘Media Hub’ channel). Not really that bad for categories with <100 images but for future-proofing sake (a ‘media category entry’ might contain up to 500+ images?) I will like to explore other methods.

Method 3: ?
I have a feeling that to recreate the file manager over on the front end I will need to use the {query} tag. Is there another way to use the control panel’s file manager as the ‘front end’ but able to theme it to the website’s front-end design without reinventing the wheel?

Thanks,
Rin

Hello nekorin,

Thank you for clarifying. I appreciate that.

Of all three methods, I believe your second method is going to get you the closest to where you want to be. There really is no way to recreate the File Manager on the front end. Assets is as close as I believe you are going to get. Through trial and error you should end up with the end result you are hoping for.

I can move this thread to the Community Help forum if you would like. I am sure there are folks there who have done something similar to this and could give you some advice.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,