🚀 Bulk Media Upload Guide for LineagePress

Overview

The Bulk Upload feature in LineagePress streamlines the process of adding numerous media files to your family tree simultaneously. When you use it, your files are automatically registered with both the WordPress Media Library and your LineagePress family tree data.

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How to Use the Bulk Upload Feature

1. Navigate to Bulk Upload

Access the tool by going to LineagePress → Media → Bulk Upload tab.

2. Select Your Tree

Use the dropdown menu to choose which family tree the media files belong to.

3. Select Files

Click “Choose Files” to select multiple files from your computer.

Supported File Types

• Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
• Videos: MP4, MOV, etc.
• Audio files
• Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX

4. Choose Upload Mode

You must select one of two modes before uploading:

Upload Mode	When to Use	Action	Result
Skip files that already exist (Recommended)	When you want to register existing media with your tree, or prevent duplicates.	If a file with the same name exists in WordPress Media, it will be skipped.	The existing file is linked to your LineagePress tree. Faster and prevents duplicates.
Overwrite existing files	When you have updated or better-quality versions of files to replace old ones.	If a file with the same name exists, the old file will be deleted and your new file will be uploaded in its place.	The old version is replaced with the new one (e.g., a higher quality scan).

5. Upload

Click “Upload Files” and wait for the process to complete.

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Upload Results Summary

After the upload finishes, a summary report will appear:

• $\checkmark$ Uploaded: New files successfully added.
• $\oslash$ Skipped: Files that already existed (only shown in Skip mode).
• $\circlearrowright$ Overwritten: Files that were replaced (only shown in Overwrite mode).
• Errors: Any files that failed to upload, with corresponding error messages.

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Behind the Scenes: What Happens During Upload

1. Files are uploaded to the WordPress Media Library.
2. WordPress generates thumbnails and metadata.
3. The files are registered in the LineagePress database.
4. Auto-generated media IDs are assigned (e.g., M1, M2, M3).
5. Files are automatically linked to the selected family tree.

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Essential Tips

• Use Skip mode for initial bulk imports of existing media or to link existing WordPress media to your tree.
• Use Overwrite mode when replacing low-quality scans with better versions.
• Files are checked for existence by filename only (e.g., “photo.jpg” and “photo.JPG” are considered the same).
• You can link uploaded media to specific individuals later from the Media browse page.
• All uploaded files appear in both your WordPress Media Library and LineagePress Media.

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Common Scenarios

Scenario	Goal	Action	Result
First Time Import	Upload 100 photos from your computer that aren’t in WordPress yet.	Select all 100 files, use Skip mode, upload.	All 100 files uploaded and registered with your tree.
Re-scanning Old Photos	Replace a file (“grandpa1920.jpg”) with a new, better quality scan.	Select the new file, use Overwrite mode, upload.	Old scan deleted, new high-quality scan uploaded and linked.
Linking Existing WordPress Media	Register photos already in WordPress Media Library with your family tree.	Select those same files from your computer, use Skip mode, upload.	No duplicates created; existing WordPress files are now linked to your LineagePress tree.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Error Message	Cause & Solution
“Please select a tree”	Cause: No family tree was selected. Solution: You must select which family tree the media belongs to before starting the upload.
“Please select files to upload”	Cause: No files were chosen. Solution: Click “Choose Files” and select at least one file from your computer.
Upload errors	Cause: The files are too large or the wrong type, or your server is out of space. Solution: Check your file size limits (usually $2 \text{MB} – 64 \text{MB}$ depending on server) and verify file types are supported. Ensure you have sufficient disk space.

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Next Steps After Bulk Upload

Once the upload is complete, you can:

1. Go to Media → Browse Media to view and manage your newly uploaded files.
2. Click Edit on any media item to:
   • Add titles and descriptions.
   • Link the media to specific individuals in your tree.
   • Assign categories.
   • Set the image as a primary photo for an individual.