Publish to URL

When a file is published it can be accessed directly as a URL, without the need to create a copy of the file or log into IMS to view it.

On This Page

The ability to publish Files from IMS to a URL can provide a powerful way to implement central control of digital assets across your website. You can enable and disable use of an image, video or audio file from a single point of control and the feature includes usage statistics that report how often an asset is used.

Publishing Files

To publish a file use the Download Wizard to download the file. Select Publish to URL when prompted for Delivery Method on the final stage of the download. When a file is published, IMS assigns a URL with a short coded key for your download. A published URL looks like this:

http://example.thirdlight.com/pf.tlx/kofwAj0f

The key is a unique identifier for a particular published file to differentiate it from other published files for retrieval and reporting purposes.

You can check to see if the file has already been published with suitable formatting options so that you could re-use the same link rather than creating a new one: refer to Listing and Viewing Published Files below.

Published Files and Version Control

When a file is published, the requested output is created once and saved. Subsequent changes to the original file - such as creating a new version - will have no effect on any existing published file.

The Fetch File to URL feature does allow links to be created that follow the current version of the file in IMS.

Expiry and Embargo Dates

You can specify the period of time during which a published file is available on the published URL.

Embargo date Date from which the file becomes available
Expiry date Date from which the file is no longer available

You can change either of these dates and hence change the availability of the file at any time.

To change either date edit the published file.

Listing and Viewing Published Files

For information about all files that have been published:

1. Select Reporting > Published Files from the main menu.
2. The Published Files page lists all published files by the Folders in which they reside. You can use the options on the page to filter the display by User, Date published and Filename. Using the display currently live files only option, you can also exclude files that have expired or are not yet available because the embargo date is in the future.
3. To view the published copy of the file, click on the URL.
4. To open the file in IMS, click on the thumbnail image.

For information about a single file, open the file using the the File Console and refer to the Notes tab.

Published File Browser

The Published File Browser is a Javascript plugin which creates a pop-up window to select a published file interactively, and return the address for the file directly back to the originating application. This enables web developers and integrators to place a "Fetch Image From IMS" button into a CMS or other web tool such as a mailing list manager.

This feature is designed to be used by web developers and integrators. For further details please see refer to the Integration Notes at:

http://www.thirdlight.com/docs/display/integration/Published+File+Browser

Editing Published Files

You can edit a published file in order to change its embargo date, expiry date, the note attached and to open and preview the file (to update the metadata for example).

1. Select Reporting > Published Files from the main menu.
2. The Published Files page lists all published files by the Folders in which they reside, but you can use the options on the page to filter the display by User, Date published and File.
3. Use the Expand button beside the thumbnail to access details about the published files and the Edit and Delete options. The same file may be published multiple times: each instance is listed separately .
4. Locate the instance you want to edit.
5. Click the thumbnail or filename to open the file – the file will open in the File Console
6. Open the Notes tab. All instances of the file being published on a URL or shared (to Facebook or Twitter) are recorded. Locate the instance you want to edit
7. Click Edit button The Edit Published File page opens – adjust as required – refer to Edit Published or Shared File page for more details.

Reporting Usage Of Published Files

IMS tracks and provides a set of reports on published files. Each time the file is loaded your IMS server records the transaction. To report usage of a Published file, Edit the published file and click the Report Usage button. A graph is produced showing the number of times the published file was displayed, by day. The graph is scaled to accommodate the range of dates over which the file has been accessed.

Deleting A Published File

When you delete a published file it does not affect the copy of the file in IMS - only the published version of the file is deleted. Delete a published file as follows.

1. Edit the published file (select the option from the Notes tab as described above)
2. Select the Deactivate This URL button.