Gallery 2.0 Sorting Images and Making Backup Files

Included with the 2.0 editor are two functions that will help make your image galleries easier and more reliable.

Sorting Images

Sorting images is nothing brand new but now its less to deal with.  Your options for sorting will impact the available image order as well as any gallery styles that are not in a media library.

To open the sort options simply click on the Sort Images button in the toolbar.

sorting options

Sorting your images can be done using the image file name (ie MyImage.jpg) as well as meta data that has been configured for each image.  Image title, author name, location, medium, and date are all choices that will sort your current available images.  This sorting is a single instance sort which means if you change data it will not automatically change the order of the available images.  

Changing the order will impact galleries currently displaying non media layout styles.  Once the sorting has been done there is no undo for this process.

Backup Gallery Info

If you've ever done a site upgrade or had your data lost you know it can be a lot of work to get it back.  In gallery editor 2.0 we've created an easy way for you to create your own backups.  There is no requirement that you use this but in the case you feel like a loss of your current gallery meta data would be an issue you can make up to 5 backup files at any time.

backup options

The current file information will display the last time the gallery meta data was updated and includes how many active and non-active images are found.  Backup files 1-5 default to having a "Create Backup" button which will copy your current file info into a backup version automatically.

create a backup file number 1

After creating the backup you'll see an option to compare the backup to the current version, you can delete the back up and a created date is shown.  As you change the current meta data the backup will remain until deleted.  Should you want to revert to any backup simply click on the compare backup.

Compare Backup Files

Once you click the compare file button it will load the current data and backup data into the preview window.

compare current and backup metadata

The active information is displayed first with the gray bar on the left.  Below you will find the backup file information.  Any field which has different text will automatically flag that content with red text.  Should you wish to revert your current file to the backup data press the "Copy the backup data into current file" button.  The current data will be lost when doing this so make sure you are ready to revert.  

After you change the data you can either delete or keep the backup as it will be identical to the current file.  There is no undo process so once data has been copied you will need to manually edit the file to make changes.

Should your current file get corrupted or you loose portions of the data, having a backup version will hopefully get you back on track with minimal effort.