How do I replace a media file without the name automatically changing?

  • Unknown's avatar
    carywalkin · Member ·

    I have a media file on my blog that I want to replace with a new version however when I upload the new one it gets a number appended to it ie: “filename1.jpg” This is the case even if I delete the original file. How do I ensure the new file gets the same file name as the old file? There does not appear to be an option to rename files in the media library.

    Thanks,
    Cary Walkin

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    auxclass · Member ·

    You MIGHT be able to use the same name if you delete the file and leave it deleted for 24 to 48 hours – WordPress.COM is in the Cloud and runs on three server farms, so changes might not be reflected at once on all three server farms – then there is the part about backup files and how they do that

    The different file name thing is why I don’t let a file name reference off my site – I always give people links to a Page or Post then link the file on that Page or Post – when I update a file, I change the file name with a version number or something appended (class-o1.pdf might have the next version as class-01-A.pdf or something like that)

    I ran into the duplicate file name problem when I imported about 120 pictures and something went wrong with the import and had to bring some things in a second time – was a real bad few days fixing some of the issues

  • Unknown's avatar
    justpi · Member ·

    You MIGHT be able to use the same name if you delete the file and leave it deleted for 24 to 48 hours

    Nope: so long as you re-upload it the same month, you’ll get the extra number.

  • Unknown's avatar
    auxclass · Member ·

    Thanks for the update Panos –

    kept thinking I had seen the 24 someplace – since the files I have for downloading are class presentations I usually change the version number on my PC when I start making an updated version so I don’t confuse which file is which version

  • Unknown's avatar
    justpi · Member ·

    You’re welcome! No, it’s definitely as I said (and designsimply had once confirmed it). If you had seen the 24 someplace, it was probably a conjecture. It’s all designed to exclude the possibility of a duplicate URL: if you re-upload a deleted file the same month you get an extra number; if you re-upload it the following month you don’t get an extra number because then the date in the URL will be different.

    So, Cary, what you’re looking for is impossible on wordpress.com. Why do you want that?

  • Unknown's avatar
    carywalkin · Member ·

    Because I have a link on my site going to a game, which happens to be a specific file “Arena.Xlsm” which is how the game is marketed. When I make changes or bug fixes, I don’t want people to be downloading “Arena2.Xlsm” because that’s inconsistent with the branding and looks terrible. (The specific post that I’m referring to is here: http://carywalkin.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/arena-xlsm-released/)

    justpi, if what you are saying is true, I may need to find a different file host that will allow me to replace files and then just link to it from the WordPress post rather than linking to the WordPress Media Library directly.

    Thanks for your input!

  • Unknown's avatar
    auxclass · Member ·

    Yes you will need to host the name critical files on another host – not on WordPress.COM

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