How to rename a file attachment

  • Unknown's avatar
    k9pooch · Member ·

    The filename of an existing PDF attachment needs to be renamed. I have tried deleting the file and reuploading the updated PDF but instead of the filename increments by adding a number to the end of the existing filename. e.g. sample.pdf becomes sample1.pdf

    How can I rename the file attachment name back to sample.pdf?

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

  • Unknown's avatar
    lizthefair · Member ·

    I’m afraid that’s not possible. Once a file has been uploaded, that name is taken and can’t be re-used.

    Many WordPress.com veterans get around this issue by creating pages on their site where they put links to the PDFs they want to share, and then only share the links to the page–not directly to the file itself. That way, you can change/update the links on the page without breaking links you have out in the world.

    Hope that helps!

  • Unknown's avatar
    lorelle · Member ·

    I didn’t see the straight answer, so pardon me for jumping in.

    1. Delete the uploaded file (not the one on your computer. Remove all links to the file in your posts or Pages.
    2. Rename the file name of the file on your computer to whatever you wish.
    3. Upload it. Fill in all the information about the file in the right menu.
    4. Embed a link to it in the post or Page you wish.

    Also, the file name is nice to have be pretty, but make sure that the anchor link text (the clickable words) are not the file name but the “name” of the file such as:

    Template for Writing Posts

    You may see this HTML in the TEXT editor and edit it to match what you wish it to say.

    Thanks.

  • Unknown's avatar
    lorelle · Member ·

    Darn. We used to be able to edit posts if something went wrong.

    The example code is:

    <a href="http://example.wordpress.com/uploads/file-name.jpg" title="Downloadable Template File for Writing Posts.">Template for Writing Posts</a>

  • Unknown's avatar
    lizthefair · Member ·

    Thanks @lorelle.

    The answer to your original question is still that you can’t update a PDF file and re-use the name of the original file. But I should have provided a more through explanation of how to add a link to the PDF file in the page.

  • Unknown's avatar
    k9pooch · Member ·

    Thanks Liz & Lorelle,

    I thought there may have been an easy option but apparently not. The file can be renamed but it has to be done via the database table. I could do that myself, but there is no access (least none that I have seen). Unsure if the pro version has access.

    The page concept is a good one – just means I have to redo the video and point to a page rather than the file (as mentioned).

    Cheers.

  • Unknown's avatar
    auxclass · Member ·

    you don’t have FTP access here which is required to change a file name or update a specific file without changing the file name.

  • The topic ‘How to rename a file attachment’ is closed to new replies.