Uploading a replacement and keeping the same URL

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  bdellerin · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 5:34 pm

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  I have a link out to a PDF thatI have on my site. However there is an error in it and I need to upload a new version. I want to keep the same URL so people find it based on the link that is circulating.

  I’m nervous to erase the original file in case there is no way to get that URL back. Has anyone dealt with this before?

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

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  thesacredpath · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 6:28 pm

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  WordPress will append a number to the end if you try and upload a file with the same name, even if you delete the old one first. In most cases if you delete the old file and wait 24 hours, you can upload one with the same name (this is due to standard database operation).

  The other problem though is that files are stored in a year/month directory structure. If the file was originally uploaded in November 2010, and you upload the replacement today, then the URL for the replacement will be uploaded in the 2010 December folder.

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  auxclass · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 7:04 pm

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  I try and send links to the Post or Page that has the file in it – so when (not if) I change the file they still go the the right place – I can also put a note on the Post or Page about the changes also.

  Yes a downside to the WordPress.COM where we don’t have FTP access.

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  thesacredpath · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 7:28 pm

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  @auxclass, that is a good idea and solves the issue well.

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  auxclass · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 7:54 pm

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  Thanks – Works well – I also change the file names myself as a version control method.

  file-A, file-B, file-C etc for the same file but different versions, sometimes I will use a date as part of the file name. Many of my files get updated for corrections of making things easier to understand –

  My site is for boating safety and sometimes I will find an error in an exercise or a question that is worded awkwardly and so I will update them so my students (and other visitors) will get the best information. I do the same for handouts.

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  auxclass · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 7:57 pm

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  Thanks – Works well – I also change the file names myself as a version control method.

  file-A, file-B, file-C etc for the same file but different versions, sometimes I will use a date as part of the file name. Many of my files get updated for corrections of making things easier to understand –

  My site is for boating safety and sometimes I will find an error in an exercise or a question that is worded awkwardly and so I will update them so my students (and other visitors) will get the best information. I do the same for handouts.

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  auxclass · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 7:58 pm

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  Chalk up another double Post via the server issues.

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  bdellerin · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 10:55 pm

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  thanks – so basically there is no way to write over a file is what everyone is saying?

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  thesacredpath · Member · Dec 1, 2010 at 11:06 pm

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  You have to delete the file from the media library and then wait for 24 hours. Then you can upload a file with the same name, but if the month/year the file was uploaded in changed (like original in Nov and new in Dec) then the URL will change even though the actual file name is the same.