Reposting images from User Control Panel/Manage Attachments

Can images that have previously been uploaded to a forum post or PM be reused from this area? If so, what is the proper way/function to use?

I often find a use for images I've already uploaded and I've tried a few different ways. My thoughts are toward reducing storage of repetitive images on the server. I can see my reposted images in my preview of a PM but the recipient reports there's a message that I've deleted them.

i just repost the link from the image...or put it between [ img ] [ /img ] codes

Under any attachment in a post and in the control panel you'll find a link that says "BBCode(Select) ". Click it to highlight the tag, right click and copy the text and you can paste it anywhere. This works for files too.

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[nepathumb]5644[/nepathumb]

Will produce this image:

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    [nepafile=16861]CoalCast_Episode_010_20091210.mp3[/nepafile]

Will produce this audio file:

CoalCast_Episode_010_20091210.mp3

• For files it just provides a link at the moment so if it's a video or audio file it won't have a player.
• If the image was posted inside a forum like FSC only those that have access to that forum will be able to see it.
• The control panel also lists files you have sent in PM's, these cannot be viewed by anyone except the recipient.

Here's what works for me ...

Click "User Control Panel" at top of page then ...

Click "Manage attachments" at left then ...

Scroll through the list to find the one you want, then ...

Click "BBCode(Select)" on the one you want to use.
Copy (Control C) what gets selected and paste (Control V) into the message you are composing.

There's a shortcut if you have specific image you might want to post frequently and can remember the ID. If you right click an image the URL will look something like this:

http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=5644

It might be long with other parameters, the only thing you need is the numbers after the id parameter. In this case 5644, just [place it between the [ nepathumb]




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As suggested by WNY you can just use the image tags. Right click the image either the thumb or full size for the URL. Paste it into the post. Highlight it and click the [ IMG] button:

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[img]http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=5644&t=1[/img]

That will produce this:


Note the &t=1 in the url, that links to the thumb. If you remove the &t=1 you can full size:

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[img]http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=5644[/img]

That will produce this:

Hey, I originally posted that image...

Wood'nCoal wrote:

View: New Page • Popup

Hey, I originally posted that image...

Not in this case.

Clarence, are you sure it was anthracite?

You're right, and you posted it well before I did!

Welcome to the Coal Region !

Thank you everyone for your insights. Right click on the image then copy the properties I've done this lots of time!

What was throwing me off is that inside my User Control Panel/Overview/Manage Attachments, the pictures I've posted on the forum boards do have the line BBcode (select) [nepathumb]image number[/nepathumb] available where as the images I posted to PMs do not.

Richard's bulleted notation

•The control panel also lists files you have sent in PM's, these cannot be viewed by anyone except the recipient.

would explain why the "Properties" link is dead when I try to share the same link/pic with another member via PM. Also why there isn't any BBcode(select) code available.

If I right click on the PM-ed image file and copy the link under "Properties" it will give me this link that I've placed in quotes...

http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=22429&t=1

Let me know if anyone sees the same link posted below behind a bullet. John and Chris have previously received this image in a PM and might see the link here as well. Not surprizingly, for me it is a live link to the picture.
• http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file ... =22429&t=1
Can anyone see it? Does the link work - Yes/No please?

After all that fuss, here's the picture spoken of in the links. It's my home made 30+ year old wooden body hillbilly cart. These past years it's main function is as my winter coal bin.

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:

http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=22429&t=1

Let me know if anyone sees the same link posted below behind a bullet. John and Chris have previously received this image in a PM and might see the link here as well. Not surprizingly, for me it is a live link to the picture.
• http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file ... =22429&t=1
Can anyone see it? Does the link work - Yes/No please?

After all that fuss, here's the picture spoken of in the links. It's my home made 30+ year old wooden body hillbilly cart. These past years it's main function is as my winter coal bin.

The link after the bullet doesn't work for me. Says, "The selected attachment does not exist anymore."

Yanche wrote:The link after the bullet doesn't work for me. Says, "The selected attachment does not exist anymore."

Thanks Yanche for letting me know. Performed just like the Mayor said. Evidentially it's privacy performance for PM material so that it cannot be shared w/o the author performing the function.

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:If I right click on the PM-ed image file and copy the link under "Properties" it will give me this link that I've placed in quotes...

http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file.php?id=22429&t=1

Let me know if anyone sees the same link posted below behind a bullet. John and Chris have previously received this image in a PM and might see the link here as well. Not surprizingly, for me it is a live link to the picture.
• http://nepacrossroads.com/download/file ... =22429&t=1
Can anyone see it? Does the link work - Yes/No please?

Dave, Yep, the link works for me.

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:
Thanks Yanche for letting me know. Performed just like the Mayor said. Evidentially it's privacy performance for PM material so that it cannot be shared w/o the author performing the function.

Correct, it's so people can't go fishing for files they aren't supposed to have access too. As I said same thing applies to images and files posted in private forums like FSC, moderator forums etc. Technically on a standard install of phpBB someone could rip the entire library of files that have guest permissions by using a script to download every file in sequential order. If there wasn't a permission set on files in PM's then those files would be included.

I'll go into some detail as it's no secret how it works. When you upload a file it's stored in an undisclosed location with Dick Cheney. This folder is protected through .htaccess which sets permissions and other things on Linux servers. It cannot be accessed directly through a web browser. I can give you out the URL and filename if I wanted and you can't access it through a web browser. The file itself is renamed to a random string of characters about 30 in length and the original name is stored in the database. Even if the server protection failed or in some cases on a shared hosting plans that have this service disabled you would still need to know the file name which for practical purposes would be impossible to guess.

All file requests go through file.php which is executed on the server which will first check to see if you have permissions to access the file. If you have permission to view the file file.php can access the folder and it will send the image to your browser encoded raw as an image. Permissions on phpBB are numerous, for example I could if I wanted set it so files can be only seen by logged in members in the public forums. If you really needed a secure environment outside of what you can do with standard server permissions you can limit file downloads to specified IP's.