Advanced Media Library Filters - Documentation

1. Introduction

This plugin extends the native WordPress Media Library with advanced filtering capabilities for efficient asset management (List and Grid/Modal views).

2. Available Filters

File Format (Core): Filter by images, documents, audio, and video types.
File Size (Core): Quick search by weight (< 100 KB, 100-500 KB, 500 KB-1 MB, 1-2 MB, 2-5 MB, > 5 MB).
Dimensions & Orientation (Optional): Filter by aspect ratio (Landscape, Portrait, Square).
Usage Status (Optional): Identify attached or orphaned media.
Author (Optional): Filter by the user who uploaded the file.
Alt Text Status (SEO): Locate images missing alternative text.

Note: Optional filters can be toggled via Settings > Media Filters.

3. Configuration & Synchronization

Go to Settings > Media Filters.
Filter Management: Enable or disable optional filters as needed.
Metadata Synchronization:
Important: If you install this plugin on a site with many pre-existing media files, you must run the Metadata Synchronization tool. New files are indexed automatically, but legacy files require this step to be filtered by size and dimensions.
Click Sync Missing Metadata to initiate the indexing process for pre-existing files.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are my older images not showing up when filtering by size or orientation?

A: Legacy images lack custom metadata keys. Go to Settings > Media Filters and click "Sync Media Data" to index pre-existing attachments.

Q: Does deleting unattached media break my layouts?

A: "Unattached" indicates the item hasn't been set as a post parent. However, if you manually typed the image URL into a custom theme section or hardcoded it, deleting it will break that link. Review item names before purging.

Q: Why doesn't the native WP media type dropdown appear anymore?

A: The plugin intentionally hides the native dropdown to eliminate duplicate selectors and keep your interface uncluttered, replacing it with the advanced format extensions selector.

5. Support

If you encounter technical issues, please ensure you are running the latest WordPress version and verify there are no conflicts with other media management plugins. For assistance, contact our support team with your debug log or plugin conflict details.