Download and File Manager Plugin (CMDM) - Getting Started - Free Version Tutorial
Download and File Manager Plugin - Free Version Tutorial
This article covers only features presented in the free version of Download and File Manager Plugin.
Download and File Manager Plugin
Learn more about Pro version: Download and File Manager Plugin | Migrating to Pro Help
This documentation article shows you how to use the Download and File Manager Plugin Free to set up an index of downloads with unique pages where users can upload and download files.
Example
Table of Contents
Installation guide
Here are the steps needed to install the plugin:
1. Download - To manually install the plugin, you must first download it from WordPress.org to your computer.
2. Navigate to the Plugins tab in the WordPress Admin Panel to install the plugin.
3. Activate the plugin.
TIP: Registration
If you like, you can register your plugin to receive information about updates and our latest offers. You can complete your registration at any time.
If you don’t want to register right away, you can select the Skip button.
List of Features
Using the Free Plugin - Overview
TIP: Automatic Download Page
The plugin automatically creates a page that works as a downloads index. All new downloads will be shown there.
TIP: Settings
All options related to the plugin can be accessed from the Admin Dashboard → CM Downloads area.
The Index Page
- Categories
- Downloads list, linking to each page
- Search
- Link to your User Dashboard
Adding Downloads
The most important action is adding downloads. The admin can do this by clicking on the “Add New” link. Downloads contain title, version, the file itself, up to three categories, description, a screenshot and an optional recommendation.
Users Adding Downloads
Users can add downloads from their User Dashboard. The address is yoursite/cmdownload/dashboard. Users see the same front-end form as the admin when adding downloads.
Managing Files
Click CM Downloads to manage all files:
Support Forum
Every download has a support forum.
Settings - General
- Link to downloads frontend list - Link to the page where downloads can be found
- Downloads listing title - Name of the Download Index page. By default, it's CM Downloads
- Search placeholder text - Text written by default in the search box. By default, it's "Search..."
- Allowed file extensions (separate with comma) - File extensions not in this list cannot be uploaded. By default, it's zip,doc,docx,pdf,jpg,gif,png,jpeg
- "No screenshot" image - This image will be shown if the download has no screenshot
- Add "Downloads" (/cmdownloads) to site menu - Save to apply the setting. Warning! You need to have "wp_nav_menu" trigger in your template
- Add "My Downloads" (/cmdownload/dashboard) to site menu - Save to apply the setting. You need to have "wp_nav_menu" trigger in your template
- Force browser to download files - If disabled, browser will open some file types instead of downloading it, for example PDF and images.
- Show version field - Show or hide on the front-end (users can always include when adding download)
- Show support forum - Show or hide (users can always include when adding download)
- Enable admin recommend option - Show or hide
- Download Button position - Choose between:
- Aside
- Top
- Below screenshots
- Bottom
Settings - Notifications
In this tab, you can configure two messages related to the support forum feature.
- Sent to the uploader when a user posts a support topic.
- Sent to all users subscribed to a support topic when there's a new comment.
Settings - Panel Titles (Translating Labels)
The Panel Titles tab provides four useful text fields. By editing them, you will effectively translate the title of the most important pages.
Example
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