YOURLS-Upload-and-Shorten

Usage Guide

Step-by-step instructions for using the Upload and Shorten Advanced plugin.

Admin Upload

Upload files through the admin panel with full control over settings.

Steps

1. Go to Admin Panel → Upload & Shorten
2. Click “Choose File” or drag and drop a file into the upload area
3. Optionally customize the following:
   • Custom Short URL - Choose your own short URL keyword
   • Title - Add a descriptive title for the file
   • Storage Location - Select where to store the file
   • Expiration - Set when the file should be deleted
4. Click “Upload & Create Short URL”
5. Your short URL will be generated instantly
6. Copy the URL to share with others

Upload Options

• Custom Keywords - Create memorable short URLs
• Title/Description - Add metadata for easier management
• Storage Selection - Choose from configured storage locations
• Expiration Settings - Set automatic deletion timeframe
• Privacy Options - Configure access restrictions (if enabled)

Frontend Upload

Allow public users to upload files through your YOURLS frontend.

Enabling Frontend Uploads

1. Go to Admin Panel → Upload Settings
2. Set “Enable Frontend Uploads” to “Yes”
3. Configure frontend-specific settings:
   • Maximum file size for public uploads
   • Allowed file types for public users
   • Rate limiting settings
4. Save settings

Using Frontend Upload

1. Visit your YOURLS homepage
2. Look for the “Upload & Shorten File” section
3. Select a file to upload
4. Optionally add a custom short URL (if enabled)
5. Click “Upload & Shorten”
6. Copy the generated short URL
7. Share the link with others

Beautiful public upload interface with file guidelines and easy-to-use controls

Frontend Features

• Drag & Drop - Modern file upload experience
• Progress Indicators - Real-time upload progress
• Copy to Clipboard - One-click URL copying
• Mobile Responsive - Works perfectly on phones and tablets
• File Guidelines - Clear instructions on allowed types and sizes

File Management

Manage all your uploaded files from the admin panel.

Viewing Files

1. Go to Admin Panel → Uploaded Files
2. Browse your file list with:
   • File name and type
   • Upload date
   • File size
   • Short URL
   • Download count
   • Expiration date

Manage all your uploaded files with detailed statistics and easy controls

File Actions

Available actions for each file:

• View Details - See complete file information
• Copy URL - Copy short URL to clipboard
• Download - Download the original file
• Extend Expiration - Postpone automatic deletion
• Delete - Remove file and short URL immediately

Bulk Operations

Manage multiple files at once:

1. Select files using checkboxes
2. Choose bulk action:
   • Delete selected files
   • Extend expiration for all
   • Download selected files (as archive)
   • Change storage location
3. Confirm action
4. Files are processed in batch

Filtering and Search

Find files quickly using:

• Search - Search by filename, title, or short URL
• Filter by Type - Show only specific file types
• Filter by Expiration - Show expiring or expired files
• Sort Options - Sort by date, size, downloads, or name
• Pagination - Navigate large file lists efficiently

Download Tracking

Track how your files are being accessed.

Statistics Available

For each uploaded file, you can view:

• Total Downloads - Number of times file was accessed
• Unique Visitors - Unique IP addresses that accessed the file
• Referrers - Where visitors came from
• Geographic Data - Where visitors are located (if enabled)
• Access Times - When the file was accessed

Accessing Statistics

1. Go to Admin Panel → Uploaded Files
2. Click “Stats” next to any file
3. View detailed analytics:
   • Daily/weekly/monthly downloads
   • Top referrers
   • Geographic distribution
   • Access patterns

YOURLS Integration

File downloads are tracked through YOURLS analytics system:

• All standard YOURLS stats features work
• Use YOURLS plugins for extended analytics
• Export data using YOURLS tools
• API access for programmatic stats retrieval

Working with Short URLs

The plugin generates standard YOURLS short URLs with additional features.

URL Format

Short URLs follow your YOURLS configuration:

https://yourls.example.com/abc123

Custom Keywords

Choose memorable keywords:

1. During upload, enter desired keyword in “Custom Short URL” field
2. Plugin validates keyword availability
3. If available, your custom URL is created
4. If taken, you’ll be prompted to choose another

URL Management

Manage short URLs like any YOURLS link:

• Edit URL details in YOURLS admin
• View click statistics
• Add to URL groups/categories
• Set URL privacy options
• Share via social media buttons

Best Practices

For Administrators

• Regularly review uploaded files for abuse
• Monitor storage space usage
• Set appropriate file size limits
• Enable rate limiting to prevent abuse
• Use file expiration to manage storage
• Regular backups of upload directory

For File Sharing

• Use descriptive titles for better organization
• Set expiration dates for temporary files
• Use custom keywords for important files
• Monitor download statistics
• Keep sensitive files in protected locations

For Public Uploads

• Set stricter limits for public users
• Enable rate limiting
• Monitor uploads regularly
• Use CAPTCHA if spam is an issue (via extension)
• Clearly communicate terms of use

Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Quick File Sharing

1. Navigate to Upload & Shorten page
2. Drag and drop file
3. Click upload
4. Copy and share URL

Workflow 2: Organized File Management

1. Create multiple storage locations for different purposes
2. Upload files to appropriate locations
3. Use descriptive titles and custom keywords
4. Set expiration dates based on use case
5. Monitor and clean up regularly

Workflow 3: Public File Distribution

1. Enable frontend uploads with restrictions
2. Set moderate size limits
3. Enable rate limiting
4. Monitor uploads in admin panel
5. Remove inappropriate content promptly

Next Steps

• Configure advanced features
• Troubleshoot common issues
• Set up multiple languages

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