View source for Portal:Blog/Added default file name for galleries

{{Blog
|postTitle=Added default file name for galleries
|blog=Saintapedia blog
|date=2025-12-28
|author=Tom
|tags=Gallery form, image uploads, file naming, Page Forms, wiki improvement, contributor tips
|summary=We've improved the Gallery form so that when uploading images, the file name is automatically suggested based on the gallery page title
}}
A Quick Tip for Saintapedia Contributors: Make Your Gallery Uploads Even Better!

Hello, fellow Saintapedia editors and readers!

If you’ve ever created or edited one of our gallery pages — those lovely collections of images for a saint’s statues, a parish church interior, or shrines around the world — you know how important clear, consistent file names are. Nothing is more frustrating than searching for an image later and finding a bunch of “DSC_0123.jpg” or “Photo1.jpg” files.

We’ve just rolled out a small but helpful improvement to the '''Gallery''' form that makes uploading images much smoother and more organized.

Now, when you click “Upload file” for any of the 10 image slots, the upload window will automatically suggest a sensible file name based on the gallery page title. For example:

* If your gallery page is called '''Gallery/Statues of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux''',  
  the suggestions will appear as:  
  <code>Gallery/Statues of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux - 1.jpg</code>  
  <code>Gallery/Statues of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux - 2.jpg</code>  
  …and so on up to 10.

You can still change the name if you prefer something different — the suggestion is just there to save time and keep everything tidy and searchable.

This works thanks to a neat feature in the '''Page Forms''' extension we use behind the scenes. The form now includes the <code>default filename=</code> parameter with the special <code><page name></code> placeholder, which automatically pulls in the current gallery title. (Tech-savvy editors can read all about it here: [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Page_Forms/Input_types#Uploading_files Extension:Page Forms - Input types → Uploading files])

Why does this matter for Saintapedia?
* Easier to find images later when writing articles or expanding galleries.
* Keeps our file namespace clean and professional.
* Saves contributors time — especially helpful when uploading several photos at once.

Next time you create a new gallery (just go to the main page and type a name in the “Create new gallery” box) or add images to an existing one, give it a try! We think you’ll love the little time-saver.

As always, thank you for your contributions — whether uploading beautiful photos, writing articles, or linking everything together. Together we’re building a rich, well-organized resource for Catholic saints and heritage.

Happy editing!<br />
''The Saintapedia Team''

[[Category:News]]