Uploading multimedia items with SDL Tridion 2011 SP1 and WebDAV

One of the easiest ways to upload multimedia content and conduct bulk imports in SDL Tridion CMS is accomplished by using WebDAV.

WebDAV stands for Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning and it is an HTTP based protocol which allows documents to be created, changed and easily moved between servers. Although some configuration may be required, WebDAV is available in most operating systems by default. The following steps are executed on a Windows server 2008 R2 SP1.

Assuming you have correct permissions and access rights in the SDL Tridion CMS, make sure there is a multimedia schema available created in a Schema level publication. Also ensure where you want to create the content we are about to import and choose a folder in a Content level publication.

Next establish a WebDAV connection from Windows Explorer by choosing the Map network drive options from the top menu while having selected Computer in the left panel. Windows will prompt for a folder to map to:

Click “Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures” to initiate the Add Network Location wizard, then click Next.

When prompted as to where you want to create the location, click “Choose a custom network location” and click Next.

In the prompt box, enter the CMS url plus webdav such as http://localhost/webdav and click Next.

Choose and enter a name for this new location.

The connector establishes communication between the two parties (a folder on your machine and the CMS), click Finish.

The SDL Tridion CMS publications are made available in Windows Explorer and can now be navigated as system file folders easily accessible for file activities.

Lastly, to import your multimedia files into the SDL Tridion CMS, all you need to do is open an additional window where the assets are located, make (multiple) selections and drag and drop them into the desired content location in the newly created Windows Explorer connection window. Windows Explorer will show a quick progress bar. When the operation completes, refresh the SDL Tridion CMS folder into which the assets were carried to see them stored and available for further use in the CMS.

The technique above is quite simple and just as quick to use. It can be applied to other types of assets as well, such as fast uploads of CSS and JS files when these are stored as binaries with the understanding of course that the proper file extension is allowed in the respective schema. Happy importing!