File Library

Organize and manage all your workspace files with folders, upload, download, and smart trash management.

What is File Library?

File Library is your centralized hub for managing all workspace files and documents. It provides a powerful, intuitive interface for organizing files into folders, uploading multiple files at once, previewing documents, and safely managing deleted items with automatic cleanup.

Key Features

  • ✓ Hierarchical folder organization
  • ✓ Drag-and-drop file upload
  • ✓ Multiple file uploads simultaneously
  • ✓ Grid and list view options
  • ✓ Advanced search and filtering
  • ✓ Safe trash with 24-hour automatic deletion
  • ✓ File preview and download
  • ✓ Breadcrumb navigation

Accessing File Library

Navigate to the File Library section from your workspace sidebar to start organizing your files.

Quick Access:

  1. Click File Library in the workspace sidebar

    💡 Tip: You can also use keyboard shortcuts to navigate quickly

  2. The main view shows all your files and folders
  3. Toggle between Grid and List views using the view switcher

Creating and Managing Folders

Organize your files into a hierarchical folder structure for easy navigation and management.

Creating a New Folder:

  1. Click the "+ Create Folder" button
  2. Enter a descriptive folder name

    📋 Examples: "Client Files", "Project Documents", "Marketing Assets"

  3. Click Create to finalize
  4. Your new folder appears in the current location

Folder Operations:

Navigate:Click on any folder to open and view its contents
Rename:Click the three-dot menu → Rename → Enter new name
Move to Trash:Click the three-dot menu → Move to Trash (recoverable for 24 hours)
Nested Folders:Create folders inside folders for deeper organization

Uploading Files

Upload single or multiple files with ease. BriteWiki supports various file types including documents, images, PDFs, and more.

Upload Methods:

Method 1: Click to Upload

  1. Click the "Upload Files" button
  2. Select files from your computer
  3. Choose multiple files using Ctrl/Cmd + Click
  4. Click Open to start upload

Method 2: Drag and Drop

  1. Select files from your file explorer
  2. Drag them over the File Library area
  3. Drop when the drop zone appears
  4. Files upload automatically

✨ Pro Tips:

  • • Upload multiple files at once for faster organization
  • • Files are automatically uploaded to your current folder location
  • • Supported formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, and more
  • • Maximum file size: 10MB per file (configurable by admin)

Viewing Options

Choose from three powerful view modes to match your workflow: Grid, List, or Tree structure.

Grid View

Visual card-based layout showing file thumbnails and icons.

✓ Best for: Image-heavy folders

✓ Visual file recognition

✓ Quick scanning of many files

✓ Compact organization

List View

Detailed row-based layout with file metadata and sorting.

✓ Best for: Document management

✓ See file sizes and dates

✓ Sorting by columns

✓ Dense information display

Tree View

Hierarchical folder structure showing full navigation tree.

✓ Best for: Complex folder structures

✓ See entire hierarchy at once

✓ Expandable/collapsible folders

✓ Quick navigation between levels

Switching Between Views:

  1. Look for the view switcher buttons in the top-right corner of the File Library
  2. Click Grid, List, or Tree icon to switch views
  3. Your preference is saved and will persist across sessions
  4. Tree view is especially useful for understanding deep folder structures

Breadcrumb Navigation

Easily track your location and navigate through nested folders using the breadcrumb trail.

How Breadcrumbs Work:

File Library > Client Projects > Acme Corp > Proposals
  • Click any folder:Jump directly to that level in the hierarchy
  • Home icon:Returns to File Library root
  • Current location:Highlighted in the breadcrumb trail

Search and Filter

Quickly find specific files using the powerful search functionality.

Search Features:

Basic Search:

Type file or folder names in the search box to filter results instantly.

💡 Search is case-insensitive and matches partial names

View Filters:

  • Active Items: Shows all current files and folders
  • Trash: View items in trash (recoverable for 24 hours)

File Operations

Perform various actions on your files using the context menu.

Download Files

  1. Click the three-dot menu on any file
  2. Select Download
  3. File downloads to your computer
✓ Downloads preserve original file names and formats

Preview Files

  1. Click the three-dot menu on any file
  2. Select View
  3. File opens in a new tab for preview
✓ Supported: PDFs, images, and browser-viewable files

Copy Link

  1. Click the three-dot menu on any file
  2. Select Copy Link
  3. Link copied to clipboard
  4. Share the link with team members
✓ Links are accessible to all workspace members

Rename Items

  1. Click the three-dot menu on any item
  2. Select Rename
  3. Enter the new name
  4. Click Save
✓ Works for both files and folders

Trash Management

BriteWiki provides a safe trash system where deleted items are stored for 24 hours before permanent deletion.

Understanding Trash:

Two-Stage Deletion Process:

  1. Move to Trash: Item moved to trash (24-hour grace period)
  2. Delete Permanently: Item deleted immediately and cannot be recovered

Working with Trash:

  • Access:Click the "Trash" button to view deleted items
  • Restore:Click three-dot menu → Restore to recover deleted items
  • Automatic Cleanup:Items are permanently deleted after 24 hours
  • Permanent Delete:Use "Delete Permanently" to remove immediately

Deleting Folders:

When you delete a folder, all nested files and subfolders are also moved to trash. You can:

  • • Restore the entire folder structure with all contents
  • • Restore individual files from within deleted folders
  • • Navigate through trash folders to find specific files

Restoring Deleted Items

Recover accidentally deleted files and folders within 24 hours.

Restore Process:

  1. Click the Trash button to view deleted items
  2. Navigate to find the file or folder you want to restore
    💡 Use search to quickly find items in trash
  3. Click the three-dot menu on the item
  4. Select Restore
  5. Item returns to its original location
    ✓ If the original parent folder was deleted, the item restores to the root

Smart Restore Features:

  • • Orphan Protection: If a file's parent folder is deleted, it automatically restores to root
  • • Instant Updates: Restored items appear immediately in the active view
  • • Batch Operations: Restore multiple items one by one as needed

Best Practices

Follow these tips to make the most of your File Library experience.

✓ Do This

  • ✓ Create a logical folder structure that mirrors your workflow
  • ✓ Use descriptive names for files and folders
  • ✓ Regularly review trash to recover important files before they're deleted
  • ✓ Utilize search when working with many files
  • ✓ Keep related files together in folders
  • ✓ Download important files as backups

✗ Avoid This

  • ✗ Don't create too many nested folder levels (keep it simple)
  • ✗ Don't use vague names like "File1" or "Temp"
  • ✗ Don't permanently delete items unless you're absolutely sure
  • ✗ Don't upload duplicate files (use search first)
  • ✗ Don't leave important files in trash
  • ✗ Don't ignore file size limits

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these handy keyboard shortcuts.

Search filesCtrl + F
Create folderCtrl + Shift + N
Upload filesCtrl + U
Go to parent folderBackspace
Toggle trash viewCtrl + T
Switch viewsCtrl + \

Troubleshooting

Common issues and their solutions.

Upload Failed?

• Check file size (must be under limit)

• Verify file format is supported

• Check your internet connection

Can't Find a File?

• Check if it's in trash

• Use the search function

• Verify you're in the correct folder

Accidental Deletion?

• Act quickly - you have 24 hours

• Go to trash and search for the item

• Use restore to recover it

Quick Summary

✓ Organize: Create folders to structure your files logically

✓ Upload: Use drag-and-drop or click to upload single or multiple files

✓ Navigate: Use breadcrumbs to move through folder hierarchies

✓ Search: Find files quickly with the search bar

✓ Views: Toggle between Grid and List views

✓ Operations: Download, preview, rename, and share files

✓ Safety: Trash provides 24-hour recovery window

✓ Restore: Recover deleted items before permanent deletion

Next Steps

Now that you understand File Library, explore these related features:

  • → Learn about RBAC to control who can access your files
  • → Explore Documents for creating rich content
  • → Master Workspaces to organize multiple projects
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