Managing Your File Library
Learn how to view, organize, edit, and delete files in your digital product library.
Accessing Your File Library
Section titled “Accessing Your File Library”- Open the Alva Digital Downloads app
- Click Files & Packs in the navigation menu
- Select the Files tab
File Library Interface
Section titled “File Library Interface”List View
Section titled “List View”The file library displays your files in a searchable, sortable table:
Columns
Section titled “Columns”- Thumbnail: Visual preview of file (icon for non-image files)
- Title: Editable file name
- Type: File extension and MIME type
- Size: File size in MB/GB
- Category: Assigned category (if any)
- Uploaded: Date and time uploaded
- Actions: Edit, Delete, View details buttons
Card View (Optional)
Section titled “Card View (Optional)”Switch to card view for a visual gallery:
- Click the View toggle (top right)
- Select Card View
- Files display as cards with larger thumbnails
Searching Files
Section titled “Searching Files”Quick Search
Section titled “Quick Search”Use the search bar to find files instantly:
- Click the Search field at top of page
- Type filename, category, or file type
- Results filter automatically as you type
Search Tips:
- Search works on file title, filename, and category
- Partial matches work (e.g., “photo” finds “photograph-template.psd”)
- Search is case-insensitive
- Clear search to show all files
Advanced Filtering
Section titled “Advanced Filtering”Filter files by specific criteria:
-
Click Filter button
-
Select filter criteria:
- File Type: Filter by document, image, video, etc.
- Category: Show files in specific category
- Date Range: Filter by upload date
- Size: Filter by file size
-
Apply multiple filters simultaneously
-
Click Clear Filters to reset
Sorting Files
Section titled “Sorting Files”Click column headers to sort:
- Title: Alphabetical (A-Z or Z-A)
- Type: By file extension
- Size: Smallest to largest or reverse
- Date: Newest first or oldest first
Click the same header again to reverse sort order.
Viewing File Details
Section titled “Viewing File Details”Quick View
Section titled “Quick View”Hover over a file to see quick details:
Full Details View
Section titled “Full Details View”- Click the file title or View Details button
- See comprehensive information:
File Details Include:
- Original filename
- Current title
- File size
- Upload date
- Last modified date
- Storage provider (R2/BackBlaze)
- Storage key/path
- MIME type
- Associated products (where this file is mapped)
- Associated packs (which packs include this file)
- Download count (total across all orders)
Editing File Information
Section titled “Editing File Information”Changing File Title
Section titled “Changing File Title”- Click file to open details view
- Click Edit button
- Modify the Title field
- Click Save
OR
- Click the pencil icon next to the file in the list
- Edit inline
- Press Enter to save
Assigning Categories
Section titled “Assigning Categories”- Open file details or edit mode
- Click Category dropdown
- Select a category (or create new)
- Click Save
See Understanding File Categories for more details.
File Details You Cannot Edit
Section titled “File Details You Cannot Edit”These fields are read-only:
- File size
- Upload date
- File type/extension
- Storage location
- Original filename
To change the actual file, you must re-upload it.
Replacing Files
Section titled “Replacing Files”To replace a file while keeping the same product mappings:
Option 1: Delete and Re-upload
Section titled “Option 1: Delete and Re-upload”- Important: Note which products use this file
- Delete the old file
- Upload the new file with the same title
- Re-map to products
⚠️ Warning: This breaks existing download links temporarily.
Option 2: Upload as New Version
Section titled “Option 2: Upload as New Version”- Upload new file with version number in title
- Example:
ebook-template-v2.pdf
- Example:
- Update product mappings to point to new file
- Delete old version when ready
- Existing download links continue working until you remove old file
Recommended: Use Option 2 for critical files to avoid breaking customer access.
Deleting Files
Section titled “Deleting Files”Delete Single File
Section titled “Delete Single File”- Find the file in your library
- Click the Delete button (trash icon)
- Confirm deletion in the dialog
- File is removed from library and storage
What Happens When You Delete
Section titled “What Happens When You Delete”- ✅ File removed from cloud storage
- ✅ Storage quota freed up
- ✅ File removed from all packs
- ⚠️ Product mappings broken (must be updated)
- ⚠️ Existing customer download links will fail
- ❌ File cannot be recovered
Before Deleting, Check:
Section titled “Before Deleting, Check:”-
Product Mappings: Is this file mapped to any products?
- View in file details under “Associated Products”
- Update product mappings before deleting
-
Pack Memberships: Is this file in any packs?
- Check “Associated Packs” in file details
- Remove from packs or delete packs first
-
Active Orders: Do customers still need this file?
- Check recent orders
- Consider keeping files for at least 90 days after last sale
Safe Deletion Process
Section titled “Safe Deletion Process”- Backup: Download a copy locally first
- Check usage: Review associated products and packs
- Update mappings: Replace file in products/packs if needed
- Wait period: Keep for 30 days after removing from products
- Delete: Only delete when certain it’s not needed
Bulk Operations
Section titled “Bulk Operations”Bulk Delete
Section titled “Bulk Delete”- Check boxes next to multiple files
- Bulk Actions button appears
- Select Delete Selected
- Confirm deletion
Bulk Category Assignment
Section titled “Bulk Category Assignment”- Check boxes next to files
- Click Bulk Actions
- Select Assign Category
- Choose category
- Click Apply
File Organization Tips
Section titled “File Organization Tips”Naming Conventions
Section titled “Naming Conventions”Use consistent naming for easy management:
Good Examples:
product-name-file-type-version.extebook-marketing-guide-v2.pdftemplate-invoice-blue-2024.xlsx
Bad Examples:
untitled-1.pdffinal-FINAL-version-3-updated.docxtemp-file.zip
Category Strategy
Section titled “Category Strategy”Organize files into logical categories:
By Product Type:
- eBooks
- Templates
- Stock Photos
- Audio Files
- Video Courses
By Topic:
- Marketing Materials
- Design Assets
- Business Resources
- Educational Content
By Customer Type:
- Beginner Tier
- Pro Tier
- Enterprise Customers
Version Control
Section titled “Version Control”Keep track of file versions:
- Add version numbers to titles
product-name-v1,product-name-v2
- Use dates for time-based versions
template-2024-01,template-2024-02
- Delete old versions periodically
- Document changes in description (if available)
File Library Statistics
Section titled “File Library Statistics”View statistics about your library:
**[Image: File statistics dashboard showing:
- Total Files: 127
- Total Storage: 8.7 GB / 20 GB
- By Type: Documents (45), Images (62), Videos (12), Audio (8)
- Most Downloaded: ebook-template.pdf (234 downloads)]**
Access from:
- Dashboard - Overview stats
- Files & Packs - Detailed breakdowns
- Analytics - Download trends
File Library Maintenance
Section titled “File Library Maintenance”Weekly Maintenance Checklist
Section titled “Weekly Maintenance Checklist”- Review and categorize new uploads
- Delete test files
- Check for duplicates
- Update file titles for clarity
- Archive old versions
Monthly Maintenance Checklist
Section titled “Monthly Maintenance Checklist”- Audit storage usage
- Delete unused files (no product mappings)
- Optimize large files if possible
- Review and update categories
- Check for broken product mappings
Keyboard Shortcuts
Section titled “Keyboard Shortcuts”Speed up file management:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd + F | Focus search |
Ctrl/Cmd + A | Select all files |
Delete | Delete selected files |
Escape | Clear selection |
Arrow Keys | Navigate file list |
Enter | Open file details |
Common File Management Tasks
Section titled “Common File Management Tasks”Find Files Missing Categories
Section titled “Find Files Missing Categories”- Click Filter
- Select No Category
- Assign categories to uncategorized files
Find Large Files Consuming Storage
Section titled “Find Large Files Consuming Storage”- Click Size column header
- Sort largest to smallest
- Review top files for optimization opportunities
Find Unused Files
Section titled “Find Unused Files”- Open file details for each file
- Check “Associated Products” section
- If empty, consider deleting
Pro Tip: Files with no product mappings and no downloads in 90 days are safe to delete.
File Library Limits
Section titled “File Library Limits”Per-Plan Limits
Section titled “Per-Plan Limits”| Plan | Max Files | Max Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Unlimited | 20 GB |
| Basic | Unlimited | 50 GB |
| Pro | Unlimited | 200 GB |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | 1 TB+ |
Note: Number of files is unlimited, but total storage is restricted by plan.
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Understanding File Categories - Organize files better
- Storage Limits & Quotas - Manage storage efficiently
- Creating Packs - Bundle files together