Due to the way web servers work, not all file names are valid. #
If your images or documents are uploading to your website, but are not showing in your content, then it is probably due to unsuitable file names.
As a guide
- File names should only contain standard lower and upper case letters, numbers and dashes.
- Do not use any other characters.
- No colons, slashes, spaces, commas, ampersands, apostrophes, question and exclamation marks, copyright symbols etc.
- Avoid accented letters such as á ü
- Make names short but descriptive.
- Don’t use all-caps
This is a bad and faulty image file name
1Gem-Adams,bathroom,neutral,Resene-Whitewash+Colins-Wicket+Eght-Stonewashed+Rice-Cake+Hf-Stone-Age+Rococco+Swiss-Caramel,photo-Wendy-Fenwick-LS-copy.jpg
This is a good and working image file name
resene-paints-red.jpg
File names also affect the usability and SEO of your website, especially if they are visible as can be the case with PDF downloads.
This is a bad PDF file name
130419 ATTACHMENT2 -Forum_Partnering&Sponsoring Packages_v4 (Sue’s) v1(1).pdf
This is a more appropriate name
Forum-Partnering-and-Sponsorship-Packages.pdf
Renaming Files
It is very common to find ampersands (&) and apostrophes, as well as irrelevant text, especially in PDF filenames. Check and rename your files before you upload.
- On a Windows PC, press F2, or right-click the file then select Rename.
- On an Apple Mac, select the file and press Return.
- In either case, the name will become highlighted, allowing you to type a new name.
File type extensions
File extensions such as .pdf and .jpg should not be changed when renaming a file. Doing so will cause the file to become un-usable.
If you need to convert a file to another type, you must use a program such as Photoshop or Word to do so.
