Import images

The Import Images wizard offers you a way to import images in bulk.

When you import an image, its file name is added to the object's metadata in the originalFileName index and the path relative to its containing map is added to the object's metadata in the originalRelativePath index.

Note: Any document you import is automatically assigned to you.
Important: If you are importing the source file for the image and wish to retain its original extension, make sure that its MIME type is listed in the mimetypes.xml configuration file. If its MIME type is not listed in the configuration file, the extension will be converted to a .bin extension. For example, if you are importing files such as Adobe Illustrator, edit the mimetypes.xml file to include the .ai MIME type. Instructions for editing the mimetypes.xml file are available in the Administration Guide for the CCMS available on the IXIASOFT web site.

When you import an image to replace an image in a multiple resolution image object, all the formats are replaced by the imported image. For example, suppose you have an existing multiple resolution image object containing a high resolution JPEG image and a low resolution PNG image. If you import an image with the same image ID as the existing image object, the high resolution JPEG image and a low resolution PNG image will both be replaced by the imported image.

You can specify the following options when importing images:
Option Description
Import As External

When you import the document, it and its children (if any) are imported into the repository and assigned the Authoring:readonly status.
Update existing documents

When it imports a document, the system determines if this document already exists by checking:

  1. That a document exists in the repository with the same name as the original file name of the imported document.
  2. If a document with the same name exists, and the Use relative path along with file name to match documents to update option is selected, the system also checks that the base path of the imported document also matches the base path of the document in the repository.

If a document already exists and the Update existing documents option is selected, the existing document is updated with the contents of the imported document. If this option is not selected, a new document is created, with a new file name.

Note that, to be updated, the document:

  • Must be in a lockable state (for example Authoring:Draft) unless it is an existing external document (Authoring:readonly).
  • Must not be already locked by another user

When you re-import an external document, this option is always enabled and the existing document and its children (if any) are always updated.
Default language

All documents in the Content Store must have a designated language. If the documents you are importing do not have a language attribute, the system will assign them the language you select from this list. If the document you are importing has children, this language will also be assigned to these children.

You can also set the Override unknown languages with default option. If you select this option, when you import documents that reference a language that’s not configured in your system, the system will replace these values with the default language specified.
Images You need to specify the type and format of the images you are importing.

  • Type is an informative label that is written into the image metadata. Default values are Line Art, Screen Capture, and Equation.

    If an image is labeled Line Art or Screen Capture, the system will automatically designate it as Needing Translation. Images labeled Equation are not designated as needing translation; if these images are part of a map that is sent for localization, the system will automatically promote them to the review state and will not include them in the image localization kit.

    You can set the translation designation for specific images as required once the image has been imported, and the image type may be changed once the image is in the repository.

  • Format may determine the output format of an image, depending on your system setup.
Labels You can assign one or more labels to a document and its children (if any). Labels are added as metadata and improve searchability.
Import options
  Images: Images have unique names If this option is selected and there are two (or more) images with the same file name, then the system imports just one of them (randomly). If you leave this check box empty, then all images are imported, they keep their duplicate titles, and the system assigns unique file names.
Import Base Path: Specifies the base path to use when replacing existing documents.
Important: The filename and base path of the imported object are important when you intend to replace an existing object. See Reimporting the same file into the Content Store for more information.
  1. Select File > Import.
    The Import dialog appears.
  2. Open the DITA CMS folder and select Import Images (DRM).
  3. Click Next.
    The Import Image(s) dialog appears.
    Import images
  4. Click Browse.
    The Open dialog appears.
  5. Navigate to the images, select them, and click Open.
    The selected images appear in the Images to import list.
  6. To import as a read-only object, select the Import As External checkbox.
    Note: As a result of selecting this option, several other features are set to default values and disabled.
  7. To replace existing documents with the contents of the imported documents, select the Update existing documents checkbox. To also use the relative path to match the documents to update, select Use relative path along with file name to match documents to update.
    Important: If you select Use relative path along with file name to match documents to update, you must specify the base path of the imported file in the Import base path box. The base path of the imported file must match the base path of the object in the Content Store (originalRelativePath index).
  8. In the Default language list, choose the language you want set for the file. If you want to overwrite the language attribute set in the imported file with the selected language, select the Override unknown languages with default checkbox.
  9. In the Images options section, choose the type of image in the Type list and the output format in the Format list.
  10. Optional: To assign a label, click Select and add one or more labels. Click OK when done.
  11. Click Next.
  12. Select the Images checkbox to import only one instance of images with the same file name. Clear the checkbox if you want all images imported and assigned unique file names.
  13. In the Import base path box, type the base path to use when replacing existing documents.
  14. Click Next.
    The Select Versions dialog appears.
  15. Do one of the following:
    • To import the image in a product, click the Products tab and then select the product in which to import the image.
    • To import the image in a library, click the Libraries tab and then select the library in which to import the image.
    You can import images in a single product or library only, but you can import them in more than one versions inside the product or the library.
    The releases and versions available for the selected product or library are displayed in the Selected Products/Libraries, Releases, and Versions pane.
  16. In the Selected Products/Libraries, Releases, and Versions pane, select the versions to which you would like to add the imported images.
    Use the filter at the bottom of the pane to filter the versions in the list by release name.
    The Primary Version drop-down list is populated with the list of selected versions.
  17. In the Primary Version list, select the primary version for the images.

    The primary version is the version for which the images were initially created.

  18. Click Finish.