Downloads and Member Only Files

The Wordpress Downloads Plugin allows you to upload files into categories you specify, then add them to pages and posts for visitors to download. Include product brochures, manuals and other documents on your website for your customers to download, saves you time, adds value to your products and improves customer service.

Why not add your:

• Forms
• Rules and Regulations
• Product Manuals
• Brochures & Flyers
• Vouchers & Specials Sheets
• Tips and Tricks
• Instructions
• Sample Pages
• Certificates and Awards
• Itineraries

This article will cover uploading files, displaying them on your website and turning them into member-only downloads.

Uploading Your Files

1. Download the Downloads Plugin
2. Activate the plugin inside your Wordpress admin
3. (You will see a new Downloads section appear on the bottom left of your admin nav bar)
4. Setup categories for your download files under Configuration/Download Categories
5. Click on Add New to upload a file
6. Give your file a title, add the month and year under version, choose your file and select a category from the drop-down
7. Click the Upload and Save button at the bottom

Displaying Your Files

1. Inside Wordpress admin, go to the page or post where you would like your files to display.
2. Alternatively Add a new page called “Downloads” or “Media Library” or “Brochures” etc
3. To insert an entire category into your page, click on HTML view (see screenshot above).
4. Choose the category from the dropdown Downloads box to show a list of all the files in that category.
5. Save and publish or update your page.
6. You can also add individual downloads and upload files directly from a page using the downwards pointing arrow in the Add media section of a page or post.

Member Only Files

When you add files to your Downloads Manager, you have the option to set them up as member only files just by ticking the Member only files box. This means only registered website users can download them. There are several ways to achieve this…

1. Add New Users yourself inside your Wordpress admin and email each user with their login username and passwords. (Read my article about adding users…) This option would work well if you were charging for membership.
2. Add a generic new user and email details to all your members or include these details on the page people see when they signup to your email newsletter (Read my article about customising your newsletter templates…) This option could also work if you were charging for membership.
3. Have a login/register box on your sidebar or a link on your Downloads page so visitors can register themselves. For this option to work, you need to go to Settings inside Wordpress and tick the Anyone Can Subscribe box. Set the drop down box to subscriber. The link to your login page will typically look like this http://www.nzroses.org.nz/wp-login.php

Example Downloads Pages