Register External Media

Registers externally added uploads in the WordPress Media Library, with thumbnail generation and optional Real Media Library / Real Physical Media integration.

Current release target: v1.3.1

What It Does

• Registers files added externally to watched wp-content/uploads/ subfolders.
• Generates native WordPress attachment metadata and thumbnails for supported file types.
• Detects changed source files and missing thumbnail metadata for existing plugin-managed attachments.
• Removes stale Media Library records when watched source files no longer exist on disk.
• Optionally mirrors folder organization into Real Media Library and works alongside Real Physical Media.

What It Does Not Require

• Real Media Library is optional.
• Real Physical Media is optional.
• Without them, the plugin still works as a standard WordPress external-media registrar.

Installation

1. Download the latest release zip from GitHub Releases.
2. In WordPress Admin, open Plugins -> Add New -> Upload Plugin.
3. Upload the release zip and activate the plugin.
4. Open Tools -> Register External Media.
5. Configure watched folders and run a scan.

Scan Modes

• Run Scan Now: Incremental scan of watched folders whose filesystem state changed since the last successful pass.
• Re-check Watched Folders: Forced full pass over all watched folders and nested subfolders.

RML / RPM Integration

• With no RML or RPM installed, the plugin still registers and maintains external files as standard WordPress media.
• With RML installed, registered files can be assigned into matching logical RML folders.
• With RPM installed, the plugin continues to use the native WordPress media pipeline and stays compatible with RPM-driven physical path handling.

Known Boundaries

• Originals whose filename already ends with a WordPress-style size suffix such as -500x500 are treated as thumbnails and skipped.
• Changing thumbnail-size definitions alone does not trigger a retroactive rebuild for already healthy attachments.
• If another system leaves a real file in a watched folder after deleting only its attachment record, the plugin can register that file again on a later scan.
• Automatic RPM physical reorganization should not be used as the ownership model for the same folders that act as watched external source folders.

Repository Layout

• register-external-media: Deployable WordPress plugin folder.
• CHANGELOG.md: Release history and release-note source.
• .gitignore: Repository-level ignores for generated archives and local workspace files.

Release Policy

• Source code lives in the repository.
• The current installable zip is also kept in the repository root for direct handoff and instance parity.
• The root README is the primary project documentation page for stakeholders.
• The plugin folder remains deployable and uncluttered.