Description
When you update a price list, catalog or PDF guide, the links you already sent by email, in ads or on social media still point to the old copy. This plugin turns an existing Media Library file into a Document. Each new version you upload replaces the file at its current address, so links you already shared serve the new content.
It is aimed at PDF price lists and guides, but works with any file type WordPress lets you upload, including DOCX and XLSX.
Features
- Create a Document from any Media Library file.
- Replace the file in place: its existing address serves each new version.
- Version history with an optional note per version. Users who manage the Document can download previous versions and restore any of them.
- Previous versions are kept in a separate uploads folder under random file names and do not appear in the Media Library.
- A short permanent link (
/docs/your-document, prefix configurable) that always points to the current file. The plugin warns when the prefix clashes with an existing page, post type or taxonomy. - Media Library files that are Documents are marked, and other files get a “Create Document” action.
A note on caching
If your site uses a cache or a CDN, clear it after uploading a new version. Otherwise some visitors may still get the old file for a while.
Privacy
The current file is public, like any file in your Media Library. Use Versilink for documents you share openly, such as price lists and guides, not for private files.
Old versions are stored under random file names that cannot be guessed. On Apache they are also blocked by an .htaccess file; nginx ignores that file.
Screenshots
Installation
- Upload the plugin to
/wp-content/plugins/, or install it through the Plugins screen. - Activate the plugin.
- In the Media Library, use the “Create Document” action on a file, or open the new “Documents” screen to manage Documents and their permanent link prefix.
FAQ
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What happens to the file’s original Media Library address?
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It keeps working. Uploading a new version writes the new content to the same physical file, so any link to the original address (and the Document’s own permanent link) serves the current version.
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What if I upload a file of a different type, like a DOCX replacing a PDF?
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The Document’s current file moves to a new address in the same folder, and the old address is frozen: it keeps serving the last file of the old type instead of updating further. The plugin shows a warning when this happens and lists the frozen address on the Document.
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Is there a file size limit?
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New versions use the same upload limit as the Media Library, which is set by your host. The limit is shown next to the upload field.
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Does deleting a Document delete the file?
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No. Deleting a Document on its screen removes its version history and stored previous versions, but the Media Library file stays untouched. Documents cannot be moved to Trash, because that would break their permanent link. Permanently deleting the Media Library file, on the other hand, deletes the Document and its history too; the plugin warns about this before you confirm.
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Why is the permanent link a redirect?
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So it always opens the current file. We use a temporary (302) redirect because browsers remember a permanent (301) one and could keep opening an old file.
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What happens if I deactivate or uninstall the plugin?
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Deactivated: permanent links stop working until you activate the plugin again.
Uninstalled: Documents, version history, settings and old versions are deleted. Your Media Library files stay, with the latest version.
Reviews
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Contributors & Developers
“Versilink – Replace PDFs Without Breaking Links” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
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Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
0.1.0
- Initial release.