Asset Manager Setup Tutorial

The Asset Manager app allows you to organize and manage all your digital assets like images in one centralized location. This app helps you keep all your media files organized for easy access when building your website and managing your business apps.

Note: Setting up Asset Manager is optional but highly recommended if you want to organize your media files efficiently across all your apps.

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What You'll Learn

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to:

• Understand what the Asset Manager is and why it's important
• Access the Asset Manager app from your dashboard
• Navigate between public and private folders
• Browse different folder categories
• Upload files to specific folders
• View and manage your uploaded assets
• Delete files when no longer needed
• Search for specific folders
• Best practices for asset organization

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Understanding Asset Manager

What is the Asset Manager?

The Asset Manager is your centralized media library in Solodoer. It automatically organizes all images you upload across different apps into structured folders, making it easy to find and reuse assets.

Key Features:

• Automatic Organization - Files are automatically saved to appropriate folders
• Public and Private Folders - Separate organization for different visibility levels
• Centralized Storage - All media files in one location
• Easy Access - Browse and search for files quickly
• Reusable Assets - Use the same image across multiple apps

Public vs Private Folders

Public Folders:

Assets stored in public folders are associated with content that may be displayed on your website:

• Content Section - Images from Hero Section, Who We Are, Why Choose Us, How We Work
• Services - Service images and gallery photos
• Clients - Client photos and company logos
• Projects - Project showcase images and galleries
• Others (Public) - General public images not specific to other categories

Private Folders:

Assets stored in private folders for general use:

• Others (Private) - General private images not specific to other categories

Why is Asset Manager Important?

• Organization - Keep all media files structured and easy to find
• Efficiency - Quickly locate images when creating or updating content
• Storage Management - View all uploaded files in one place
• Reusability - Reuse images across different apps without re-uploading
• File Control - Delete unused files to free up storage
• Consistency - Maintain consistent image quality across your website

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Before You Begin

To complete this tutorial, you should have:

1. A business created in Solodoer
2. Access to your business dashboard at www.solodoer.com/dashboard
3. Images ready to upload (optional)
   • Supported formats: PNG, JPEG
   • Maximum file size: 1MB per file
   • Recommended size: 800x600 pixels or larger

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Accessing the Asset Manager App

To access the Asset Manager:

1. Log in to your Solodoer Dashboard
2. Find your business card on the dashboard
3. Click the "Manage Apps" button on your business card
4. You'll be redirected to Manage Apps page
5. Click on the "Asset Manager" card to open the app
6. You'll be redirected to Asset Manager page

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Understanding the Asset Manager Interface

Main Navigation

When you open the Asset Manager, you'll see:

Header Section:

• Title - "Asset Manager"
• Subtitle - "Manage your Assets (Image, Videos, Documents)"
• Upload File Button - Click to upload new files to the current folder
• Back Button - Return to Manage Apps

Folder View (Default):

• Public Folders Tab - View public folder categories
• Private Folders Tab - View private folder categories
• Search Input - Search for specific folders by name

File View (Inside a Folder):

• Breadcrumb Navigation - Shows current folder path
• Back Button - Return to folder list
• File Grid - Displays all files in the current folder

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Step 1: Browsing Public Folders

Public folders contain images used in your website's public-facing content.

Accessing Public Folders

1. On the Asset Manager page, you'll see two tabs
2. The "Public Folders" tab is selected by default
3. You'll see a grid of folder cards representing different app categories

Available Public Folders

Content Section Folder:

• Contains images from your Hero Section, Who We Are, Why Choose Us, and How We Work sections
• Automatically populated when you upload images in the Content Sections app

Services Folder:

• Contains service images (primary media and media gallery)
• Automatically populated when you upload images in the Services app

Clients Folder:

• Contains client photos and company logos
• Automatically populated when you upload images in the Clients app

Projects Folder:

• Contains project showcase images and galleries
• Automatically populated when you upload images in the Projects app

Others (Public) Folder:

• Contains general public images not specific to other categories
• Use for miscellaneous public assets

Navigating Folders

1. Click on any folder card to open it
2. The folder will display all files uploaded to that category
3. If the folder is empty, you'll see "No Files here" with a message to upload files

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Step 2: Browsing Private Folders

Private folders contain images for internal use that are not displayed on your public website.

Accessing Private Folders

1. On the Asset Manager page, click the "Private Folders" tab
2. You'll see a grid of folder cards for private content

Available Private Folders

Others (Private) Folder:

• Contains general private images not specific to other categories
• Use for miscellaneous private assets

Switching Between Public and Private

1. Click the "Public Folders" tab to view public folders
2. Click the "Private Folders" tab to view private folders
3. The search input will automatically clear when switching tabs

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Step 3: Uploading Files

You can upload files directly to any folder in the Asset Manager.

Starting the Upload

1. Click the "Upload File" button in the header
2. The Upload Asset Dialog will open

Upload Process (3 Steps)

The upload process has three steps:

Step 1: Choose File (Dropzone)

1. You'll see a dropzone area with "Click to upload or drag and drop files"
2. Option A: Click the dropzone to select a file from your computer
3. Option B: Drag and drop a file directly onto the dropzone
4. Supported formats: PNG or JPEG, max 1MB
5. After selecting, you'll automatically move to the next step

Step 2: Edit Image (Optional)

1. After selecting a file, you'll see an Image Editor
2. You can:
   • Crop the image
   • Rotate or adjust the image
   • Undo/redo changes
3. Click "Next" to proceed to review
4. Or click "Back" to select a different file

Step 3: Review and Upload

1. Review your file details:
   • File preview (thumbnail)
   • Filename
   • File size
2. Select Visibility from dropdown:
   • Public - File will be saved to public folders
   • Private - File will be saved to private folders
3. Select Folder from dropdown:
   • Choose which specific folder to save the file to
   • Folder options change based on the visibility you selected
   • If you opened the dialog from inside a folder, it may be pre-selected
4. Click "Upload" button to start the upload
5. During upload, you'll see upload progress percentage
6. Click "Back" to return to the image editor if needed

After Upload

• After successful upload, the dialog will close automatically
• Your new files will appear in the selected folder
• Navigate to that folder to view your uploaded files

Upload Requirements:

• File Format - PNG or JPEG only
• File Size - Maximum 1MB per file
• Image Quality - Use high-resolution images for best results

Upload Tips:

• Compress large images before uploading
• Use the image editor to crop or adjust before uploading
• Select the correct visibility (Public/Private)
• Choose the appropriate folder for organization
• Verify image quality before uploading
• Keep file sizes under 1MB for faster loading

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Step 4: Viewing Your Assets

Once files are uploaded, you can view and manage them in the folder view.

Asset File Card Display

Each file is displayed as a card showing:

• Image Thumbnail - Preview of the uploaded image
• Delete Button - Three-dot menu with delete option
• File Information - Automatic display of the image

Browsing Files

1. Open any folder to view its contents
2. Scroll through the grid of file cards
3. Files are displayed in a responsive grid layout

Navigating Back

To return to the folder list:

1. Click the Back Button with the folder visibility name (e.g., "Public Folders")
2. You'll return to the folder grid view
3. The page will scroll to the top automatically

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Step 5: Managing Your Assets

Deleting a File

To remove a file from Asset Manager:

1. Navigate to the folder containing the file
2. Find the file card you want to delete
3. Click the three-dot menu icon on the card
4. Select "Delete" from the dropdown menu
5. A Delete Dialog will appear showing the asset details
6. Review the asset information
7. Click "Yes, I'm sure" to permanently delete

Warning: Deleting a file is permanent and cannot be undone.

Important Notes:

• Only unused assets can be deleted - You cannot delete files that are currently in use
• If a file is used in any app (Services, Projects, Clients, Content Sections, etc.), the delete option will be disabled or deletion will fail
• To delete a file that's in use, first remove it from all apps where it's being used, then delete from Asset Manager
• Duplicate or unused files can be deleted freely
• Files uploaded by mistake (and not yet used) can be deleted immediately

Loading More Files

If a folder contains many files:

1. Scroll to the bottom of the file grid
2. Additional files will be loaded and displayed
3. Continue scrolling until all files are shown

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Step 6: Searching for Folders

Use the search feature to quickly find specific folders.

Using Folder Search

1. On the folder view (not inside a folder), locate the Search Input field
2. Type the folder name you're looking for
3. Results will filter as you type
4. If no folders match, you'll see a "No Results" message

Search Tips:

• Search works on folder titles (e.g., "Services", "Clients", "Projects")
• Search is case-insensitive
• Partial matches are supported
• Search clears when switching between Public and Private tabs

Clearing Search

1. Delete the text in the search input
2. Or click the clear button (if available)
3. All folders will be displayed again

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Best Practices

File Organization

Keep Files Organized:

• Let the system automatically organize files into appropriate folders
• Upload files from within specific apps when possible (Services, Projects, etc.)
• Only upload directly to Asset Manager if needed for multiple uses

File Quality:

• Upload high-quality images (minimum 800x600 pixels)
• Compress images to stay under 1MB
• Use PNG for graphics with transparency
• Use JPEG for photos and complex images

Storage Management

Regular Cleanup:

• Review Asset Manager quarterly
• Delete unused or outdated files
• Remove duplicate images
• Replace low-quality files with better versions

Before Deleting:

• Verify file is not used in any app
• Check Services, Projects, Clients, etc.
• Replace file first if it's in use, then delete old version
• Keep backups of important files outside Solodoer

Efficient Uploads:

• Upload files when creating content in specific apps
• Use the Media Dialog in each app for automatic organization
• Only upload directly to Asset Manager for files used in multiple places
• Avoid uploading the same image multiple times

Image Guidelines

Quality Standards:

• Minimum resolution: 800x600 pixels
• Maximum file size: 1MB
• Clear, professional images
• Proper lighting and composition

Consistency:

• Use similar styles across all images
• Maintain consistent color schemes
• Use the same aspect ratios when possible
• Create a cohesive visual identity

Optimization:

• Compress images before uploading
• Remove unnecessary metadata
• Crop to appropriate dimensions
• Use web-optimized formats

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Understanding Automatic Organization

How Files Are Organized

When you upload images in other apps (Services, Projects, Clients, etc.), they are automatically saved to the corresponding folder in Asset Manager:

Content Sections App → Content Section Folder

Services App → Services Folder

Clients App → Clients Folder

Projects App → Projects Folder

Images uploaded directly in Asset Manager go to Others (Public) or Others (Private) folders depending on the selected folder

Benefits of Automatic Organization

• No Manual Sorting - Files automatically go to the right place
• Easy to Find - Know exactly where to look for specific images
• Consistent Structure - Same organization across all businesses
• Reduced Errors - Less chance of misplacing files
• Time Saving - No need to manually organize uploads

Reusing Files

Since all files are centralized in Asset Manager:

1. Upload an image once in any app
2. Find it in the corresponding Asset Manager folder
3. Reuse it in other apps without re-uploading
4. Update once to change everywhere (if same file is used)

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Cannot Upload Files

Possible Causes:

• File size exceeds 1MB
• Unsupported file format
• Internet connection issues
• Browser compatibility problems

Solutions:

1. Ensure file is under 1MB (compress if needed)
2. Use only PNG or JPEG formats
3. Check your internet connection
4. Try a different browser
5. Clear browser cache and cookies
6. Refresh the page and try again

Issue: Folder is Empty

Error: "No Files here" message in folder

Solutions:

1. Upload files directly using the "Upload File" button
2. Or upload files in the corresponding app (e.g., Services app → Services folder)
3. Verify you're in the correct folder
4. Check if files are in Public vs Private folders
5. Refresh the page

Issue: Cannot Delete File

Possible Causes:

• File is currently in use in an app
• Internet connection lost
• Permission issues

Solutions:

1. Check where the file is used (Services, Projects, etc.)
2. Remove file from apps before deleting from Asset Manager
3. Or replace the file in apps with a different image first
4. Ensure you have proper permissions
5. Refresh the page and try again

Issue: Cannot Find a Folder

Possible Causes:

• Looking in wrong visibility tab (Public vs Private)
• Search filter is active
• Folder doesn't exist for your business

Solutions:

1. Check both Public and Private Folders tabs
2. Clear the search input to see all folders
3. Verify the app exists (some folders only appear after using specific apps)
4. Refresh the page

Issue: Files Not Loading

Possible Causes:

• Internet connection issues
• Too many files in folder
• Browser cache problems

Solutions:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Click the "Load More" button to load additional files
3. Refresh the page
4. Clear browser cache
5. Try a different browser

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Next Steps

Congratulations! You now know how to use the Asset Manager to organize and manage your media files in Solodoer.

Continue Building Your Website

The Asset Manager works seamlessly with all other Solodoer apps:

• Content Sections Tutorial - Upload section images
• Services Tutorial - Add service media
• Clients Tutorial - Upload client photos
• Projects Tutorial - Showcase project images

Optimize Your Asset Management

1. Regular Maintenance - Review and clean up files quarterly
2. Quality Control - Maintain consistent image quality
3. Storage Awareness - Monitor and manage file sizes
4. Backup Important Files - Keep copies outside Solodoer

Additional Resources

• Getting Started Guide - Complete overview of Solodoer

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Need Help?

If you're having trouble with the Asset Manager or have questions:

• Contact Us: www.solodoer.com/contact-us
• Help Tutorials: View all tutorials

Our support team is here to help you succeed!

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Related Tutorials: Content Sections | Services | Projects