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Free Plugin by Spencer Piontkowski v0.6.0

Attachment Importer

Import attachments from another WordPress blog using a WXR file.

Attachment Importer

The facts

Rating
4.3★ from 26
Active installs
3k+
Price
Free
Last updated
25 Sep 2014
Added
Feb 2014
Requires WP
3.0
Tested up to
WP 4.0.38
Downloads
46,950

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Attachment Importer is a WordPress plugin designed to facilitate the import of large attachments, such as images, from WXR files. It is particularly useful for users who find that the standard WordPress Importer struggles with larger files, often timing out during the process. This plugin allows you to select a user to own the imported images and runs the import using AJAX for individual uploads.

The plugin requires that you first import your WXR file without selecting the option to download and import attachments. Once set up, it can handle imports efficiently, although the time taken will vary depending on the server hosting your WordPress site.

Best for: This plugin suits users needing to import large media files from other WordPress sites.

What it does well

  • Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
  • Specifically designed for importing large attachments
  • Utilises AJAX for individual uploads
  • Allows selection of the image owner during import
  • Handles errors by ignoring duplicates

Where it falls short

  • Last updated in September 2014, may not be compatible with newer WordPress versions
  • Limited information on support or updates
  • Performance may vary based on server conditions

Verdict

Attachment Importer can be a practical solution for users facing challenges with large attachments during blog migrations, but its age may raise concerns about compatibility and support.

From the developer

Spencer Piontkowski's own description of Attachment Importer, lightly tidied.

What is this?

I found the WordPress Importer plugin is good for importing posts and comments, but is lacking when it comes to importing large attachments (like images) from large sites. My import would often time out and crash. I wrote this plugin to help with my own blog migrations, but I hope you find it useful too.

Usage

  1. As a prerequisite, import your WXR file using the WordPress importer, but do not select the option to Download and Import Attachments. I have found that an import file up to 15MB big will work as long as you don’t import attachments.
  2. Navigate to the Attachment Importer screen.
  3. Select your WXR export file.
  4. Select the user you would like to be the owner of the downloaded images. Default: current user.
  5. Sit back and let the importer run. The process can take as little as 10 seconds for 10 images, or about two hours for 2000 images. These times depend on the server that hosts your WordPress site.
  6. If you receive any errors during the process, try running the file again after it finishes. The plugin is programmed to ignore files that match the following criteria:
    • Same name
    • Same file name
    • Same upload date
    • Same file size

How it works.

This plugin uses FileReader and to parse the XML file in the browser, then uses ajax to request WordPress perform individual uploads.

License

Attachment Importer – A plugin for WordPress to import attachments from another blog using a WXR file.
Copyright (C) 2014 Toasted Lime

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.

The license and copyright applies to all resources bundled with this plugin, except as noted below:

Portions of this plugin use code from:

  • WordPress Importer which is distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL v2, Copyright (C) 2013 wordpressdotorg.
  • jQuery UI Smoothness Theme which is distributed under the terms of MIT License, Copyright (C) 2014 jQuery Foundation and other contributors.

Changeset

0.6.0

Read the full description on the official page →

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