Manual: Media Pool

In a media pool, image, audio & video files can be stored and administered for repeated use. Since media pools are usually only visible to course and group administrators and tutors, it is not suitable for playback or sharing media with members. Use other items like the "Video (Opencast Series)" for this purpose (see Item description, Manual: Opencast Serie).

1. Create a media pool

	Click on «Add New Item»
	Select «Media Pool».
	Give the media pool a «Title».
	Click on «Add Media Pool».

2. Adjust the settings of the media pool

	Go to the «Settings» tab.
	If you want all your media objects to be automatically resized to a fixed size (see 4.2 Adjust the size of a media object), when you upload them, you can define the default height and width. Automatic resizing only works for single media uploads, not for bulk uploads (see 3.2 Upload media).
	Under «Tile Image» you can upload a tile image for the media pool. This will be displayed in the container object (course, group or folder) in which the media pool is located if the «Tile View» is activated for this container (see also Manual: Course, Manual: Group, Manual: Folder). When inserting images, please follow the recommended image sizes (see Notes on image sizes on ILIAS). When you update a tile image, the container object may continue to display the old tile image because it is stored in the browser cache. To see the new tile image, you have to delete the browser cache: Firefox Google Safari Microsoft Edge
	«Save» your settings.

3. Create objects

Create a folder structure

	Go to the «Content» tab.
	Click on «Create Folder».
	Give the folder a «Title».
	Click «Save». Repeat the process until you have created the desired folder structure. You can also nest folders. You can view the folder structure of your media pool as a tree view by opening the «Tools» menu (top left corner).

Upload media

	Go to the «Content» tab and, if necessary, to the desired target folder.
	You have two options for uploading media: Upload a single medium: Click «Create Media Object» and then «Select File». Select the file you want and click on «Save». Upload multiple media at once (max. 20): Click «Bulk Upload». Drag & Drop the files into the outlined box or click «Select the files from your computer». Then click «Upload».

Create content snippets

	Go to the «Content» tab and, if necessary, to the desired target folder.
	Click on «Create Content Snippet».
	Give the snippet a «Title».
	Click «Save». This opens the page editor, with which you can design the content snippet (see Manual: Page Editor). The title of the content snippet appears as a heading in edit mode. However, it is not displayed when the content snippet is added to a page.

4. Adjust the settings of a media object

Update or replace a media object

	Go to the «Content» tab.
	In the «Actions» column, click «Edit» for the corresponding media object.
	Click «Select File» and select the current version or new file. If full-screen view is enabled for the media object where it is embedded in a page, you have to select the «Use the same resource as above» option under «Full Screen» and «Ressource» before saving. Otherwise, the earlier version is displayed in full screen.
	«Save» your settings.

Adjust the size of a media object

	Go to the «Content» tab.
	In the «Actions» column, click «Edit» for the corresponding media object.
	Choose one of the two options under «Size»: «Original Resource Size / No Size Declaration»: The image size adjusts to the available space on the page. «Fixed Size»: Enter the preferred display size for the image. If you want all your media objects to be automatically resized to a fixed size when uploading, you can define the default height and width in the settings (see 2. Adjust the settings of the media pool). To give your image your desired maximum size while keeping it responsive, you can enter a «Fixed Size» and additionally select the «Resize Image File» option. After you have saved your changes, switch back to «Original Resource Size».
	«Save» your settings.

Link an image area

	Go to the «Content» tab.
	In the «Actions» column, click «Edit» for the corresponding media object.
	Go to the «Default Link Areas» tab.
	Under «Shape», select whether the entire image or only a section in the form of a rectangle, circle or polygon should be linked and click «Add Area». Rectangle: First, select the upper left corner and then the lower right corner of the desired linked area. Circle: First, mark the center and then the radius of the desired linked area. Polygon: First, mark the start point and then the necessary number of corner points of the desired linked area.
	Choose whether you want to set an external or internal link and enter the URL (external) or select the desired ILIAS target object (internal).
	Give the link a «Title».
	Click «Save».
	You can choose whether and how to highlight the linked area on the image: never («None») when «Hover»ing «Always» «Accented» (red frame) «Light» (white frame) «Dark» (black frame)
	«Save» your settings.
	To delete or change a link, select the corresponding link, choose the desired option from the drop-down menu, and click «Execute».

5. Add objects from a media pool to a page

6. Application scenarios