Help:Uploading Images and Files with Moderator Rights

If you have Moderator rights to upload images by yourself, this document will give you the instructions how to do so.

NOTE: If you do not have these rights, you need to submit your images for approval first. See 'Submiting images for approval 'for those instructions.''

Moderator Rights to Upload Files
The Moderator role in the FamilySearch Research Wiki has the ability to upload images and files without going through the approval process. If you are not a Moderator, these steps won't work for you - you will need to submit images for approval.

There are two types of Moderators:


 * 1) Moderators who are long-term Wiki contributors and are given rights to upload their own images.
 * 2) Moderators who answer Wiki Support e-mail for FamilySearch (CSMs) can also upload images that Wiki contributors submit through the Upload File/Image link in the navigation bar under the Volunteer and Helper menu. Click here for the instructions to get started.

Before uploading an image, you must be familiar with the information in the following articles:


 * Image Approval Policies - understand what kinds of images are acceptable in the Wiki
 * Information Template - how to state where the image came from
 * License Templates - how to show what license agreement you are able to publish the image under

Note: You should search through the images in the Wiki to see if one is already in the Wiki.

Steps to Upload Files as a Moderator
To upload images or files (for example, PDF files) directly to the FamilySearch Research Wiki follow these steps: 1. Log into FamilySearch.

2. Under "Tools," in the left navigation sidebar, go to the Tools menu and click on click "Upload file."

3. If you are a moderator, you will be directed to a page titled '''Upload file. '''If you are not a moderator, this option will not be available under the Tools menu.

4. Click "Browse" to locate the image or file on your computer.

5. After clicking on the "Browse" button, a window will open titled "Choose file." Find the file on your computer you want to upload.

6. After clicking the "Open" button, you will be directed back to the Upload File page in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

7. (Optional but recommended:) Change the "Destination Filename" as needed so that the image or file will have the desired title in the Wiki, but DO NOT delete the file extension off of the name. For example, if you are changing the name from Pic123.jpg, you may change the name to Anything.jpg, but the image will not upload if you change the name to Anything. The .jpg or ,png, etc., must be included in the "Destination Filename."

8. After changing the destination filename (if necessary), type in a "Summary" for the image. Include the author's name when possible. Remember, you must have full rights to the image, or it must be under the Creative Commons license or in the public domain to legally add it to the Wiki.

9. In the summary box, you will see the following Wikitext code: 

Fill in the template with the following:


 * Description: Description of the content, (historical) background, and in the case of scientific data, a brief scientific analysis of the media file.
 * Source: Use "Own work" for an original media file. Otherwise, provide the website (with both a link to the page embedding the file and a direct link to the file itself), catalog number, name of institution, book source, etc.
 * Date: Date of creation, or date of publication.
 * Author: Author(s) of the image. If no individual person known use the name of the institution(s) that released the file.
 * Permission:  You can type in "See below" if you are unsure of the template code for your image. Then add the license using the drop down file as described below. See license templates for help on determining the correct license.

10. Change the wording, PUT CATEGORY HERE to the name of the category. If you are unsure of the category, refer to other articles that are similar in content. Or contact us at: [mailto:wikisupport@familysearch.org wikisupport@familysearch.org].

11. Under the summary box is a Licensing drop-down menu for choosing the appropriate license under which the creator/right holder has allowed the image to be used. See Help:License templates for help on determining the correct license.

Note: To attach the image to an article or page, see Help:Adding images to articles.

Using Images and File Description Pages
After you've uploaded a file, you can use it in an article by creating a link to the file. See Help:Images.

Your file gets its very own “File Description Page” within the     namespace of the Wiki. You should edit this page to provide more information about the file. For example, many public Wiki projects are quite sensitive to copyright issues, and so you should explain where you got the file from, and what its copyright status is on the description page. Any other useful descriptive notes could also be added there.

List of Files in the Wiki
There are a number of special pages to help you view and manage files which have been uploaded. Go to “” (in the on the left) and then see:


 * Special:Newimages - If you just uploaded one, you will see it here.
 * Special:Imagelist shows all of the files
 * Special:Unusedimages helps you track down files which might not be needed.

See Help:Special pages for details of the other information available here.

Helps for moderators:

 * Email Template for submissions containing all information
 * Email Template for submissions missing information
 * Email Template for submissions missing licensing information or personal images
 * Image and file approval process
 * Image Policies and Guidelines
 * Information Template
 * License Templates