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Advanced Attachments Shortcode

wpForo Advanced Attachments

Last Post by coder 3 weeks ago

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Posts: 18

coder

Customer

Topic starter

Dec 21, 2025 10:56 pm

(@c-s)

Member

Joined: 6 years ago

I posted about Advanced Attachments being a lock-in plugin before. Meaning, you have to keep it activated to retain any previous functionality. The response was that this is because it uses shortcodes to insert the images inline with the post content. For this reason, I have not used the plugin after paying for it and kept using upload form that comes stock with wpForo (limited to one image, displayed at the bottom of the post content).

Instead of inserting shortcode for uploaded images, which completely disappears when the plugin is deactivated for any reason, why can't you just insert the image URL? I want the URL to be there whether the AA plugin is activated or not, then it won't feel so locked-in. This option is actually better because it works well with your wpEmbeds plugin that can display the image from the URL.

If you're not willing to consider this method of displaying AA uploaded images, can you please share how to either:

Disable reliance on the shortcode or provide a function that can display previously uploaded images even when the AA plugin is disabled?

(The concept of AA plugin is great, but the stock upload and AA plugin are two extremes. Just a simple method to upload more than one image without a My Media gallery and all of the other bells and whistles would be even better for some of us. I would happily pay for a less "advanced" attachments plugin!)

4 Replies

Posts: 6589

Astghik

Admin

Dec 23, 2025 12:10 pm

(@astgh)

Illustrious Member

Joined: 8 years ago

Dear coder,

The wpForo Advanced Attachments add-on works only in this way.

We’re sorry, but inserting URLs directly into the content is not the correct solution in this case. The Advanced Attachments add-on allows you to delete attachments, change their width, height, and other settings. When URLs are inserted directly, these changes will not affect the attachments or other post content.

Using the shortcode approach also allows better control over attachment deletion. For example, if an attachment is removed, it will be removed everywhere it is used, without causing any issues.

If you don’t want to repurchase the Advanced Attachments add-on, you don’t need to. You can continue using the current version installed on your website—just keep the existing version activated.

Posts: 18

coder

Customer

Topic starter

Dec 24, 2025 12:15 am

(@c-s)

Member

Joined: 6 years ago

Thanks for the reply. If it isn't the correct solution to just insert the URL of an image, then why does the stock upload basically do just that? And why does your own wpForo Embeds plugin handle just that?

Posted by: @astgh

↑

Using the shortcode approach also allows better control over attachment deletion. For example, if an attachment is removed, it will be removed everywhere it is used, without causing any issues.

Not every situation requires the ability to delete attachments on the front end.

The URL method can still allow attachment deletion on the back end. That's like saying users cannot drop an image URL in the post content from an outside source because it can't be edited or deleted. If you're worried about broken links caused by deleted attachments, that's the site's problem and it can happen any time, it just won't show the image lol.

How often are attachments actually deleted that it's directing the entire design of this plugin? It's not even a good idea to allow for image deletion because it can affect the context of a post. If anything, the entire post would be deleted, not just an image.

Posted by: @astgh

↑

If you don’t want to repurchase the Advanced Attachments add-on, you don’t need to. You can continue using the current version installed on your website—just keep the existing version activated.

Will happily pay and continue paying, but the point is not wanting to continue using a plugin that REQUIRES activation to see previously uploaded content. It's a lock-in plugin whether you continue paying or not and can cause issues for a site when the plugin gets deactivated (all user uploads will disappear 👎 ).

It's clear that you won't listen to users on the image upload/attachment functionality, but it really detracts from usability as an image heavy forum community grows. Just allow the option for simple uploads and not all of the editing/deleting/gallery options if it's not needed.

Thanks for the work you do on all of the plugins. Just want simple non shortcode dependent image uploading in forum posts. No fancy "My Media" gallery.

1 Reply

Astghik

Admin

(@astgh)

Joined: 8 years ago

Illustrious Member

Posts: 6589

Dec 25, 2025 2:45 pm

Reply to

coder

@c-s,

Please note that a license key is required to receive future updates. If your license has expired, it means you're no longer able to get new updates. However, you'll still be able to use the current version of the add-on with all existing functionalities.

Regarding attachment deletion: This feature is only available to high-level users, such as admins, so they can delete spam attachments or files that are not related to the forum content. Regular members are not allowed.

The built-in file attachment system attaches files directly to the post content, which is the simplest method. However, the Advanced Attachment add-on changes attachment URLs and includes a “Secure URL” option that encodes URLs to control attachment visibility for usergroups.

It also provides many options, such as usergroup restrictions for attaching/viewing files and setting width/height. These features only work correctly when using shortcode solutions. Inserting attachments directly into HTML doesn’t provide the same flexibility.

Posts: 18

coder

Customer

Topic starter

Dec 26, 2025 11:03 pm

(@c-s)

Member

Joined: 6 years ago

Thanks for the reply.

Posted by: @astgh

↑

This feature is only available to high-level users, such as admins, so they can delete spam attachments or files that are not related to the forum content.

This can be done in the backend dashboard just as well.

Posted by: @astgh

↑

Advanced Attachment add-on changes attachment URLs and includes a “Secure URL” option that encodes URLs to control attachment visibility for usergroups

This is a great feature for those who need it.

Posted by: @astgh

↑

setting width/height. These features only work correctly when using shortcode solutions. Inserting attachments directly into HTML doesn’t provide the same flexibility.

Can be done with CSS just like how I'm handling the standard uploads currently.

Why not just use the Wordpress upload/management for the standard version image handling? This forum plugin is excellent, if not the best, but better image handling is all that it is missing and it's ruining the experience for users.

You can't please everyone and you already put time and money into developing Advanced Attachments, but sometimes it's worth looking into ways to improve. Either allow more uploads in the stock setup without a lock-in plugin, or create a less advanced paid plugin without the bells and whistles, or have options in Advanced Attachments to reduce functionality.

At the very least if you won't make changes, can you provide a function that can unwrap the images from shortcode dependency and insert image URLs (to be rendered by wpForo Embeds).

Thank you for your replies and hard work.