Zip Files

When creating your email campaigns it may be necessary for you to work with zipped files. Zipping a file creates a compressed version of the file that is significantly smaller than the original. You can zip a single file to reduce the file size, or it is possible to compress a folder of files to create a single zipped file.

On this page:

Reasons for Using Zip Files

The Adestra File Manager allows you to upload and work with zipped files for use in your campaigns. There are two main reasons you might need to use zip files:

  • If you have large CSV files you can zip them to reduce their size and decrease their upload time
  • To zip email templates and their accompanying images into a single file to upload them all at once

Before Zipping

Before you zip your templates it is important to make sure that the images are referenced properly.

The image URLs within the template are likely to be either absolute URLs or relative URLs.

Absolute URLs

Absolute URLs point to a webserver and will include a domain with the image path, for example:

http://example.examplesite.com/files/amf_docs/user_5/example_image.jpg

If your template only contains absolute URLs, you will only need to upload the template.

Relative URLs

If your email template was built in a HTML editor (e.g. Dreamweaver, FrontPage etc.) it will likely contain relative URLs, for example:

<img src="images/logo.jpg">

These will be relative to the current location of the HTML image file. So this means that the HTML and the images must be kept together. If the images are moved relative to the HTML, the URLs in the HTML will need to be updated with the new location.

For example the image tag above would refer to an image in a folder structure like this:

If you change the structure or move the images out of the images directory, the URL will be incorrect and will not work when uploaded.

Generally speaking, with absolute or relative URLs, you can check they work by double-clicking them to see if the images work in your browser. If you then zip the files correctly, they should work when unzipped in Adestra. During the upload, Adestra will automatically rewrite the relative URLs to absolute URLs, and host the images on our webserver.

Other URL types, for example those beginning file:/// are likely to refer to your computer or something on your local network which will not be accessible anywhere else and will not work when uploaded.

Once you are happy that the all of the images are referenced correctly, you are ready to zip your files.

Zipping Files

The process of zipping files will vary depending on the system you are using. This example will shows how to zip files using Windows 7.

When you come to zip your files, you will need to select both files.

Right-click on the files to open the menu and select 'Send to', then 'Compressed (zipped) folder'.

The zipped file will be created with a .zip extension. You may wish to rename the file so it can be easily identified in the File Manager. This example shows the zip file with the name of the campaign the files will be used in.

Uploading Zipped Files

To upload files you will need to log into Adestra and select the workspace or project the files will be used in. You can access the File Manager via the 'Files' tab in the header at the top of the screen.

Note: The Adestra platform will not accept files above 50MB, files without an extension, or potentially dangerous files (such as an executable .exe).

When uploading files you can either select the 'Upload file' button to browse for the zip file, or you can drag and drop the file from your computer onto the File Manager area to upload it.

Once the zip file has been uploaded, select the file and click the 'Unzip' button.

You will be required to select a domain, and this domain will be used to make any images publicly available online.

The folder will now be available for you to click on to access the image and HTML files.

Uploading and unzipping CSV files works in exactly the way as this, including the requirement to select a domain.

Using Files

The files are now stored within Adestra for use in your campaigns. For help adding content to your campaign, refer to the Campaign Overview topic.