Available Connections and Management
At the top of the Asset Explorer is the connection carousel. The Unified Search icon sits first, and the icons for each of your connected systems follow it. Choose Unified Search to search across all connected sources at once. Choose a connected system’s icon to see only that system’s content in the panel and search within it.
Next to Unified Search, your connected systems (like a DAM, PIM, MAM or cloud storage system) sit side by side in the carousel.
Brand Connector tells you when a connection has expired, and it's easier to spot. The connection's icon is framed in red in the carousel. To fix it, click the gear icon at the top right and choose the Manage integrations option. The expired connection shows in red there with a refresh button. Click the button to reconnect.
In Manage integrations, you can also:
- Rename a connection
- See the connection's info
- Move a connection up or down
- Delete a connection
You can also add new connections from Manage integrations.
Searching for Files
Just below the connection carousel, you'll find a search bar. Type in a keyword and it will help you find files fast. You can also use the Search Parameters button at the left side of the search bar to restrict your search to a specific folder, so you only see results from that folder.
There's also a handy filter called Pre-Search, which narrows results down by category so you find things even quicker.
Note: This Pre-Search option isn't available for every connected system.
Viewing and Organizing Assets
Just below the search bar, you'll find all the folders and files from your connected system. You can switch between a list view and a grid view, and use filters to sort files the way you like.
Each file shows helpful information like its name, the source system it belongs to, its file type, and whether it's locked.
For folders, you can:
- Add the folder to your Favorites
- Add the folder to a Space
- Delete the folder
- Add files from your local device to the folder
- Add assets placed in your document to the folder. You can add a single asset or the whole page, in different file formats (.png, .svg, and more).
For files, you can:
- Add the file to your Favorites
- Add the file to a Space
- Lock the file
- Delete the file
- Update the file, either from the host application or from your file system
Metadata: Understand and Use Asset Details
Click a file to select it. A details panel opens at the bottom of Brand Connector and shows the file’s name, size and dimensions at a glance.
Need more? Click the arrow on the right side of the panel to expand it. You’ll see everything stored about the file in your source system, such as create date, descriptions, versions, approval status and any custom metadata. No need to switch windows to look it up.
You can also drag any of this information straight into your design, or copy it to paste somewhere else.
Here's what you'll typically find in the metadata panel:
- Asset name
- Type (image, video, file, etc.) and format (JPG, PNG, MP4, etc.)
- Asset size and dimensions
- Version (shows the latest version of the file)
- Comments, if there are any
- Creation and last modified date
Depending on the connection and file type, you might see a few extra format-specific or custom metadata fields too. And you can always collapse the panel again once you're done, to keep your workspace tidy.
Placing Assets and Using Renditions
To place an asset in your document, locate it in your connected system and select it. Two buttons appear at the bottom of the panel: Place and Renditions.
Placing an asset
The Place button gives you the following options:
- Add as fill: Places the selected asset as the fill of the selected frame or shape in your document.
- Replace selected: Replaces the asset currently selected in your document with the asset you chose.
- Replace all: Replaces every instance of the selected asset in your document with the new asset.
- Save to local: Downloads the asset to your computer.
Using renditions
The Renditions button shows the versions of the asset that are available to place. The original rendition is always listed. Other renditions, such as different sizes, formats or resolutions, depend on your connected system and the selected asset.
To learn more about placing assets and using renditions with your connected system, see these articles: Working with Renditions in CI HUB Brand Connector
