Convert disk based media to database

Question

What's the best approach to migrate disk-based media into the database? We inherited a large enterprise site that's getting forklifted to Sitecore 8.2, and it currently uses file-based media. We want to move these into the database, as that's our standard, and makes the solution more scalable.

I found a reference somewhere to a shared source component, but the link is dead: http://trac.sitecore.net/MediaConversionTool/ (DEAD LINK)

Is there anything particular for Sitecore 8.x that others are using?

Answer 1

You have a few good options.

Module:

You were probably looking for this.

https://marketplace.sitecore.net/en/Modules/Media_Conversion_Tool.aspx

Custom Code

I would convert the code in this article to a script in Sitecore PowerShell Extensions since you can both run the existing report for finding them plus run the conversion. Actually sounds like a nice addition to the Media Library Maintenance module bundled with SPE.

https://adesev.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/convert-file-based-media-to-database-storage/

Update

Couldn't help myself so I decided to try this myself.

I first ran the SPE report to confirm that there were items that were file based.

There is currently one on my system.

Little rough and needs some testing but this should do it for you in SPE.

function Get-MediaItemFileBased {
    Get-ChildItem -Path "master:\sitecore\media library" -Recurse | 
        Where-Object { $_.TemplateID -ne [Sitecore.TemplateIDs]::MediaFolder } |
        ForEach-Object {
            $mediaItem = New-Object Sitecore.Data.Items.MediaItem $PSItem
            if($mediaItem.FileBased) {
                $mediaItem
            }
        }
}

function ConvertTo-MediaItemDatabaseBased {
    [CmdletBinding()]
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true, ValueFromPipeline=$true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [Sitecore.Data.Items.MediaItem]$MediaItem
    )

    if($MediaItem -eq $null) { continue }

    $filePath = [Sitecore.IO.FileUtil]::MapPath($MediaItem.FilePath)
    $fileInfo = Get-Item -Path $filePath
    if($fileInfo.Exists) {
        $mediaCreator = New-Object Sitecore.Resources.Media.MediaCreator
        $mediaItemFullPath = $MediaItem.InnerItem.Paths.Path
        $mediaCreatorOptions = New-Object Sitecore.Resources.Media.MediaCreatorOptions
        $mediaCreatorOptions.FileBased = $false
        $mediaCreatorOptions.Destination = $mediaItemFullPath
        $mediaCreatorOptions.KeepExisting = $false

        $filename = $mediaItem.Name + "." + $mediaItem.Extension
        $mediaCreator.AttachStreamToMediaItem($fileInfo.Open([System.IO.FileMode]::Open), $mediaItemFullPath, $filename, $mediaCreatorOptions)
    }
}

Get-MediaItemFileBased | ConvertTo-MediaItemDatabaseBased

Answer 2

You could just copy them to the upload folder in your web root. Sitecore watches that folder for changes and adds any files that show up there to the media library. You will want to make sure you have a decent folder structure set up ahead of time as it uploads to the root of the media library unless you add subfolders.