In this article, we're going to highlight the Library Entries widget, which powers our redesigned Library Entries page, covering:

how it works,
where it's generally used,
and its configuration options.

How it works

The Library Entries widget functions as an interactive and social-centric file repository, enabling members to not only upload and share videos, images, and all manner of document types (e.g., Word documents, PowerPoints, etc.), but also share their thoughts by recommending content and posting comments.

NOTE: See Supported File Types & Sizes to view the files we support.

Files are not uploaded on their own; rather, they're uploaded to what's called an Entry. You can think of Entries as containers, to which one or more files are uploaded. While each Library Entry is displayed in the list for easy access, they also have their own dedicated page and URL, perfect for internal and external linking.

A Library functions similarly to our other feed-based widgets, in that it essentially maintains itself by automatically providing the latest files as they're uploaded (unless moderation is enabled!).

NOTE: While this widget is primarily used in communities, so shared files are "community-centric" and applicable to its members, you can also add this widget to non-community pages to create what's called a "standalone" library.

What it looks like

Library Entries are listed with a fresh, modern look with a variety of options and features to enhance user engagement and increase participation.

Let's look at some of these options and features.

Feature	Description
Featured Card Row	Entries display in a "carousel" at the top of the page. NOTE: Admins can turn this Featured Card Row on and off, and decide whether to display pinned Entries, the most viewed Entries, or a combination of both.
Details Panel	This flyout panel appears when you click an Entry in the list. It has information about that Entry, sections for comments and links, and a dedicated ellipsis menu to take actions on that Entry.
Library Entries Views	You can display Entries in either the the Row, Card, or Admin view. To learn more, see Available Library views in Library Views & Filters.
Filter and Sort	Use these options to refine which Entries display in the list. To learn more, see Filter and sort Entries in Library Views & Filters.
Ellipsis (...) menus	There are several ellipsis (...) menus on the page. To learn more about the options, see Entry management options in Manage Library Entries.
Folders Panel	This panel opens to reveal the Library folders. Choose a folder to see its Entries. To learn more, see Manage Folders & Move Entries. Admins can manage folders right on the page.

Where this widget is located

Library Entries can be accessed several ways. The Entries that you'll see are dependent on:

community-specific "view" settings,
your permissions and memberships, and
which Library (an individual community or your site) you access, as described in the sections that follow.

Single community Library

If you navigate to an individual community and click the Library tab, you'll see only that community's Entries.

All available Library Entries

If you navigate to the Library Entries page, you'll see all community Entries that are not restricted by permissions.

NOTE: The path to the Library Entries page can be customized (i.e., relabeled) in each site. The path (Browse > Library Entries) shown below is the default path.

NOTE: As mentioned previously, while this widget is primarily used in communities, you can also add it to non-community pages to create what's called a "standalone" library.

Widget configuration

Let's take a look at the various ways the Library Entries widget can be configured:

Parameter	Description
Options for Standalone Libraries
Library	If you're placing this widget on a non-community page (i.e., your site's Home page): Select a Library from this dropdown to only display entries from that Library. If no Library is selected, the widget will display ALL entries each member has permissions to view (e.g., entries from all communities they belong to and any public communities across your site). If you're placing this widget on a page within a community: You don't need to select anything here: the widget will automatically display only entries from the community in which it's placed (by reading the community's key in the URL).
Featured/Pinned Entry Options
Include a Featured Card Row of Pinned items?	If YES, the widget displays a Featured Card Row on the page, showing up to 12 large cards to highlight pinned and/or the most viewed entries. When set to Yes, use the option Featured Row Filler Content to control the entries displayed in the card row: (1) pinned then most viewed entries, (2) only pinned entries, or (3) only most viewed entries. NOTE: If you choose to show pinned entries in the card row, they will not* also be pinned to the top of the entry list (they will appear in their "natural" order.* If NO, the Featured Card Row is not included on the page, and pinned library entries will display at the top of the entry list (unless excluded by applied filters).
Filter and Sort Options
Show Folder View?	If YES, ALL members can click to display the folder panel and browse entries by the available folders. When set to Yes, you can control whether the folder panel defaults to expanded using the Load with Folders View Open? option. You can also control whether the number of entries in folders displays via the Show Number of Entries in Folder? option. If NO, folder view is only available to Community and Super Admins, and only when viewing the library in Admin View.
Default Sort Option	Select how the library's entries should be sorted, by default: Creation Date Title A-Z Title Z-A Most Downloaded Most Viewed This is simply the default setting; members can still apply their own sort option.
Show Thread Attachments in Library?	A "thread attachment" Library entry refers to Library entries originating from Discussion posts that included a file attachment. These Discussion files are automatically added to the community's associated Library. If YES, ALL members can view these thread attachment entry types. When set to Yes, you can control whether the filter to show/hide thread attachment entries is available to members, as well as its default setting. If NO, only Community and Super Admins can view these thread attachment entry types, and only when viewing the library in Admin View.
Library Display Options
Default View for Library	Set the library's default view to either List or Card view.
Show Authored By Line?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether the author of an entry is displayed.
Show the Community the Entry was Posted in?	This option is only applicable to standalone Libraries (i.e., those not associated to a community). Toggle YES/NO to control whether the community an entry is associated to is displayed.
Show Creation Date?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether the date/time an entry was added is displayed.
Show Description in List View?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether an entry's description is displayed in List View (descriptions never display in Card View to save space). If YES, you can set the maximum number of characters to display before truncation (default is 100). NOTE: Regardless of this setting, you can always view an entry's description in the Preview Panel in both List and Card view (click an entry to view its details in the Preview Panel).
Show Tags in List View?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether an entry's tags are displayed in List View (tags never display in Card View to save space). If YES, a maximum of four tags will display, with "+N" displayed to indicate additional tags (e.g., if there are 10 tags, four tags will display, along with "+6"). NOTE: Regardless of this setting, you can always view an entry's tags in the Preview Panel in both List and Card view (click an entry to view its details in the Preview Panel).
Show Entry Statistics?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether View/Download statistics are displayed in List and Card views.
Show Entry Thumbnails in List View?	Toggle YES/NO to control whether thumbnail images for Library Entries are displayed in List View. If you'd prefer to keep the List View more compact, hiding thumbnail images is a great way to achieve this.
Entry Preview Panel These options all pertain to the Preview Panel, which expands to show extra details about an entry when it's clicked in either List or Card view.
Show Comments?	Controls whether an entry's comments are displayed in the Preview Panel. Even if set to NO, comments will still display on the entry's main page.
Show Related Links?	Controls whether an entry's related links are displayed in the Preview Panel. Even if set to NO, related links will still display on the entry's main page.
Show Tags?	Controls whether an entry's tags are displayed in the Preview Panel. Even if set to NO, tags will still display on the entry's main page.
Show Download Button?	Controls whether the Download button is available, in the Preview Panel, for each of an entry's files (and the Download All button if there are multiple files). If YES, the download button will still be hidden if a file is configured to not allow downloading. Even if set to NO, members can download via a file's ellipsis (...) menu AND on the entry's main page.

Libraries Overview

Widget Spotlight - Library Entries