Organize Files with Folders

Filemonk's folder organization feature allows you to group and structure your digital files into organized folders that enhance the customer download experience. Files within folders are automatically sorted alphabetically, and the organized structure appears consistently across both the default download page and Shopify customer account extensions.

Accessing Folder Organization

To organize your digital files into folders, you need to navigate to the folder management interface within your product configuration. This feature is available for all digital products that have files linked to them.

Navigating to Folder Management

1. Open your Filemonk app from the Shopify admin dashboard by clicking on the Filemonk app icon in your Apps section
2. In the Filemonk app interface, click on Digital products in the main navigation menu to access your product configurations
3. You'll see a list of all your configured digital products with their linked variants and file counts
4. Click on the specific product you want to organize from the product list to open its configuration page
5. Once on the product configuration page, scroll down to the file management section where your linked files are displayed
6. The folder organization tools appear automatically when you have files linked to your product, showing options to create folders and organize your digital content

The folder management interface integrates seamlessly with your existing file management workflow, allowing you to organize files without disrupting your current setup or affecting existing customer orders.

Moving Files to Folders

• Select the files you want to organize by checking the selection boxes next to each file in your file list
• You can select multiple files at once by checking multiple boxes to perform bulk organization operations
• Once files are selected, look for the bulk actions toolbar that appears above your file list
• Click the Move to folder button in the bulk actions menu to open the folder selection dialog

• Choose the destination folder from the dropdown list or Create new folder
• Click Move to transfer all selected files to the chosen folder destination
• The files will immediately appear organized under the selected folder with automatic alphabetical sorting by filename

Renaming Folders

1. Locate the folder you want to rename in your file organization.
2. Click on the pencil icon next to the folder name you wish to rename

• Enter the new folder name in the text field within the rename dialog that appears
• Ensure the new name is descriptive and under the 100-character limit for folder names
• Click Rename to apply the new folder name to your organization structure
• The folder will update immediately with the new name while preserving all contained files and their download settings

Deleting Folders

1. Find the folder you want to remove in your file organization
2. Click the 'delete icon' next to the folder name you wish to delete
3. Confirm the deletion by clicking Ok when prompted with the confirmation dialog
4. The folder structure will be removed immediately, and all files within the deleted folder will automatically become loose files (unorganized files)
5. These loose files will appear below any remaining folders in your file organization interface, sorted alphabetically
6. You can reorganize these loose files into other existing folders or create new folders to organize them as needed
7. Remember that deleting a folder only removes the organizational structure - your actual digital files remain safe and accessible

File Sorting and Organization

Understanding how Filemonk handles file sorting within folders helps you predict and control how customers will see your digital content. The system uses consistent alphabetical sorting rules across all folder displays.

Automatic Alphabetical Sorting

• All files within folders are automatically sorted alphabetically by their asset name (filename) in ascending order (A to Z)
• This sorting behavior is built into Filemonk's system and cannot be manually overridden or customized
• The alphabetical sorting applies consistently to both files within folders and loose files (files not organized in folders)
• File extensions do not affect the sorting order - only the base filename before the extension is considered for sorting
• Special characters and numbers in filenames follow standard ASCII sorting rules, with numbers appearing before letters
• Case sensitivity does not affect sorting - uppercase and lowercase letters are treated equally in the alphabetical order
• The sorting happens automatically whenever files are added to folders or when folder contents are displayed
• This consistent sorting ensures customers always see files in a predictable, organized manner regardless of the order files were uploaded

Folder Display Order

• When you have multiple folders, they appear in alphabetical order from A to Z, followed by all loose files also in alphabetical order
• Empty folders remain visible in the merchant interface and maintain their position in the alphabetical folder order
• Folder sorting is case-insensitive for better user experience and consistent organization
• This two-tier organization (folders first, then loose files) provides a clear structure that customers can navigate intuitively
• The folder display order is consistent across all interfaces - merchant dashboard, customer download pages, and customer account extensions

Customer Download Experience

The folder organization you create directly impacts how customers access and download their purchased digital content. Folders appear consistently across all customer-facing interfaces, providing a structured and professional download experience.

Default Download Page Display

• Folders appear as distinct collapsible card sections with clear folder names and file counts displayed prominently
• Each folder header shows the folder name followed by the number of files it contains in parentheses (e.g., "Documents (5)" or "Audio Files (3)")
• Customers can expand or collapse folders by clicking anywhere on the folder header, which includes intuitive icons (▼ for collapsed, ▲ for expanded)
• When expanded, folders reveal all contained files with individual download buttons, file names, file sizes, and any additional file information
• Each file within a folder maintains its own download controls, access restrictions, and download tracking independent of the folder structure
• Loose files (files not organized in folders) appear below all folder sections in alphabetical order, maintaining the same download functionality as files within folders
• The folder structure creates a clean, organized interface that reduces visual clutter and helps customers quickly locate specific content types

Download Accessibility

• Each file within folders maintains its individual download controls, access restrictions, and security settings independent of the folder structure
• Download limits, watermarking settings, and expiration dates apply to files based on their individual configuration, not their folder placement
• Folder organization is purely for display and navigation purposes - it does not affect file permissions, customer access rights, or download restrictions
• Files remain individually trackable for analytics and download monitoring, with folder organization providing additional context for merchant reporting
• Moving files between folders or removing them from folders does not change their download settings, access controls, or customer permissions
• The folder system enhances the customer experience without compromising any security or access control features that merchants have configured for individual files

Folder Validation and Limits

• Folder names are limited to 100 characters to ensure compatibility across systems
• Folder names cannot be empty or contain only whitespace
• Duplicate folder names within the same product are not allowed
• Special characters in folder names are preserved but may affect sorting order

Cross-Product Organization

• Folder structures are specific to individual products and variants
• The same file can exist in different folder structures across multiple products
• Organizing files in one product does not affect their organization in other products
• This allows for product-specific organization strategies

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions when organizing files with folders in Filemonk. These problems typically occur due to file management conflicts, system state issues, or user interface interactions.

FAQs

Common questions about organizing files with folders in Filemonk. These answers address the most frequent concerns merchants have about folder management and customer experience.

Q: Can I create folders within folders (nested folders)?

A: No, Filemonk currently supports only one level of folder organization. You cannot create subfolders within existing folders.

Q: Will organizing files into folders affect existing customer orders?

A: Yes, folder organization immediately applies to all existing orders. Customers will see the new folder structure when they access their download pages.

Q: Can I change the alphabetical sorting order of files?

A: No, files are automatically sorted alphabetically by filename and this cannot be changed. Consider renaming files with prefixes (like "01-", "02-") if you need specific ordering.

Q: Do folders appear the same way on mobile devices?

A: Yes, the folder structure and collapsible behavior work consistently across desktop and mobile devices in both download pages and customer account extensions.

Q: Can I organize the same file into different folders across multiple products?

A: Yes, the same digital file can be organized differently in each product where it's used. Folder organization is specific to each product configuration.

Q: What happens to files when I delete a folder?

A: Files within deleted folders become "loose files" and appear outside of any folder structure. The files themselves are not deleted, only the folder organization is removed.

Q: Can customers download entire folders at once?

A: No, customers must download files individually. Folder organization is for display and navigation purposes only.

Q: How many folders can I create per product?

A: There is no specific limit on the number of folders per product, but consider usability - too many folders may overwhelm customers.

Updated on: 26/07/2025