The Update Attachments plugin:
- Prevents existing attachments from being automatically deleted when updating a broadcasted post
- Updates existing attachments and their thumbnails in place
This plugin makes the most sense when attachment files have been changed on disk (perhaps directly via FTP?) and the changes need to be broadcasted out to the child blogs, but without resorting to deleting the current attachments due to attachment sharing.
Comparison of attachment-related plugins
| Feature | Basic | Duplicate Attachments | Protect Child Properties | Update Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps existing attachments1 | Choice | No | Choice | Yes✓ |
| Thumbnail regeneration speed2 | Slow | Fast | Slow | Slow |
| Updates existing files in place | No | No | No | Yes✓ |
1 If several posts share the same attachment and it is deleted before broadcasting, the attachment ID will not match that of the newly-copied attachment. Otherwise the automatic deletion of attachments before broadcast is not a problem.
2 Regeneration occurs when an image attachment is copied to the child blog for the first time.