Collections rely on structured data schema based on a template selected from the LUNA Collection Manager. This means every item in a collection has an associated record with the same data structure.

But in addition to a record, each media item in the LUNA Library can also have custom data created and edited in the Media Item Editor. Adding custom data to an item is just an easy way to add descriptive data, or tags, to items which might not conform to the fields in the actual record.

Unlike records, the custom data created in the Media Item Editor lives with the item. If the item is copied to another collection, this data is also copied. Records live within a specific collection.

On this page:

Media Item Editor in Collections

As you upload content directly to a collection you'll see the Media Item Editor will not have any existing data or fields. Because the items are in a collection, the Record Editor is the primary source for cataloging and supporting descriptive data. Use the Media Item Editor to add supplemental custom data. This custom data lives with the item, so if the item is copied to another collection this data will also be copied.

For example, if you've copied a media item over from the IMI into a collection those custom fields will also be copied over and a blank new record will be created for that item.

Use the + button to begin adding custom fields, and the - button to remove them. You can also save these changes as a draft. Because these fields are created for each item as opposed to a collection as a whole, you may see different custom data fields for every item in a collection.

Media Item Editor in Independent Media Items (IMI)

When in context of the IMI, the LUNA Library automatically applies 4 data fields to the Media Item Editor. These are based on the fields used in the My Uploads feature in the LUNA Viewer (Title, Description, Copyright, Keywords). Your administrator can override and edit these default fields if need be. (Read more about My Uploads in the IMI section.)

The goal with these custom fields is to give you the flexibility to add custom data to an item. All the data entered in these fields is fully searchable, just as the record data is. These custom fields live with the media item, so if you copy a media item to a collection this information will also be copied.

By using the + and - you can add new fields and remove existing ones.

You cannot add multiple fields with the same title. Instead consider using a semicolon to separate the values. By doing so the data panel search in the LUNA Viewer detail view will work better since it will search by each value and not a string of values grouped together.

Tip: By default the items in the IMI are private to you, but you can make them available to other users by changing the access permissions.