How do I attach files to a post?

At this time (dating back to the Google days, using an early version of Google groups in 2006), files cannot be attached to your post (grumble, grumble.) But there are some options to upload and share your stuff for user-forum discussions.

File hosting sites

The first things which needs to be done is upload the file somewhere on the web. Many people use media hosting sites to upload images, such as:

People with a Yahoo account can use Flickr to host images and videos. The basic account is free. Images can be edited online with Picnik, where additional stuff like text and arrows can be added.

Upload a SketchUp model to the Google 3D Warehouse, 10 MB maximum file size. (It is also a sneaky way to share images and styles too. Images can be embedded or included as a material and saved in a material library or save as image to another location through the context menu or Materials browser. Similar things can be done with Styles and Components.)

100 MB maximum file size. Can store and share any type of file. Uploading file revisions is now supported - the file URL will remain the same through successive revisions.

Free image and video hosting.

Free file hosting. Like Google Docs, a good way to share files with others and multiple computer/mobile devices.

Free image hosting - site has many interesting, downloadable tools to further customize the image hosting experience for Windows-, Mac- and Linux-users.

Google's image host. Images can be edited online with Picnik, where additional stuff like text and arrows can be added. Look for the button

.

Once a file is hosted, add a link to the post either in the text body or through Add references, the forum's custom search engine. Search for and add links, thumbnail images and video players. It is located below the paragraph box.

Add references

Search all the categories, except URL, by key words, to find something relevant to add as a reference link. The video category searches YouTube and will embed a video player.

Search for a reference

Embed a video player by choosing to search the Video category.

Paste a URL into the Add references search bar.

Thumbnail image URL

There are several image URLs that will send you to an image on the web. But only a few will add a thumbnail in a Google Help forum post's reference region.

For help locating the appropriate image URL from some of the file host sites:

Flickr, ImageShack & Photobucket

Google Docs


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See the discussion shortly after we moved into this forum space: How do I attach files to a post?

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