Re: Adding static images to page designer

WWH · ‎Mar 07, 2023

Hey all,
I am trying to add two static images within the extension page designer through the image url but after a few hours the images break and stop working.
I have added the images I want to use to another table within the same airtable base and I am copying the image address to add that to the image url for the static image.
How do you stop the static images breaking or is there another way to add static images into page designer?

Any help would be amazing as I have googled and read other Q&A's and am completely stuck.

WWH · ‎Mar 16, 2023

Here is Airtable's official solution:

So sorry about the trouble you are encountering with Page Designer! Our new attachment functionality unfortunately will result in the attachment URL expiring after time when used as a static image. To workaround this change, you can use an Attachment Field instead of a static image URL. Here is what this workflow would look like:

Create another table called Static Image Templates, and have it include an Attachment field
Add a record into that table, and upload the desired image onto the record
In the original table where you are using the Page Designer extension, create:

3a: A new Linked Record field referencing “Static Image Templates”
3b: A new Lookup field referencing that “Attachment” field. Let’s call this “Reference Image Template” for example

4. Set the result of step 2 into the field from step 3a in. every row into the original table. (Essentially, linking records from the newly created Static Image Templates table to your original table)
5. Finally, back in the Page Designer app, change that image from using a raw URL, to instead use the “Reference Image Template” field from 3b.

In short, the workflow above is using the image field within Page Designer instead of the image URL that now expires.

See Solution in Thread

WWH · ‎Mar 16, 2023

You need to use the direct link in imgur as shown below:

Then paste that direct link in the Image URL field in the static image as shown below:

See Solution in Thread

WWH · ‎Mar 09, 2023

Turns out it was the airtable update to URL security and expiry that was causing the issue I was having. I created an account with imgur and am privately hosting the static images I want to use on there.
I have been using the "direct link" that has the file type at the end of the link in page designer with no issue.

If you are outside of the US and want to create an imgur account, download the app and create an account through the app as this does not require you to use a mobile number for verification. From there you will be able to login on your desktop.

Paintedhouzz_LL · ‎Mar 14, 2023

I have exactly the same issue. Waiting for solution…

WWH · ‎Mar 14, 2023

I haven't found a solution that airtable has officially stated but I know the one I posted above about using imgur.com to host the images privately has been working perfectly for me. I know the images are only some-what private has someone could guess the link but the images are not public on imgur and for my application this isn't an issue.

I also saw in another post someone mentioned using cloudinary as the 3rd party to host the images. I haven't tried cloudinary but that could also be worth a look as well.

WWH · ‎Mar 16, 2023

Here is Airtable's official solution:

So sorry about the trouble you are encountering with Page Designer! Our new attachment functionality unfortunately will result in the attachment URL expiring after time when used as a static image. To workaround this change, you can use an Attachment Field instead of a static image URL. Here is what this workflow would look like:

Create another table called Static Image Templates, and have it include an Attachment field
Add a record into that table, and upload the desired image onto the record
In the original table where you are using the Page Designer extension, create:

3a: A new Linked Record field referencing “Static Image Templates”
3b: A new Lookup field referencing that “Attachment” field. Let’s call this “Reference Image Template” for example

4. Set the result of step 2 into the field from step 3a in. every row into the original table. (Essentially, linking records from the newly created Static Image Templates table to your original table)
5. Finally, back in the Page Designer app, change that image from using a raw URL, to instead use the “Reference Image Template” field from 3b.

In short, the workflow above is using the image field within Page Designer instead of the image URL that now expires.

Paintedhouzz_LL · ‎Mar 16, 2023

This solution is not a solution really. The user has to link a record from this new table to EVERY SINGLE record in the table the document is based on.
It is totally unusable. Basically the IMAGE element in the page designer becomes absolute.

Is there any other workaround that actually allows to add an image with the Logo to the documents? Is Airtable working on fixing this issue? To me it’s a killer.

Thank you.

Paintedhouzz_LL · ‎Mar 16, 2023

I am trying Imgur.com. Copied the image link from there but it does not work in the page designer . ‘Failed to load image’. Is there a certain way to copy the link from Imgur.com or the link needs something to be added?

thank you!

Paintedhouzz_LL · ‎Mar 16, 2023

Where and how do you add a file type to the link? I tried but it does not work for me.

Thank you!

WWH · ‎Mar 16, 2023

You need to use the direct link in imgur as shown below:

Then paste that direct link in the Image URL field in the static image as shown below:

Paintedhouzz_LL · ‎Mar 17, 2023

Thank you so much! It worked!