If I upload the file to WordPress’ upload directory through FTP, I don’t see the file show up in my media (in WP-admin)
Try to avoid directly uploading via FTP. WordPress doesn’t scan your uploads folder for new images. Instead, use the built-in media uploader within WordPress to upload images. WordPress will automatically place them in the correct folder, create downsized versions you can use in a quick gallery or client sales page, and store the image’s meta information in the WordPress database.
The Media Gallery pulls its information from the WordPress database, so to see your uploaded images here, this is the only way to do it!
I can get a link from my ftp client (cyberDuck) but it doesn’t actually link me to a working link
Your client is giving you an FTP link. If you use an FTP link in a web browser like Internet Explorer (i.e. ) your browser will act like an FTP client and try to download the image rather than displaying in in the browser. What you need is an actual HTTP link, which you can get from WordPress if you uploaded through the Media Gallery.
If you uploaded directly via FTP, your link would still be something like http://www.mydomain.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/something-something.jpg if you uploaded to the /wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ directory. If you put it somewhere else, change the link accordingly.
To Review
The correct way to add images to WordPress and get the links is through the Media Gallery:
- Log in to WordPress
- Go to Media » Add New
- Select your image and upload it to WordPress
- Set meta data as appropriate (Title, Caption, Alt Text, Description)
- If necessary, you can Edit the image as well (rotate, crop, scale)
- Highlight the File URL and copy-paste it somewhere where you’ll remember it. This is the URL to the full-size image that you can link to from other places.