What Is the Folder Duplication feature?
The Folder Duplication feature adds a “Duplicate” option to the folder context menu in the Media Library. When you duplicate a folder, the system copies:
- The folder structure (including nested sub-folders)
- All file assignments (files in the original folder are also assigned to the duplicated folder)
- The folder hierarchy
The files themselves are NOT duplicated. This means:
- The duplicated folder references the same files as the original
- If you delete a file from the duplicated folder, it is also removed from the original
- The duplication is lightweight and fast
Why You Need It
For sites with complex folder structures, duplicating a folder is useful for:
- Project templates: Duplicate a standard project folder structure for a new project
- Client work: Duplicate a client’s folder for a new client
- Seasonal content: Duplicate last year’s seasonal folder for this year
- A/B testing: Create a copy of a folder to experiment with
Since files aren’t physically duplicated, the disk space usage doesn’t change.
How to Use Folder Duplication in WordPress
Step 1: Navigate to Settings
Click into the Classic Monks plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Go to the Interface Tab
Click on the Interface menu, then click the Folders subtab.
Step 3: Enable Folder Duplication
Scroll to Folder Duplication and toggle on.
Step 4: Save Changes
Click Save Changes.
Step 5: Test
Go to the Media Library. Right-click a folder in the sidebar. Select “Duplicate” from the context menu. A new folder with the same name (and “(Copy)” suffix) should appear.
Configuration Options
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Folder Duplication | Master toggle. | Off |
No nested options.
What Gets Affected
- The Media Library: a “Duplicate” option appears in the folder context menu
- The folder structure: the duplicated folder references the same files
- The folder hierarchy: nested folders are also duplicated
What Does NOT Get Affected
- The files themselves: not duplicated (only references are copied)
- The disk space: unchanged
- The file URLs: unchanged
- The original folder: unchanged (the copy is a new folder)
Troubleshooting
The duplicate option is not showing
Cause: The toggle is off, or the folder context menu is not loading.
Fix: Verify the toggle is on. Check the browser console for errors. The folder manager’s JavaScript must be loaded for the context menu to work.
The duplicated folder has the same files
Cause: This is the default behavior (file references, not copies).
Fix: This is by design. The duplicated folder references the same files as the original. To get separate files, use the “new_references” behavior or manually upload new files.
The nested folders are not being duplicated
Cause: A plugin conflict is preventing the nested duplication.
Fix: Disable other folder-related plugins. Test with a simple folder structure (one parent with one child).
The duplication is slow
Cause: The folder has many nested folders and files.
Fix: For very large folder trees, the duplication may take a few seconds. This is expected.