Exhibitor Posts
Overview · Workflow · Create Form · Validation · Feed Display · Troubleshooting · Assets
Place real assets under /images and /videos using root paths.
Real-time exhibitor storytelling that boosts discovery and conversions. One-attachment-per-post keeps the feed clean, previews stay reliable, and moderation remains simple.
Overview
Publish exhibitor updates with images and videos on their public profile.
Interface Preview
Quick Start
- Go to Exhibitors > Posts.
- Compose a post with media.
- Publish to the exhibitor profile.
Who this is for
- Exhibitors: publish and manage their own profile updates.
- Event Admins: moderate or remove posts if needed.
Permissions
- Create post:
exhibitor-post.create - Delete post:
exhibitor-post.delete
If you do not see the Create Post card, request the proper permission.
Workflow at a glance
- Open your Public Profile page.
- Locate the Create Post card at the top of the feed (if authorized).
- Add text and/or select one attachment type.
- Preview automatically (image/PDF/YouTube).
- Click Post to publish.
- Scroll feed to view latest posts (newest first).
- Use post menu (three dots) → Delete to remove if needed.
Create Post Form
Elements:
- Description (textarea)
- Photo button (image selector)
- PDF button (file selector)
- YouTube button (toggles link input field)
- Post submit button
Attachment Mutual Exclusivity:
- Only one of Image, PDF, or YouTube link can be attached per post.
- Selecting one clears the others to avoid conflicts.
Preview Behavior:
- Image: inline thumbnail
- PDF: file icon + name (embedded viewer appears in feed after publish)
- YouTube: embedded player preview when a valid link is detected
Inputs & Validation
| Field | Rules | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Description | optional string max ~65k | Can be empty if an attachment is provided |
| Photo | optional image jpeg/jpg/png/webp max 8MB | Converted to WebP (quality ~70) server-side |
| optional PDF max 8MB | Stored as original PDF | |
| YouTube Link | optional valid URL | Must match a YouTube pattern (watch/share/shorts/embed/youtu.be) |
Required Content Rule:
- At least one of: Description OR Photo OR PDF OR YouTube link must be present.
- Otherwise: error message "Please provide at least one content to post." appears.
Server-Side Enforcement (conceptual):
description: nullable|string|max:65535photo: nullable|image|mimes:jpeg,jpg,png,webp|max:8192 (KB)pdf: nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:8192 (KB)youtube_link: nullable|url
Processing & Storage
| Type | Storage Path | Additional Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Image | posts/{user_id}/images/img_TIMESTAMP.webp | Re-encoded WebP (quality ~70) |
posts/{user_id}/pdfs/pdf_TIMESTAMP.pdf | Stored directly | |
| YouTube | (no file) | Video ID extracted for embed |
| Text-only | (no file) | Path remains null; type=text |
On deletion: stored image/PDF file removed. YouTube/text posts have no file to remove.
Feed Display
Each post shows:
- Author avatar + name
- Relative timestamp (e.g., "3 minutes ago"), hover shows exact server time & timezone
- Description (if present)
- Attachment block (image/PDF embed/YouTube player)
- Dropdown menu (if user can delete)
Ordering: newest first. Pagination: base pagination (5 per page) enhanced with infinite scroll for seamless browsing.
Delete a Post
- Click post menu (three dots).
- Choose Delete and confirm (no undo).
- Success message appears; post removed from feed.
Files associated (image/PDF) are deleted from storage to save disk space.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Create Post card missing | Missing permission or not owner | Request exhibitor-post.create; verify profile ownership |
| "Please provide at least one content" | All fields empty | Add text or attach media |
| Image rejected | Wrong type or >8MB | Use jpeg/jpg/png/webp under size limit |
| PDF rejected | Non-PDF file or >8MB | Upload valid PDF under size limit |
| YouTube preview not showing | Unsupported or malformed link | Paste full watch/share/shorts URL |
| Duplicate content attempts | Multiple attachments chosen | Only select one type; UI auto-clears others |
| Slow image loading | Oversized original | Compress before upload (e.g., 1200px width) |
Tips
- Keep descriptions short and action-focused.
- Prefer optimized images (compressed) for faster loading.
- Use PDF for brochures, spec sheets, or long-form docs.
- YouTube is ideal for demos or testimonials—avoid autoplay heavy links.
- Plan a content cadence (e.g., 1–2 posts per event day) to stay visible.
Suggested Video Walkthrough (Placeholder)
Replace with videos/exhibitor-posts-user-story.mp4 once recorded.
Assets (Screenshots & Video)
Place real assets under /images and /videos using root paths. Recommended:
- /images/exhibitor/create-post.png
- /images/exhibitor/feed-with-various-types.png
- /videos/exhibitor-posts-user-story.mp4
Summary
Exhibitor Posts enable quick, multimedia updates to engage attendees via the profile feed—supporting text, images, PDFs, and YouTube embeds with straightforward validation and deletion controls.
Last updated: 2025-11-12