Adding Media to Scalar
This page will touch briefly on how you should add your media to Scalar.
The two main ways that you will add media to your scalar are local and internet media files.
Internet Media Files
Internet media files are exactly that- they are files found on the internet and hosted on another individual's server. Inserting these files into your Scalar means simply pasting the URL into the address bar, and your media is now ready for use in your Scalar. Note that this method also works with YouTube. The advantage of using internet files is that they do not take up any additional space on the Scalar servers- you are literally hosting your media elsewhere. The biggest downside to using files hosted elsewhere, however, is that your media is at the mercy of the other individual's server- if they ever take their server, website, or media down, your scalar media disappears along with it.The best way to avoid this happening is to use media from sources that are unlikely to go down any time soon. Online archives, such as the Library of Congress, are excellent examples of this- they are very unlikely to be taken down, so your media is most likely safe. But if you find any other media that is unlikely to stay on the web for a very long time, your best option is to upload your own local media files.
Local Media Files
Local media files are media files stored on your own hard drive. To insert local media files, you must upload them directly from your computer to Scalar's servers. The advantages of inserting media into Scalar using this means are that you can use your own media and are not limited to media you can find on the internet, and files you upload will be stable along with Scalar- in other words, if a user can access your Scalar book, they can always access the media you upload.
The largest downside to this method, however, is that uploading media directly to Scalar takes up space, which is a precious resource because users are only given a small amount of space on Scalar's servers. Thus this method is best used sparingly, and in cases where the media you wish to display is available nowhere else, such as the case of edited photos and media that you own.