How to Manage Images & Galleries with AI in eDirectory v13.9

Introduction

Images are at the heart of every online directory, helping listings stand out and connect visually with potential customers. Until now, managing galleries required a lot of manual work—uploading, reordering, cropping, and writing SEO-friendly descriptions. With eDirectory v13.9, that process just became faster, smarter, and easier.

The new Image & Gallery Management system introduces AI-powered tools to automatically generate SEO-friendly titles and alt tags, along with an intuitive drag-and-drop gallery organizer. You can even edit details directly in the cropping modal, without needing to crop again. This upgrade saves time, boosts SEO, and ensures your listings look their best with minimal effort.

Note: These new features are only available on eDirectory version 13.9 and above.

Getting Started: Essential Prerequisites

Before exploring the new image management tools, make sure your system is properly configured:

  1. Access the Admin Panel (Sitemgr): Log into your eDirectory administrative interface.
  2. Confirm AI Integration: Go to Settings > General Settings > AI Integrations and ensure your OpenAI API key is active.

  1. Navigate to a Listing Gallery: Open any listing, product, or widget that supports image uploads.

Key Features in v13.9

1. Drag & Drop Reordering

Forget manual renaming or re-uploading to set your gallery order. Now you can:

  • Simply click and drag images to rearrange them in seconds.
  • Instantly preview the new order in the gallery before saving.

This makes it easier to highlight the most important visuals at the top of the gallery.

Note: Photos marked with the blue star refers to the primary image that will be displayed for that content on general pages, results and detail page. See examples below:

2. AI-Powered Alt & Title Tags

SEO just got smarter. Instead of manually writing image descriptions:

  • Click on the Edit icon (little pencil icon) and then “AI Auto-Suggest” on any image's Alt Text and Caption.

  • The system uses AI to create SEO-friendly text based on the image context.
  • You can accept the suggestion as-is or edit it further for fine-tuning.

👉 Best practice: Always review AI-generated tags to ensure they fit your directory’s tone and brand.

3. More Flexible Cropping

Previously, updating image details required cropping—even if no changes were needed. With v13.9:

  • You can open the cropping modal and update the Alt and Title fields directly.
  • Cropping is now optional—only adjust the image if necessary.

This reduces repetitive steps and speeds up content editing.

Tips and Best Practices for Smarter Image Management

To get the most out of the new features, consider the following recommendations:

  • Prioritize High-Quality Images: AI suggestions are most effective when images are clear and relevant.
  • Edit for Brand Consistency: While AI saves time, always review tags to match your directory’s style.
  • Leverage Drag & Drop Regularly: Keep galleries fresh by reordering images seasonally or when new content is added.
  • Monitor AI Integration Health: Ensure your OpenAI key is active and has enough quota for ongoing use.

Conclusion

The new AI-powered Image & Gallery Management in eDirectory v13.9 represents a major step forward in simplifying visual content management. With drag-and-drop reordering, instant SEO tags, and smarter cropping workflows, administrators can manage galleries faster, while ensuring every image is optimized for both users and search engines.

By combining automation with flexibility, this feature not only saves time but also enhances the quality and professionalism of every listing in your directory.

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