No Set Featured Image Option in existing Media Gallery

[nhuja]

There is a Set Featured Image link when you add new gallery but in already existing gallery, you can't set Featured Image (in case you want to add more photos and set a new featured image). You have to do it from Set Featured Image link on the post which means more clicks.

Plus, I wanted to add, wouldn't it be easier if we have Set Featured Image link on the right side where all image meta exists, instead of having to click on a separate link on the left? Similar to what we had with 3.4. That would really lessen the number of clicks you have to do to set a featured image. You could do the same with existing galleries/posts too. For example, if you upload one image, its selected by default and on the right side, you can just click a Set Featured Image link.

[SergeyBiryukov]

Related: #22963

[ryan]

When every plugin and possible workflow adds a button to the main workflow, you end up with a big mess. This is why there are separate flows for galleries and featured images. I doubt we will break down the walls between the flows since we'd arrive back at a previous design that wasn't working very well when we auditioned it during 3.5 development.

[husobj]

I agree that there should not be a button to select Featured Image on the right but I think it would be appropriate to add it as a 3rd option on the left underneath "Insert Media" and "Create Gallery" - it seems like an obvious 3rd choice of action that people may want to do after uploading images to a post.

[SergeyBiryukov]

#24370 was marked as a duplicate.

[ericlewis]

Replying to nhuja:

In already existing gallery, you can't set Featured Image (in case you want to add more photos and set a new featured image).

When you're editing an already existing gallery, the modal assumes the GalleryEdit workflow, which makes complete sense. If you edit a gallery, you shouldn't see other menu/workflow options that have nothing to do with editing a gallery. Essentially echoing @ryan's comment "I doubt we will break down the walls between the flows"

Replying to nhuja:

wouldn't it be easier if we have Set Featured Image link on the right side where all image meta exists, instead of having to click on a separate link on the left?

Also disagree here. The left menu items all represent different workflows. Mixing one into another (set featured image with insert media into a post) is bad UX. We need to offer distinct highways for users. Highways go to one city or another, and shouldn't criss-cross back-and-forth all the time.

Suggesting close on this.

[helen]

We used to mix the workflows, and it was a bad time. Let's not go back to that.