---
title: "Breaking: #105855 - Remove file backwards compatibility for alt and link field"
manual: "TYPO3 Core Changelog"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/changelog:breaking-105855-1734686200"
source: "Changelog/14.0/Breaking-105855-RemoveFileBwCompatForAltAndLinkField.rst"
typo3-version: "14.0"
typo3-major: 14
type: "breaking"
issue: 105855
forge: "https://forge.typo3.org/issues/105855"
tags: ["FAL", "TCA", "NotScanned", "ext:core"]
rendered: "2026-09-20T18:31:11+00:00"
---

# Breaking: #105855 - Remove file backwards compatibility for alt and link field {#breaking-105855-1734686200}

See [forge#105855](https://forge.typo3.org/issues/105855)

## Description {#description}

When the File Abstraction Layer (FAL) was introduced, the TYPO3 Core file fields
`media` for table `pages`, and `image` and `assets` for table
`tt_content`, had their so-called "overlay palettes" overridden to
`imageOverlayPalette`, so that additional fields like `alternative`, `link`, and
`crop` were displayed. However, this was done for all file types, including
`text`, `application`, and the fallback type `unknown`. For these types, the
additional fields served no meaningful purpose. For this reason, they have now
been removed.

## Impact {#impact}

The TYPO3 Core file fields `media` for table `pages`, `image` and
`assets` for table `tt_content`, will no longer display the fields
`alternative` and `link` for file types other than `image`.

## Affected installations {#affected-installations}

This affects installations that use one of the Core fields for file types
other than `image` (for example `text` or `application`) and make use of the
fields `alternative` and/or `link`.

This should not affect many installations, as these fields are used primarily
for images.

## Migration {#migration}

These fields can be restored using TCA overrides if necessary. First,
register a new palette for the `sys_file_reference` table containing the desired
set of fields.

**EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/sys_file_reference.php**

```php
$GLOBALS['TCA']['sys_file_reference']['palettes']['myCustomPalette'] = [
    'label' => 'My custom palette',
    'showitem' => 'alternative,description,--linebreak--,link,title',
];
```

Then, use this palette for your specific Core field and file type. The following
example restores the fields `alternative` and `link` for the `media` field of
the `pages` table when the file type is `text`.

**EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/pages.php**

```php
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Resource\FileType;

$GLOBALS['TCA']['pages']['columns']['media']['config']['overrideChildTca']
    ['types'][FileType::TEXT->value]['showitem'] =
    '--palette--;;myCustomPalette,--palette--;;filePalette';
```