[WEB-5827] fix: persist external cover image URLs (Unsplash) in project updates

[anmolsinghbhatia]

Problem

When selecting an Unsplash image (or any external URL) as a project cover image, the URL wasn't being saved to the backend. The handleCoverImageChange function was returning null for external URLs, causing the update payload to exclude the cover image.

Root Cause

The handleCoverImageChange function only returned a payload for:

1. Image removal (returns null values)
2. Local static images that need upload (for user assets only)

External URLs like Unsplash images are classified as "uploaded_asset" type and don't require upload, so the function fell through to return null, preventing the URL from being included in the update payload.

Solution

• Updated handleCoverImageChange to return the cover image URL in the payload for external/uploaded assets
• Replaced cover_image_url with cover_image fields

Testing

• Verify Unsplash images are saved when selected in project form
• Verify local static images still upload correctly
• Verify image removal still works correctly
• Verify no regressions in existing cover image functionality

Summary by CodeRabbit

• Bug Fixes
  • Improved cover image handling for uploaded and external assets to ensure consistent processing across all asset types.

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[coderabbitai]

📝 Walkthrough

Walkthrough

The handleCoverImageChange function's return behavior is modified. For user-uploaded assets, the field name changes from cover_image_url to cover_image. For external/uploaded assets, the function now returns { cover_image: newImage } instead of null, eliminating the previous unconditional null path.

Changes

Cohort / File(s)	Summary
Cover Image Helper Logic apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts	Modified handleCoverImageChange return values: renamed cover_image_url to cover_image for user-uploaded assets; changed external/uploaded asset handling to return { cover_image: newImage } instead of null.

Estimated code review effort

🎯 2 (Simple) | ⏱️ ~12 minutes

Poem

🐰 Hoppy changes bring delight,
Cover images now return just right,
No more null paths to confuse,
Field names aligned—no mixed-up clues,
The helper hops forward with cheer! ✨

Pre-merge checks and finishing touches

✅ Passed checks (3 passed)

Check name	Status	Explanation
Title check	✅ Passed	The title clearly and specifically describes the main change: fixing the persistence of external cover image URLs (specifically Unsplash images) in project updates.
Description check	✅ Passed	The description is comprehensive and follows the template structure with Problem, Root Cause, Solution, and Testing sections clearly documented.
Docstring Coverage	✅ Passed	No functions found in the changed files to evaluate docstring coverage. Skipping docstring coverage check.

✨ Finishing touches

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Reviewing files that changed from the base of the PR and between 3d5e427 and cbe009e.

📒 Files selected for processing (1)

• apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts

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**/*.{ts,tsx,mts,cts}

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Files:

• apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts

**/*.{ts,tsx}

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Files:

• apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts

**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json,css}

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Files:

• apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts

**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx}

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Files:

• apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts

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🔇 Additional comments (2)

apps/web/helpers/cover-image.helper.ts (2)

268-273: No backend compatibility issue found — the backend API properly supports the cover_image field.

The backend models and serializers both include the cover_image field as a writable input field. The cover_image_url is a computed read-only property that derives its value from either the cover_image field or the cover_image_asset reference. The change in the helper from returning cover_image_url to cover_image aligns correctly with the backend's expected input field.

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276-280: Backend verification confirms the cover_image field is fully supported.

The Project model includes the cover_image field (TextField), and the ProjectSerializer uses fields = "__all__", which means it will accept and persist the cover_image value in PATCH/PUT requests. The field has been stable across multiple migrations, and the model's cover_image_url property correctly returns the stored value. The fix is compatible with the backend API.

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[makeplane]

Linked to Plane Work Item(s)

• [WEB-5827] Unsplash image selection for profile and project cover does not persist after page refresh

This comment was auto-generated by Plane

[Copilot]

Pull request overview

This PR fixes a bug where external cover image URLs (like Unsplash images) were not being persisted to the backend when selected for projects. The root cause was that the handleCoverImageChange helper function was returning null for external URLs instead of returning the URL in the update payload.

Key Changes

• Modified handleCoverImageChange to return external/uploaded asset URLs in the payload instead of null
• Changed the field name from cover_image_url to cover_image for uploaded assets, aligning with the backend API contract where cover_image is used for uploads and cover_image_url is a readonly field for rendering

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