Alex has said links 2.1 will include a "filetype" field which will (in my discussions with him) do about 80% of what my logo and graphic mods do. It will _NOT_ do anything near what the multiple file mod (which I still hope to release this week!) will do. Without going into my discussions with Alex, or putting GT on the spot, Alex has said the upload-file system in 1.1x was a 'hack' and that it was left out of 2.x because of that. He's come up with a system to increase overall functionality by adding a filetype field, and to build this into 2.1. There is no ETA or planned release date (according to his last message). This mod will add a field to the Links table record, that will be linked to a record in a Links_attachment table, which will hold about 9 values for this file. My current attachment table has 31 fields (attributes), and an external management program for dealing with them.
I believe my mods will do what most people want, and are priced extremely fairly. I've been convinced to increase the functionality of the multiple attach mod, such that with some template work on your end, you can do quite a bit with it. I've redesigned it 9 times in the past 6 months to allow this, and I think it will be fully functional, and compatible with future links releases. It's flexible enough to incorporate other modules for file-type checking, and expand the features in the base modules, since it's a "bubble up" processing process, and the display is now all handled in the template via a call to a routine in the plugin module file. The external script manages the upload and processing, and can be easily modified to include other options.
The reason for this upgrade, is that the Image Gallery mod I was/am working towards, and which has been my ultimate goal all along, changed it's skin a month ago, and suddenly became an entire "environment" for image management, with a definite targeting to adult and niche sites. The software needed to run a very targeted "niche" adult site, translates very nicely into the world of stock photo supply, indexing and delivery (but not vice versa).
So, Although I haven't announced the new line up fully (every time I do, I seem to get blind sided) the $75 MultiUp module will do everything it was originally sketched out to do, as well as about 50% of the stuff the Image Gallery mod was going to do (because of all the design changes I've moved into the templates, what you do with the attachments is really up to you.. the program can handle it).
The new Image Gallery mod will be something I hope as impressive as Links itself, and with any luck will be available before the holiday season, since I'd love to integrate it with my sites, and a shopping script.
I number my scripts because the names seem to change:
01.xx.xx. and 02.xx.xx are each single-file upload mods.
03.xx.xx will be the multiple file upload mod, and it's designed to work with the 01.xx.xx mod specificially.
06.xx.xx will be the Image Gallery mod, but will be more of a total environment. The big difference will be how it handles the attachments, and the change of mind such that the "attchment" or "element" as I call it, is now the basic unit of the program, rather than the "link" and the "link" is more of a display group for browsing or building static pages. Dynamic pages will be built more by user-preferences, sign ups, memberships, or other criteria and will display only what the user wants, or has contracted for.
For instance, using an adult example, lets say a user joins your site for a fetish group of images - their only interest - and all they want are those images. For the sake of this discussion, lets say that is blonde, barefoot girls, in their 30's with cut off shorts and cowboy hats. You decide that while you only have 18 photos of that now, you will have 75 of them before years end. You can sell a membership to that person for 75 (or whatever) photos, of his specific keywords, which expires, or requests him to renew, once the membership is fullfilled. Similarly, a person can sign up and get only photos of redheads with tattoos, or dogs running, or red roses with dewdrops or spiders. Make sense?? A total seller/buyer/user environment. As you can see, this is way beyond the needs of 99% of sites that are not image/stock agencies or adult-niche providers.
I still hope to release the 03.xx.xx MultiUp version this week, and the extra time has moved it from an early beta to what I hope will be a final beta release (only bug fixes) before the Final.
Hope that helps.
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