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Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi

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Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi
I'm going to move discussions of these scripts here, until a better place pops up. They don't belong in the NG forum any more.

First, for those interested:

I have a new interface page up at http://postcards.com/...est/test_upload.html which allows you to pick some options to set on the thumbnail.

(you need to log in, and then go back, and enter the files again. The data stream is not being passed along with the redirect, and I'm not sure that can be fixed, but the final version will check "log-in status" before it presents the log on screen. I may disable the log-on, so if you don't get it, don't worry.... it can be annoying, but debugging is hell <G>)

On one of my machines the form is "sticky" and I have to "reload" the results to see what it did. On the other machine (running -- it claims -- ) the same versions of windows and MSIE it works fine, first time, every time. So, let me know how it works with your machine/browser combo.

Second:

For those who might be interested, I got a bit of help from Alex on the plug-in stuff, and I might even be able to make the first version a plug-in, or at least partially self-installable. The first version of all this seems to be working out into an image upload, thumbnail creator with display options and the postcards program (which can stand alone with a generic Links SQL).

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Features:

Postcards.cgi
1) works with links 1.13 as an add on script (uses library I/0 routines and templates).
2) works just like http://creepycards.com
3) version 2.0 will work with Links NG, and have additional features. It will also tie into the upload and gallery mods below.
4) (see the thread in Links SQL NG forum for some recent features discussion).
5) will be available when the Upload Files mod is released.

Upload Files (attachments)
1) allows attaching a file to a links record -- binary or text
2) allows post-processing of the files based on type binary or text
3) can create a thumbnail automatically, or resize and upload to a specified size. tries to read the image format, and not rely on the file extension.
4) basic manipulation tools -- add, modify, delete along with the links record.
5) later release will handle multiple image attachments and form the basis of the shopping/catalog/banner mod I've been working on.
6) Should be available within the week (it's 90% done).

Picture Post Gallery Mod:
1) will work as a full-install (requires links license) or as an add on to an existing links license.
2) will present images as thumbnails, in gallery format http://postcards.com/...bin/DP_Test/page.cgi
3) will tie in with the upload and postcards mods above.
4) click the demo link above for what it can do to the uploaded image.


===

All the programs rely on the GT and Links libraries for SQL access, template processing, and site building. They will provide a familiar and integrated way of adding functionality to your site.

Because of that, it should "plug" into your site design, using simple tags. In fact the catalog page display uses the same output tag - <%links%> as the regular display set, so no major mods are needed to your templates either.

I haven't planned a "sales pitch" on this stuff, so the feature list is evolving and eventually will be listed all in one place. For now, you'll need to scan the related threads (with "Image Gallery/Picture Post" in their title).

So far, the image upload has been about a week of 20 hour days, after 2 years of planning and thinking about it, and it's all going together really well. Better than I had hoped, actually :)


PUGDOGŪ
PUGDOGŪ Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ: http://pugdog.com/FAQ


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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
The upload works brilliant i really like the extra options you can add.

Suggestion, if you are requiring registering, either force registering/login before you get to the upload form or when they type in the information it is remembered and once registration is completed, you are taken back to the upload page with the information pre-filled.

http://www.ASciFi.com/ - The Science Fiction Portal
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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
Pugdog, how does the <%links%> bit work? Did you use the idea of requiring a top-level category for the image mod and the anything below it will use the image set templates as opposed to normal ones?

http://www.ASciFi.com/ - The Science Fiction Portal
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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
>> Suggestion, if you are requiring registering, either force registering/login
>> before you get to the upload form or when they type in the information it is
>> remembered and once registration is completed, you are taken back to the
>> upload page with the information pre-filled.

I think i said that somewhere in the ramblings above <G> The problem is the HTML page you are being sent to is static. Once you are directed to an upload.cgi or add.cgi first, the program can figure out you are registered BEFORE it prints out the upload form.

This is just to make my life easier at the moment, and if I walk away from the computer for too long, I have to re-register too.

But, it did show a "bug" in the HTTP upload system that won't bite me later on -- ie: data streams are not passed.



PUGDOGŪ
PUGDOGŪ Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ: http://pugdog.com/FAQ


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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
>> Pugdog, how does the <%links%> bit work? Did you use the idea of requiring a
>> top-level category for the image mod and the anything below it will use the
>> image set templates as opposed to normal ones?

I'm trying to be as flexible as possible. the "attachments" feature will just use the existing link.

The image-upload will attach to the links as multiple attachments (catalog, shopping, banners, auctions, etc)

The picture-post-gallery will:
1) use an 'isImage' tag
2) use a "Gallery" category.

I will try to make it work both ways. It will allow mixing images in with the regular links, and such. Of course, that means following some rules of layout, but that is inevitable. Because each element is going to be a <%tag%>, you can always break those rules at your own risk :)

I'm trying to be flexible.

As I think you pointed out in another message, I don't need 90% of what I'm adding in, but I'm trying to make sure it meets the needs of a wider audience.


PUGDOGŪ
PUGDOGŪ Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ: http://pugdog.com/FAQ


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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
Thanks pugdog, sorry about missing the top.. blame it on sleep deprivation.

I love how it will work as an image system for normal links as well as seperatly for picture post, exactly what i really wanted, perfect.

thanks.

http://www.ASciFi.com/ - The Science Fiction Portal
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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
I missed the window last night. I'm hitting some problems with hooking to the plug-in.

But, if you look at the demo URL http://postcards.com/...est/test_upload.html that is using the plug-in configuration, and mostly links calls now. It's just running as an external script, rather than hooked into the upload routines. Once I get that working/figured out, it's only a matter of a few hours to cut/paste in the working code, and make sure it all works as a plug in.

All the parts are working. It's just a matter of making them work together via the hooks/plug-in.

Since this upload-file upload/graphic is the most requested thing, I'll have it separated out from the other scripts so that you can just add this in, rather than all the photo/image processing stuff.

Basically, it will let you attach one file to the link record, either a text or binary file. No image processing on this, but that means it also requires no extra modules to be loaded from CPAN. It will be a simple plug-in and go.

If it's possible to add hooks-to-hooks (chaining plugins) (Alex?) I can leave in a branch to "If ascii ... do" and "if binary do.." that will allow you/others to add specific processing options to the uploaded files based on type, or size, or whatever.

As part of the basic package, I will try to tie it in to being designed as a "logo" mod, with the features that go along with that, as well as a "priority" flag. Since all this is related. As people use it, and I develop the larger programs, I can probably get this expanded to handle an unlimited number of attachments. I have some ideas how to differentiate between text (a link) and a graphic (thumbnail/link, or display).

Would $50 with free upgrades be unreasonable? Since it's a defined set of functions, once it's finished, only bug fixes, version upgrades, and such need to be added. The feature set stays pretty much the same. Unlike the gallery/post mod, which can keep growing forever, so upgrade fees are reasonable.

You know my code/mods are pretty complete :) They sort of handle all eventualities, so you know when I'm done it's going to "do it all" <G>



PUGDOGŪ
PUGDOGŪ Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ: http://pugdog.com/FAQ


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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
pugdog, is this an extra $50 or is it part of the picture post mod if we pay for that instead? i hope so hehe. :)

http://www.ASciFi.com/ - The Science Fiction Portal
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Re: Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
It's all in an upgrade path. Starting with the least featured and moving up to the full install.

PUGDOGŪ
PUGDOGŪ Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ: http://pugdog.com/FAQ


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Re: [pugdog] Image Gallery/Picture Post/postcards.cgi In reply to
Does all of this tech talk mean that someone of doing custom work on small photos for user profiles, the kind that are displayed next to the message?
kathleenc