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Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing

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Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing
I have been spending several hours here reading old threads concerning images and thumbnails... I really need some help.

I wish to substitute a current ASP based application with LSQL. The application allows users to upload up to 3 pictures per page + some text and details about their cat. Then it creates a detailed page for that cat. Users can have multiple pages for each cat. On the listing pages (the directory pages or the search results pages), I want visitors to see a thumbnail of one of the uploaded pictures.

If LSQL can do this for me then I'm going to purchase another license for my other site - thecatsite.com where this will be. Right now I'm playing around with the file upload features on my LSQL that I use to run meowhoo.com.

I have read here about how there's a problem with displaying images that are stored in hashed form. As I predict well over 10,000 images in the future, I guess I'm going to need to use this method. I will need a working thumbnail script here so I don't think I can use the jump.cgi feature for displaying the images. Also, I wish to save on server resources and display those images statically and not dynamically. So... is there a plugin or something else that let's you display stored images without using the jump.cgi? I read about the global Alex suggested, but couldn't figure out if this was it. Also, is there a viable thumbnail script anyone here uses or knows of?

Last and not least - I would like the script to use the same usernames and passwords as my VB forums so people wouldn't have to remember multiple usernames/passwords. I don't mind if the login is seperate though one login (use of the VB cookie) would be preferable. I understand there's a plug-in to so this - but want to make sure it won't interfere with the images issue.

When replying, please bear in mind I am a cat behaviorist and pregnant Wink I am no tech expert and this is costing me not only a fortune in money but also hours of frustration... so please try to be as non-techie as possible in your replies - much appreciated!

If you love cats - visit www.TheCatSite.com

Visit my LinkSQL based Cat Site - www.Meowhoo.com
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Re: [Anat] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
I just found Andy's thumbnail plugin on the list of plugins on this site - but I don't see how I can buy it or how much it costs? the link sends you to his website but the plugin isn't there Unimpressed

If you love cats - visit www.TheCatSite.com

Visit my LinkSQL based Cat Site - www.Meowhoo.com
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Re: [Anat] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
If this is running on a Unix box, I have a thumbnailer/upload script that can be modified to do 3 images per link fairly easily. It's just a variation of the logo program, for 3 fields, rather than 1.

I could add a hashed storage system based on the LinkID fairly easily, if you are looking at a smallish directory, like 10-20,000 links. Every system I've tried seems to break on really large databases, because the computer-friendly layout is human-unfriendly, and vice versa, and any mapping starts to get complicated. Anyway....

Drop me a Pm with the details if you are interested.

The caveat here is that I know it works on Unix systems, but requires the netpbm package to be installed. That's a much lighter weight package than ImageMagick and can be installed in a user directory if necessary. You need to have the jpeg and other related packages installed on your server, and while most new installs do have the dependencies, older ones can be pretty hairy to bring up to speed. Whether you have the necessary packages depends on your hosting set up. Several of the older netpbm utilities were really Unix Shell Scripts, so they didn't run in a Windows environment. I *think* most of those were rewritten into executables a few releases ago, but am not sure.


PUGDOG� Enterprises, Inc.

The best way to contact me is to NOT use Email.
Please leave a PM here.
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Re: [pugdog] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Thanks for the quick reply.

What I have in mind is a directory of that number of links/listings (10-20k) each having 3 pictures. Only one picture needs to be turned into a thumbnail to be displayed with the link itself (the 3 pictures will show up on the detailed page).

I have a UNIX server (dedicated but not very strong).

I have found a page that explains how to add a PHP script that creates thumbnails -

http://www.teckis.com/...thumbnails/teck.html

I don't know any PHP myself but seems like they have something called libraries which I assume is some sort of premade scripts?

Anyway, I have an offer from a PHP programmer to write me a custom made application to run this section. I was considering going with LSQL as I'm familiar with it and I like its options. Reading more through these forums I think maybe I should really leave the whole thing to the professional and go with his offer. His offer is also cheaper and looks like if I go with LSQL it's going to cost me even more than $450 with the different plugins...

Thanks anyway!

If you love cats - visit www.TheCatSite.com

Visit my LinkSQL based Cat Site - www.Meowhoo.com
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Re: [Anat] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
In Reply To:
I just found Andy's thumbnail plugin on the list of plugins on this site - but I don't see how I can buy it or how much it costs? the link sends you to his website but the plugin isn't there Unimpressed

Availability: Requires Purchasing
Price: $50 - << BUY >>
Links SQL Version Required: 2.1.2

Buy Link: https://www.paypal.com/...sql.net/sell/buy.php

Not sure how you missed it :)

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
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Re: [Anat] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hello,

we work on a plugin for links sql which did not use the internal file upload of links sql.

It use a new field "screenshot", mirror this screenshot and resize it to different files

which you can define in the configuration.

Now you can use the image with only one link like

<img src="url_to_your_image_dir/1st_size/<%ID%>.jpg">

<img src="url_to_your_image_dir/2st_size/<%ID%>.jpg">

The Plugin is not 100% ready yet, but we use it daily to generate thumbnails...

Best regards from
Bremen/Germany

Lothar
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Re: [eljot] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
There is a difference between advertising a working plugin, and still writing it. Your getting as bad as webmaster33 Wink

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [eljot] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hi Lothar,

This sounds good if you mean that you get the screenshot directly from the URL without uploading it? How?
If this is indeed what you mean, I think a lot of people would find this very useful. I still think Andy's plugin is what people need for something like a products database but it has always seemed crazy that for a website directory you need to do so much by hand to get thumbnails of the websites.

Edit: I just read the posts about this plugin in the plugins forum - doesn't look like it will do this. Oh well - wishful thinking.

Laura.

Last edited by:

afinlr: Jul 21, 2003, 4:39 AM
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Re: [afinlr] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hi Laura,

We did not create the screenshot from the website. This must be done by the

webmaster which add a link to database. He has to fill a field named as Screenshot (or anything you like)

with a url to the screenshot by example:

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/..._multiple_upload.gif

Then we mirror this image and resize it to the thumbnails.

I use Links SQL as Software Archive and wan't create the thumbnails for the screenshots

by hand for each software. I don't know if this is usefull for website directorys. How many webmasters have a screenshot from their site? But If your directory is needful, the webmasters will create the screenshot to get listed on your directory Wink

Best regards from
Bremen/Germany

Lothar
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Re: [eljot] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hi;

We use screenshots as well as screenshots of running Windows software.
So yes, your software could be useful for us.

And a batch directory scanning feature where the cgi takes all the images in one directory, and in a single step, makes the thumbnails, would be desired.


But what do you mean by "Mirror"? That sounds like the server ends up with 2 copies of a front page image, which would be not desirable from a storage issue.

Andy has a possibly similar product, so he is griping. But asking for feedback before a plugin is released is legitimate and helps the end users!!

Last edited by:

webslicer: Jul 21, 2003, 11:17 AM
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hello webslicer,

mirror means, that no one have to upload any images to your site

because the plugin grab the picture from the url which is added in the

field screenshot (or what you like) and save it on your server.

We had no function to delete the images at this time.



We develop this Plugin primary for our own use and not for selling.

The idea for this plugin was: "saving time and have a better site as others"

because we are webmasters and not programmers.

Best regards from
Bremen/Germany

Lothar
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
>>>And a batch directory scanning feature where the cgi takes all the images in one directory, and in a single step, makes the thumbnails, would be desired.
<<<

Mine does this. It lets you run the plugin, and it will re-generate any thumbnails of existing, and non-existing thumbnails (great if you change the thumbs desired image size)

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [Andy] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Hi, Andy;

I will look yours up.
It does not appear on the page linked to your signature line... "Links SQL Plugins" .. So where is it?

http://new.linkssql.net/page.php?page=products
Is this an old page?
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Weird. I'll get that put on now. The URL is;

http://new.linkssql.net/...mp;page=Thumb_Images

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [Andy] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Yeah, That sales page is old and does not include your latest plugins. I compared it against one of your other pages.

Hey, why don't you switch to static pages?
Search engines will index your site easier, for sure.
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
I may get my friend to write me some mod_rewrite codes that will make it search engine friendly. I am currently using dynamic due to the fact that when I change something on my site, I only have to edit one template, and the whole site is affected. Much nicer than having to edit 50-100 templates Tongue

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
In Reply To:
Yeah, That sales page is old and does not include your latest plugins. I compared it against one of your other pages.

I've updated the products page. It should have my 3 latest plugins on it now Smile

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [Andy] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Andy;

Just my 2 cents...mileage will varyCool

Static is just as easy - I don't believe that you will have to do any more editing. If you think that it will take more work, can you explain? Dynamic is easier for a site with a million pages for sure, but a site with less than 10,000 pages....static!

Often includes simplify pages from a updating standpoint, anyways. Then you just edit footer.txt once and all the pages change...

And if your cgi goes dead, the static pages are still there!
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Re: [webslicer] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Yeah, static is good... but because of my login area (for plugin owners), I need it in PHP really. Also, using header.txt and footer.txt is still in dynamic, cos its using SSI or simiar Tongue

Cheers

Andy (mod)
andy@ultranerds.co.uk
Want to give me something back for my help? Please see my Amazon Wish List
GLinks ULTRA Package | GLinks ULTRA Package PRO
Links SQL Plugins | Website Design and SEO | UltraNerds | ULTRAGLobals Plugin | Pre-Made Template Sets | FREE GLinks Plugins!
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Re: [Andy] Maybe this should go in PreSales... Thumbnails of images from detailed pages to represent the listing In reply to
Depending on server config, you can use an include to put PHP into a HTML page. We do.

There's no reason you can't mix PHP pages and straight HTML pages, so you can use anything you want to edit your login pages, and display them using PHP (login.php, as a made up example), for sure.

Dynamic? Not exactly sure what you are getting at. All includes are a "dynamic" process. But they will work if CGI is down.