Image Manager or HANDLER???

[nateberry]

Basically I want to know which one would be the better choice if I had to choose between the two which I do.. or better yet which one do you GUYS PREFER coming from non biased position...???

IMAGE MANAGER or IMAGE HANDLER?

[boudewijn]

Hi,

Let's start with a biased opinion, as I am the author of IM.
Before I started with IM, I did use IH. The good thing was, that it neatly created my images and watermarks.

There was one disadvantage however. In that time I needed to update quite some pictures on my site, and I noticed that an update of an image, even if I kept the name the same, did alter the URL to the image. As a result, Google had problems with the (already indexed) pictures. So I decided to switch back to regular URL's for the pictures, which meant basic Zen-Cart + own development. That's how IM got started.

IM is not fully mature yet. At least two major featues still must be added:
1. Filter additional images from the unattached files list
2. Add additional images to the attached files list, including all functions there are for the base files of course.

I guess it won't take ages before these features are ready: I expect that, in 2 or 3 months, we will be adding products to our shop that will need additional images. Likewise the need will be there to have these features ready by then.

Best regards,
Boudewijn

[nateberry]

So .. IM will make my site more SEO friendly???

[boudewijn]

IM won't alter the way Zen-Cart originally works with image URL's. It's an administrative tool that doesn't impact your store in any way, and only adds functionality to the admin part. So I guess you could say it doesn't make ZC more SEO unfriendly.....

Btw 1. and 2. mentioned above will be added soon. I fixed it in development but it's not thoroughly tested yet.

[nateberry]

I cant wait.. good work and good job.. Your work is really appreciated. Keep it pushn and you are the best

[nateberry]

Also How do I know it is working properly??? Where do I access IMAGE MANAGER and its tools?

[boudewijn]

Hi,

I tried to give extensive instructions about installation and operation in the readme, so you could check that out to get more info. If you find anything missing or not clear there, please report back.

After installation, IM is accessed from the admin interface, Tools->Image Manager.
The next version of IM will also have a bunch of configuration options, which can be accessed from the admin interface, Configuration->Image Manager.

I expect that the next release will be available this weekend.

[nateberry]

Yea I obviously did not install it correctly, cuz its not in the tools.... But I am sure I will get it.. Im a genius... but if I have any more problems I'll report back... Thanks again...

[nateberry]

ok so installed it again and its not popping up in the tools section what could I possibly not be doing.. I Ftped it and nothing... do I have chmod something or anything special besides uploading the includes folder along with the one php file that is not in the includes folder.. i put that in the root along with the includes folder right?

[boudewijn]

If you mean put the files in the web root, it's not quite right. The files should be copied to your <admin> folder......