Image Handler 4 (for v1.5.x) Support Thread

[DivaVocals]

@melanie
Just regarding the database actions ( and ignoring any discussion about file handling for the time being) the old installer:

1. made a number of changes to the configuration table

The new installer

1. makes a number of changes to the configuration table
2. makes a change to the admin_pages table
3. deletes the unused entries in the configuration table

Really the only significant difference is number 2. (Point 3 is just house-keeping) This is part of the changes that Zen 1.5 introduced. Without that new record the tools>>imagehandler menu item will not be visible. So, even if we reverted to the previous installer there would be an sql statement that needed to be run before one was able to see the 'install' button on the tools>>imagehandler page.

It seems sensible to run this sql statement programatically so that the tools>>imagehandler page is visible to people immediately after install. This has been discussed in multiple threads .

The current auto-install process removed the need for running a manual SQL statement, and niccol is absolutely right. there was a LONG discussion discussing doing just this in the v1.5 conversion thread. This discussion involved MANY knowledgeable Zen Cart gurus who endorsed the use of this method..

Once you are running a sql statement programatically it seems sensible to include all the other sql statements in that process as it
takes one step out of the installation process without adding any further complications.

Exactly!!!

Of course, an alternative solution would be:
1. Upload the files
2. Run an sql statement (through admin or directly on the database) to make the admin page visible by adding a record to admin_pages
3. Click on the install button on the admin page to action the other database changes.

But that does seem more complicated to me. It certainly adds a step of complication, that of running a sql statement manually, that IH has previously avoided.

I agree And this is EXACTLY the road IH4 started down until an angel lent us a helping hand..

The current auto-installer retains the same ONE STEP no-fuss install process that have been a historical part of the Image Handler process. The difference is that steps were taken to IMPROVE the prior one-step process. The upcoming update will see corrections/improvements in both the readme and the IH4 codebase. (none of which involve removing the auto-installer functionality)