Flash not working on my define_main_page

[balihr]

22 IMAGES?!?! Who's gonna see that? Some "standard" is up to 5 images, but even 7 can go through. But 22? Really? Let's say there's a 5 seconds delay between the slides - who's gonna be staring at your slideshow for almost 2 minutes? Think about it...

I like to use Nivo Slider and I integrate it to all of the sites I build. It's quite simple and very powerful. Plus, it's free.

1. Download it to your computer. Rename jquery.nivo.slider.pack.js to jscript_jquery.nivo.slider.pack.js and copy that file to includes/modules/pages/index/
If my memory serves me right, you're using Estorenow which already comes with jQuery so you're OK. (anyone else reading this - make sure you're utilizing jQuery with your template. if you're not, add jscript_jquery.js to your includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/jscript/ directory)

2. Create a new stylesheet in your includes/templates/estorenow/css/ and make sure it's called index_home.css (this will make that stylesheet load ONLY on main page). Copy all code from nivo-slider.css AND any of the themes you like. If you're lazy, use the file I attached which uses the default theme.

3. Find the 3 images used by nivo (nivo-slider/themes/default) and upload the images to your includes/templates/estorenow/images/

4. add the following code to your includes/templates/estorenow/common/html_header.php just before the ending </head> tag

<script type="text/javascript">
    $(window).load(function() {
        $('#slider').nivoSlider();
    });
    </script>

so it looks something like this:

// DEBUG: echo '<!-- I SEE cat: ' . $current_category_id . ' || vs cpath: ' . $cPath . ' || page: ' . $current_page . ' || template: ' . $current_template . ' || main = ' . ($this_is_home_page ? 'YES' : 'NO') . ' -->';


?>
<script type="text/javascript">
    $(window).load(function() {
        $('#slider').nivoSlider();
    });
    </script>
</head>
<?php // NOTE: Blank line following is intended: ?>

5. go to "admin -> tools -> define pages editor -> define_main_page.php" and make sure you're using Plain Text editor. Add the following code there:

<div class="slider-wrapper theme-default">
            <div id="slider" class="nivoSlider">
                <img src="images/toystory.jpg" alt="" />
                <a href="http://dev7studios.com"><img src="images/up.jpg" alt="" /></a>
                <img src="images/walle.jpg" alt="" />
                <img src="images/nemo.jpg" alt="" />
            </div>
        </div>

6. edit the images source and save your page. If your source is "images/your_image.jpg" make sure you upload the image to your images directory (not template's images)

This is it. Your slider should now appear on the main page. Some CSS tweaks might be required, most likely about slider width. You can duplicate the <img src... /> line for each of your images. Also, as the second demo image shows, you can make each image a link by wrapping it inside <a> tags. There are some additional settings (ie. delay, transition effect etc) that can be done with Nivo, check it out on their site.

Have fun!

[deemurphy]

Thank you. I will try this now. Just wanted to let you know The reason I ad so many images is because this site will sell all kinds of products like Amazon does and it will take you to other sites as well for products.

I appreciate the help.
LadyDee

[balihr]

One more thing you should keep in mind - 22 images will significantly slow your site down. Let's say your image will be only 50kB (which depends on image size, quality etc.), but let's say it's just 50kB. Loading 22 images is actually over a MB. Unless you're on a VERY good server, this will make your home page very slow. Of course, it depends on your server, but also keep in mind that not everyone can load 1+MB that fast. Also, the script I gave you will not show ANY images before ALL are loaded. Someone might not even see your slider... Think about it and try to cut down on the images, don't go over 10. It simply doesn't make any sense. I know I wouldn't be around waiting for the 15th to show up...

[deemurphy]

Good looking out, true not everyone has the same bandwidth or operating system which can also make the site slow to even come up.

LadyDee

[dgent]

Theres no way that can't work unless there is something up with your computer, which is what that message was telling you about upgrading.

Even if I simply drag a flash file into my browser it works.