linking to external images, outside of 'images/'

[emphatic]

I am having a small problem. I was able to link to external images (commercially hosted), by putting the URL in the products table in the product_image field. Then by editing the '$src' variable in the 'zen_image' function, (use the developer toolkit to find it, then use the php function str_replace() to strip DIR_WS_IMAGES from the $src variable), I can get the product pictures to show in all places but the main product page (inside of <!--bof Main Product Image -->). What I'm wondering is why the developer's use javascript to serve the php code that puts the product photo on the product detail page?

btw the popup works and shows the picture as well. Also, the <img> tag is formatted properly and should work since the src attribute is the correct one in the final HTML output.

I'm assuming it's a load order issue.

Any suggestions.

[kobra]

My suggestion is one of web ettique...it is not normally nice and in some cases allowed to steal another websites bandwidth serving images to your site. Consider, if you have your site setup this way and they configure to dis-allow linking...BAM your site is compromised. JMO

[emphatic]

i'm sorry, maybe I wasn't completely clear. THE IMAGES ARE COMMERCIALLY HOSTED! As I mentioned in my original post. This means I have PAID for them to be hosted REMOTELY. Also please notice that I mention the picture SHOWS UP everywhere else but the main product page. (if it were a hotlink protection issue, none of the pics would be showing) Sorry for confusing you.

Anyone else???

btw, a lesson in web ettiquette, it is customary to READ THE ENTIRE POST, twice if neccessary for clarity. (I mean you basically accuse me of theft, even though my post says otherwise ... uncouth to say the least.)

[emphatic]

Should haveknown it would be something simple!!!!! The URL's involved are so long, I hadn't noticed that Zen appends things to the product_image field. (For me the appended text is _MED. I've seen this mentioned in a few places in the forum as well.) Should be simple to fix.

Fixed. Same fix as above. Thanks anyway.

[kobra]

emphatic,

btw, a lesson in web ettiquette, it is customary to READ THE ENTIRE POST, twice if neccessary for clarity. (I mean you basically accuse me of theft, even though my post says otherwise ... uncouth to say the least.)

Sorry that you took this personally, I was referring to "bandwidth" and this is done, and probably too much.

I was able to link to external images (commercially hosted)

Reading 50 times would not have altered my post as you only state "commercialy hosted", and this can refer to any images that are on the web as I consider all my sites to be commercially hosted as are the images. I know now, that you knew what you meant and hope that you can see that this is not fully clear by what you stated.

[tami5]

CAn someone explain exactly how this is done and where to make the changes? I have the same need -external images.

[webejant]

Hello,

I just migrated here from OsCommerce where I linked to external images for my products through a contribution I found and it worked perfectly. I am now using Zen Cart and have not figured out how to do it with Zen Cart. I found this post, but, as a "newbie" to Zen, I needed simple copy and paste instructions, so, this post did not help as of yet. The following is what I did in OsCommerce, and yes, I am aware that Zen and OsC are different, but, will something similiar work? And if so, can someone give me a simple copy and paste to make it work? And yes, I have permission from my online supplier to link to their image server, so, no etiquette is compromised.



1.) Open catalog/includes/configure.php



add the following line of code to the end of the file before the last ?>

define('DIR_EXT_HTTP', 'http://');



2.) Open catalog/product_info.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



3.) Open catalog/includes/modules/new_products.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



4.) Open catalog/includes/modules/product_listing.php



find the following line

$lc_text = '&nbsp;<a href="' . tep_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCT_INFO, ($cPath ? 'cPath=' . $cPath . '&' : '') . 'products_id=' . $listing['products_id']) . '">' . tep_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $listing['products_image'], $listing['products_name'], SMALL_IMAGE_WIDTH, SMALL_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '</a>&nbsp;';



and replace with

$lc_text = '&nbsp;<a href="' . tep_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCT_INFO, ($cPath ? 'cPath=' . $cPath . '&' : '') . 'products_id=' . $listing['products_id']) . '">' . tep_image(DIR_EXT_HTTP . $listing['products_image'], $listing['products_name'], SMALL_IMAGE_WIDTH, SMALL_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '</a>&nbsp;';





5.) Open catalog/includes/boxes/whats_new.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



6.) Open catalog/includes/boxes/specials.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



7.) Open catalog/includes/boxes/best_sellers.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



8.) Open catalog/popup_image.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



9.) Open catalog/shopping_cart.php



find the following line

DIR_WS_IMAGES



and replace it with:

DIR_EXT_HTTP



It is best to follow the above replacements for all boxes files used on your site.


Thanks in advance,
WeBeJanT

[mb01a]

Hello,

I just migrated here from OsCommerce where ...

I didn't want to quote the entire post, since I might chew up some extra bandwidth. I'm using Zen Cart 1.3.8a and also need to use external images.

The product images I need to use are located on a separate server and although I am allowed to use them, I must link to them - not copy them to my server. Rules are rules .. I just do whatever comes next.

So, if anyone has solved this issue or knows that the changes indicated in webejant's post will work ok with Zen Cart could you please let us know?

Thanks.
Mike

[micmed]

Welcome!

I was successful using this method:

http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Contribution:Web_images

I however need to be able to display multiple images on the product page.

Here is the thread that I describe it in:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...361#post821361

[Alexiss]

Do you know if this will work if i load my product using easy populate?

Thanks lexxie