Event Calendar v3

[DivaVocals]

My website was setup three years ago to be fluid and flexible, so that it caters to a diversity of screen sizes, as per the code for the display of images in tpl_events_calendar_default.php and stylesheet_events_calendar.css. As such my website does not need the dimensions of any images to be specified exactly, even though I usually set maximums for large images to 800x600px at 96 dpi or around 400kb. While I recognise that others may not have setup their websites in this way, the writing has been on the wall since mobile phones and tablets could access the internet. While it remains to be seen whether the next release of zencart will revamp the standard template to be fluid and flexible, I am convinced fluid and flexible design is an inevitability for future releases.

The roadmap for 1.6 includes a re-vamped responsive default template. That said, not everyone is going to have a fluid or responsive template in place, and if they are using this module there really needs to be features in place to protect shopowevers from engaging in bad habits.. Just because YOU know better doesn't mean that EVERYONE using this module will.. The features need to be GLOBAL not based on a specific setup.. Sure user education will help some, but sadly NOT the majority.. So the module does need some more global controls/features in place to ensure that best practices are followed.. All of this can be made completely flexible so that shopowners who don't need protection from themselves can operate their shops the way they want to..

I believe the problem of image size will be largely limited to those who blindly adopt other's images without a thought to tailoring same for their website. In this day and age, store owners/developers should know better.

Developers perhpas.. the average DIY shopowner (a LARGE part of the open source community) umm... not so much.. The assumption that DIY shopowners will come to the table with the SAME knowledge as a developer is a faulty assumption and it should not drive the features of any module.. In fact to a certain degree the module (like any other app development) must assume that the user will NOT know all the technical things we THINK/ASSUME they should know about technology and "how it works".

[dw08gm]

Diva

Respectfully, the code is already fully flexible and compact. The only thing shopowners will do if they upload large images is cost themselves and their customers a little extra in bandwidth. No big deal in the greater scheme.

If stupid is as stupid does, let the storeowner bear the brunt of the customer - seriously.

Cheers

[DivaVocals]

Diva

Respectfully, the code is already fully flexible and compact. The only thing shopowners will do if they upload large images is cost themselves and their customers a little extra in bandwidth. No big deal in the greater scheme.

If stupid is as stupid does, let the storeowner bear the brunt of the customer - seriously.

Cheers

Sorry but I respectfully disagree with this POV, and I certainly wasn't talking about "bloating" the code for this module.. but ya'll do what you think is best.. I like Rus' direction because it minimizes "stupid is as stupid does". I think it's the right direction.. You disagree.. **shrug** we'll just have to agree to disagree then..

[LaCamus]

...I usually set maximums for large images to 800x600px at 96 dpi or around 400kb. While I recognise that others may not have setup their websites in this way, the writing has been on the wall since mobile phones and tablets could access the internet. While it remains to be seen whether the next release of zencart will revamp the standard template to be fluid and flexible, I am convinced fluid and flexible design is an inevitability for future releases.

I think we are in agreement on the major points here. A resizing of all images to a maximum allowable size should be global and built into the core release of Zen Carts. But I don't have access as a developer to the Zen Carts core, I was just doing what I thought was right for this module since I was there working inside the code at the time. My initial reason for being there was because of an error when uploading images using the same name. As I posted in my initial message, I'm looking to help and don't want to step on toes.

As you just stated you "usually set maximums", if that feature was configured into zen through variable settings in the admin menus it would be nice. For those who want to be more hands on set the vars to 0 and no resizing will be done, nice and easy. For those who don't (or are electronically challenged) you snap the photo of your product, upload, done. There would be no need to resize using a 3rd party product (irfanview, paint, etc.)...it just cuts out an exta step. Plus when your resizing in another program the control is all with you, you have to get it right... did you set the right width? height? Was that 800 or 640? Once you set it in zen carts it is done and you don't have to worry about getting it right...every single time.

I believe the problem of image size will be largely limited to those who blindly adopt other's images without a thought to tailoring same for their website. In this day and age, store owners/developers should know better.

When the store owner took a photo of one of his products (he does not adopt other's images) and uploaded it in admin, then refreshed the store side page and the image took over the screen, at the time, he did not know better. He does now. Even with his list of image dimensions posted on the wall next to the monitor it doesn't mean it won't happen again, it probably will. But wasn't the reason we humans created these hunks of electronic parts controlled by 1's and 0's to make our lives easier and limit the mistakes? To err is human after all.

For the time being I'll hang back and check for updates from time to time...just let me know if I can help.

I guess, at least, we got rid of the bugs when deleting/copying images and also with the creation of the manufacturer/category/product links...that's something.

Rus

[DivaVocals]

I think we are in agreement on the major points here. A resizing of all images to a maximum allowable size should be global and built into the core release of Zen Carts. But I don't have access as a developer to the Zen Carts core, I was just doing what I thought was right for this module since I was there working inside the code at the time. My initial reason for being there was because of an error when uploading images using the same name. As I posted in my initial message, I'm looking to help and don't want to step on toes.

As you just stated you "usually set maximums", if that feature was configured into zen through variable settings in the admin menus it would be nice. For those who want to be more hands on set the vars to 0 and no resizing will be done, nice and easy. For those who don't (or are electronically challenged) you snap the photo of your product, upload, done. There would be no need to resize using a 3rd party product (irfanview, paint, etc.)...it just cuts out an exta step. Plus when your resizing in another program the control is all with you, you have to get it right... did you set the right width? height? Was that 800 or 640? Once you set it in zen carts it is done and you don't have to worry about getting it right...every single time.



When the store owner took a photo of one of his products (he does not adopt other's images) and uploaded it in admin, then refreshed the store side page and the image took over the screen, at the time, he did not know better. He does now. Even with his list of image dimensions posted on the wall next to the monitor it doesn't mean it won't happen again, it probably will. But wasn't the reason we humans created these hunks of electronic parts controlled by 1's and 0's to make our lives easier and limit the mistakes? To err is human after all.

Nods in agreement with all of this..

Training should be a means to teach users how to USE an application and not simply a means to prevent issues. Training is not always a good substitute for correcting what might require a usability solution. There are plenty of examples I can site where issue prevention can often easily be built into application functionality.

In my career as a Business Analyst/Project Manager/Solutions Specialist, I find that apps that are HIGHLY configurable can best serve the widest audiences/user groups possible.. Not all shopowners come to the table with the same needs, knowledge, or even skillsets.. Application features need to take into account ALL of these considerations and not simply solve usability issue with more user docs and training..

Not trying to change anyone's mindset.. Folks are free to disagree.. I am just simply contributing my three cents to the conversation..

[DivaVocals]

So I uploaded and tried Rus' code in whole.. I LIKE IT!! The image management features are pretty nice.. That said I have a few issues as follows:

• Sidebox doesn't work.. Dunno why.. I have it running on a local server and I wonder if that is part of the issue..
• I cannot link a product or category to an event. When I select a category or product from the dropdowns, they simply revert to the dropdown default. I can link a manufacturer..

[DivaVocals]

So I uploaded and tried Rus' code in whole.. I LIKE IT!! The image management features are pretty nice.. That said I have a few issues as follows:

• Sidebox doesn't work.. Dunno why.. I have it running on a local server and I wonder if that is part of the issue..
• I cannot link a product or category to an event. When I select a category or product from the dropdowns, they simply revert to the dropdown default. I can link a manufacturer..

Okay confirmed my event sidebox doesn't work.. It looks like it is trying to display the whole site homepage inside the sidebox.. Remind me why again this sidebox is using an iframe to display the events??

http://zentestcart(dot)overthehillweb(dot)com/

[LaCamus]

Okay confirmed my event sidebox doesn't work.. It looks like it is trying to display the whole site homepage inside the sidebox.. Remind me why again this sidebox is using an iframe to display the events??

http://zentestcart(dot)overthehillweb(dot)com/

Real quick:
Is the event sidebox working with the original ec_4_alpha.zip version but not mine?
The select boxes aren't working even after what I sent you?

Is it possible to get admin access to that site? If not can you go to an event in the admin and "view source" and send me a copy?

Thanks,
Rus

[LaCamus]

Okay confirmed my event sidebox doesn't work.. It looks like it is trying to display the whole site homepage inside the sidebox.. Remind me why again this sidebox is using an iframe to display the events??

Also is that version 1.5.1?

[LaCamus]

Okay confirmed my event sidebox doesn't work.. It looks like it is trying to display the whole site homepage inside the sidebox.. Remind me why again this sidebox is using an iframe to display the events??[/URL]

I see why iframes is being used...it is a quick ajax substitute. It works fine for me, but not for you. I went to your page and saw why...it is not pulling the main page in, it is pulling the calendar table for the current month and year, but it is pulling it in with all of the headers, footers and side boxes attached. Again, I am very new to Zen Carts, but based on what I read here (http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.p...o-show-EZpages) you may be able to set the page "index.php?main_page=events_calendar_include" up in ezpages and then remove the header/footer/etc. through the ezpage settings. You can also create a separate main page that includes only the center column (require($body_code);) and then add it with ezpages and again use the settings to remove the header/footer/etc.

--------------------------
Just thinking though...hold up...

...did you add the required code to includes/templates/your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php?

The following is required at the beginning of the file:

<?php
  if (isset($_GET['eventmode']) && $_GET['eventmode'] == 'eventframe') {
  $_SESSION['navigation']->remove_current_page();
  require($body_code);
  } else {
?>

and this is required at the end of the file:

<?php
}
?>

You would need to do this for all of your templates that use the event calendar.

If you added this and it still isn't working please send me a copy of the above file so I can see if some other variable is being used (or possibly none at all).

Rus