Image Handler 3 Support Thread (for ZC v1.3.9)

[DivaVocals]

Ok, I did not want to wait a long time, I need it for a production site. In this case, wait for your version. :-)

Well we work as fast as VOLUNTEERS who receive no compensation for donating our time can work.. Plus I like to conduct a THOROUGH UA testing and to write proper user documents.

All of that takes TIME to put together.. I understand folks need THINK they need this TODAY, but the truth is that v1.3.9h is stable and safe and v1.5 upgrades don't HAVE to happen today. So a taking a little extra time to do this right in my opinion is the best way to proceed for the long term versus tossing something RUSHED over the fence to the community.

That said it sounds like you have a solution for yourself. So your upgrade effort isn't being impeded by waiting for our release to be finished. That said this is open source so there's NOTHING stopping you from submitting your version. However, since there has been an active ongoing effort to update this add-on I am glad you are choosing to wait and let us FINISH our release and get it out to the community.

[DivaVocals]

That said it sounds like you have a solution for yourself. So your upgrade effort isn't being impeded by waiting for our release to be finished. That said this is open source so there's NOTHING stopping you from submitting your version. However, since there has been an active ongoing effort to update this add-on I am glad you are choosing to wait and let us FINISH our release and get it out to the community.

Let me clarify this last part..

ryska it sounds like you have a solution for your own upgrade solution so while it's nice that you have chosen to wait for our release for your own upgrade, I was MORE concerned about you submitting your release before my team gets a chance to submit ours.

While I certainly can't stop you from sharing your update with the community, I am glad you have chosen to NOT to submit it and allow us to get our release out. I think it would have created a fair amount of confusion if our release is submitted to the community RIGHT behind your release. (which I am betting based on the included enhancements looks NOTHING like yours )

[DarkAngel]

No plans AT ALL to make IH4 backwards compatible.. Shop owners will need to upgrade to Zen Cart v1.5 to use IH4. Only reason to consider making an add-on backwards compatible is if we were fixing bugs currently existing..

There are a few new features/improvements in IH4:

• Seriously EASY auto installer and equally easy uninstaller. (retains backups of "pre IH3" core files for easy rollback in the event of an uninstall)
• Improved language support (removed all hard-coded text and moved into proper language files)
• Enhancements to help further reduce errors from invalid file uploads
• Use IH4 Image Manager even if you choose NOT to use any of the image caching or other management features.

Given the free time being invested by ALL the volunteers involved in this upgrade effort, it is not worth making any serious effort to update IH3 to include these same features/enhancements -- even for the sake of backwards compatibility.

IH3 is stable and works for Zen Cart v1.3.9 stores.. Therefore, the enhancements in IH4 will be available only if you upgrade to Zen Cart v1.5.

tjanks Diva, one can always count on you to give an answer. When and if we ever do upgrade to 1.5 we will most certainly use the IH4 vs another persons---only because I know the hard work put into this one with the various updates and have used it so am aware it works properly...no offense meant to anyone else.

[DivaVocals]

tjanks Diva, one can always count on you to give an answer. When and if we ever do upgrade to 1.5 we will most certainly use the IH4 vs another persons---only because I know the hard work put into this one with the various updates and have used it so am aware it works properly...no offense meant to anyone else.

You're welcome IH4 is pretty nice IMHO..

[gigdates]

I installed IH3 few minutes ago and after minor modifications it works under 1.5. Tomorrow will test and provide for download in download section.

Where is this mythical downloads section I am hearing so much about? Is the download ready?

Thank you!

[DivaVocals]

Where is this mythical downloads section I am hearing so much about? Is the download ready?

Thank you!

So you apparently missed ALL of the follow-up discussion that followed ryska's post..

Suggest waiting.. There has been an effort already underway to put together an updated Image Handler which is v1.5 compatible.. we have a new and IMPROVED version that is in the final testing stages.. (you apparently missed all the posts about this effort) The plan was (and still is) to submit the updated version this weekend.. I will probably make it available on my site while we wait for approval..

Ok, I did not want to wait a long time, I need it for a production site. In this case, wait for your version. :-)

Well we work as fast as VOLUNTEERS who receive no compensation for donating our time can work.. Plus I like to conduct a THOROUGH UA testing and to write proper user documents.

All of that takes TIME to put together.. I understand folks need THINK they need this TODAY, but the truth is that v1.3.9h is stable and safe and v1.5 upgrades don't HAVE to happen today. So a taking a little extra time to do this right in my opinion is the best way to proceed for the long term versus tossing something RUSHED over the fence to the community.

That said it sounds like you have a solution for yourself. So your upgrade effort isn't being impeded by waiting for our release to be finished. That said this is open source so there's NOTHING stopping you from submitting your version. However, since there has been an active ongoing effort to update this add-on I am glad you are choosing to wait and let us FINISH our release and get it out to the community.

Let me clarify this last part..

ryska it sounds like you have a solution for your own upgrade solution so while it's nice that you have chosen to wait for our release for your own upgrade, I was MORE concerned about you submitting your release before my team gets a chance to submit ours.

While I certainly can't stop you from sharing your update with the community, I am glad you have chosen to NOT to submit it and allow us to get our release out. I think it would have created a fair amount of confusion if our release is submitted to the community RIGHT behind your release. (which I am betting based on the included enhancements looks NOTHING like yours )

If ryska wants to share his version with you, you can certainly contact him about sending it to you.. and let's be CLEAR here -- he's NOT obligated to share his version with ANYONE. As you can see from previous posts, ryska has graciously agreed to not submit his update and allow us to finish our QA testing, updating the add-on documentation, and properly submit the new AND IMPROVED Image Handler 4 for Zen Cart v1.5. In doing so I believe this will minimize community confusion.

The documentation is being updated, and I am hoping we can submit it this weekend.. We appreciate the communities patience.

[gigdates]

So you apparently missed ALL of the follow-up discussion that followed ryska's post..





If ryska wants to share his version with you you can certainly contact him about sending it to you.. ryska has graciously agreed to not submit his update and allow us to finish our QA testing, updating the add-on documentation, and properly submit the new AND IMPROVED Image Handler 4 for Zen Cart v1.5. In doing so I believe this will minimize community confusion.

The documentation is being updated, and I am hoping we can submit it this weekend.. We appreciate the communities patience.

I didn't miss ALL the posts, I just got confused since there where so many! . I will stand by for later this weekend! Where can I submit a cash donation? I am sure others want to know as well!

[niccol]

'It works' may not always be quite enough in this post-PCI apocalyptic world that we live in. As has been discussed in many threads on this and other forums.

Like others I got IH working on 1.5 pretty quickly. Do I want to say to tens of thousands of users that my version is secure? Do I want to provide support for all those users?

If the answer is 'not really' then I would just be releasing some un-supported bit of code. Now there is a time and place for unsupported code, but in my opinion IH isn't it.

By which I mean that I applaud all those people who work on a thoroughly tested, well constructed release of IH4 . It is a lot of work and needs to be done right.

[DivaVocals]

'It works' may not always be quite enough in this post-PCI apocalyptic world that we live in. As has been discussed in many threads on this and other forums.

Like others I got IH working on 1.5 pretty quickly. Do I want to say to tens of thousands of users that my version is secure? Do I want to provide support for all those users?

If the answer is 'not really' then I would just be releasing some un-supported bit of code. Now there is a time and place for unsupported code, but in my opinion IH isn't it.

Let me highlight this because I think it's the part of releasing add-ons into the wild that is an important consideration..

By which I mean that I applaud all those people who work on a thoroughly tested, well constructed release of IH4 . It is a lot of work and needs to be done right.

Why thank you!!

I agree and this why I am approaching the release in this manner.. It's nice to get such a compliment from someone of your caliber!!!

We really do need to make sure IH4 is as bullet proof as we can make these things.. that it works on different server configurations.. that it works with various store setups.. that it provides proper language support (something IH has NEVER done well BTW), that we address issues, etc..

We also want to make sure the documentation is updated and IMPROVED.. As good as the IH3 readme docs are, we are IMPROVING them which will improve the overall user experience using IH4.

NOT ONE BIT of this level of attention to detail happens overnight..

So I will say it again, IH3 and Zen Cart v1.3.9h is STABLE.. there is NO NEED to rush a Zen Cart v1.5 upgrade, and I won't personally be involved (or use) any add-on that was RUSHED out because of the PERCEPTION that an upgrade had to happen RIGHT NOW!!!

[ScriptJunkie]

Adding to what Diva and the others have said....those who insist upon using their own or another's hacked up (an probably lacking in proper security) version of IH3 with ZC 1.50 will have to do a complete uninstall in order to be able to install IH4.

This is because so much will be changing in IH4 (including the file structure, the installation process, and the files themselves) that an upgrade from a hacked up IH3 installed on to ZC150 is simply not possible without royally messing up your store.

IMO, it is best to wait until IH4 for ZC150 is completed, tested, documented, stable, and released. Nobody is served when they have to double their efforts to uninstall a hack to make room for an official version.

As soon as IH4 for ZC 150 is ready, an announcement will be made on this thread. A link to the new IH4 support thread, as well as to the download section will also be posted. Suggest all who are as excited about IH4 as we are, subscribe to this thread and watch for updates :)

We really do need to make sure IH4 is as bullet proof as we can make these things.. that it works on different server configurations.. that it works with various store setups.. that it provides proper language support (something IH has NEVER done well BTW), that we address issues, etc..

We also want to make sure the documentation is updated and IMPROVED.. As good as the IH3 readme docs are, we are IMPROVING them which will improve the overall user experience using IH4.

NOT ONE BIT of this level of attention to detail happens overnight..

So I will say it again, IH3 and Zen Cart v1.3.9h is STABLE.. there is NO NEED to rush a Zen Cart v1.5 upgrade, and I won't personally be involved (or use) any add-on that was RUSHED out because of the PERCEPTION that an upgrade had to happen RIGHT NOW!!!