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

[DivaVocals]

I have a question that I can't find answered in the readme. I have read the whole readme...

I've installed the snapshot mod running as cron after having a site hacked and starting fresh with Zen 1.5

I notice that there are continual additions to the BMZCache folder.

Are the images for IH4 created on demand by users browsing the site?

This is actually covered in the readme and on the first page of this support thread..

If so, is there anyway to force the script to run and create all the images at once so that the snapshot of the website files will remain unchanged?

No..

What does the clear cache in the admin tools actually do?

Clears the cache folders.. We did do some work on this for IH4, so it should be working now..

Should I exclude BMZcache from the snapshot tool? I'm reluctant to do this because I've heard hackers can disguise a file as an image. I certainly don't want to be hacked again and am now taking security as seriously as possibly.

there is an .htaccess file in the bmz_cache folder just like there is one in nearly every Zen Cart folder which should adequately prevent this activity..

Yep, this is my understanding.

Yes, my understanding is that this is how it works up to and until the cache is cleared. But..."first request" may be only in terms of visitor sessions/browser sessions (vs. the idea that one visitor browsing every single page of your store can completely create the bmz_cache folder files that will never ever change again). I have noticed that on my test site that nobody visits but me, the bmz_cache folder seems to grow over time.

So quite honestly, I would love for Diva or one of the other gurus that know this addon inside out and backwards to chime in on this point to make sure the info you're getting is entirely accurate.

There may be a bit more going on in the background that I'm not aware of

What you said is true.. first request is just that. The first request for the image. Once this first request is initiated, then after that any subsequent visits to that same page are served the image in the bmz_cache that was created..