Apple Ipad and uploading multiple images to the store

My client wants to upload multiple images for a product from their Ipad.
They are taking product photos with the Ipad.
They tell me that all the images on the Ipad are called image.jpg :blink:
I am not familiar with using Ipads but on my Windows pc its impossible to have two image files named the same.
The problem is when they want to do multiple images for a product. Apparently you can't rename an image file on the Ipad :ohmy:
So when they upload their multiple images it's just replacing images instead of showing multiple images.
I told them maybe they need to export to a pc, rename them, then import them back with different names.

Is there a way around this?

They say they are able to upload multiples of same name images to ebay and Gumtree.

The problem is most likely involving the naming of the file. https://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?100-how-do-i-add-multiple-images-to-a-product talks about how to name files for additional images.
Basically, if your main image is vinegar.jpg, naming the extras vinegar_01.jpg, vinegar_02.jpg, etc will automatically present the extra images.
There is an app called GoodReader that is supposed to give quite a bit of file management to the iPad including renaming images. It's a paid app so I have not tried it.
Another option is to use image handler. Image handler allows you to set any file as an additional image. With 1.5.4, you will need to find version 4.3.4 on github.

The advantage to the app would be that you could rename all the files and FTP them to the site in one swoop. Then the system would automatically put them where they belong. NOTE: Be sure to read the link fully if you decide to use the renaming app. Similar file names can get you in trouble by adding them to the wrong product. It's discussed in the link.

Annie_zaz:

They tell me that all the images on the Ipad are called image.jpg :blink:

That could well be the default name that they are presented with when 1st saving a new image, but I can assure you that they will never be able to save it using the same name as a pre existing image/file in the same folder.

Annie_zaz:

I am not familiar with using Ipads but on my Windows pc its impossible to have two image files named the same.

Not just Windows - But ALL computers regardless of the operating system. This is one of those *facts that will never change.

*caveat#1: Case sensitivity is to be taken into consideration - "Image.jpg" and "image.jpg" are not the same and will be allowed on most, but not all systems.

*caveat#2: Rarely seen these days, but way back in the distant past file names could only be 6(?) characters long, plus the 3character extension, and there was a brief period where it was possible for a file to effectively has 2 different names - the short one, and a long one - and it was sometimes possible to have 2 (or more) files that appeared to have the same name (the short one).

This is ancient history though and no longer relevant, so it's best to just accept the "fact" that filenames must be unique (withing the folder in which it resides)

Annie_zaz:

The problem is when they want to do multiple images for a product. Apparently you can't rename an image file on the Ipad :ohmy:

If true, that'll be a good reason for me to never buy an iPad. Not that I ever would - too expensive compared to other devices with equal or better specifications.

I'm not convinced this it true though. It just seems 'silly' to not have this ability. Mind you, 'silly' seems to be becoming more common as I get older. Perhaps that's just me though. ;-)

Annie_zaz:

So when they upload their multiple images it's just replacing images instead of showing multiple images.

Even this is 'silly'. Most programs/software will give the choice - rename or replace.

Annie_zaz:

I told them maybe they need to export to a pc, rename them, then import them back with different names.

If the claim that all of the images have been saved with the same name (not possible), then an 'export' to a PC probably wouldn't work either - unless the prg used for the export has its own renaming option as the export is occurring - else the pc will complain that the file already exists - resulting in an overwrite or a rename.

Annie_zaz:

Is there a way around this?

Unless demonstrated otherwise, I am going to be adamant that the statements aren't true.

Annie_zaz:

They say they are able to upload multiples of same name images to ebay and Gumtree.

I say this is 'bs' - There has to be some misunderstanding going on here and that things are not as they quite appear.

Cheers
RodG

Annie_zaz:

They say they are able to upload multiples of same name images to ebay and Gumtree.

It is possible these systems don't use the source filename (i.e. they rename the file according to their own standards). Zen Cart does, and in a very particular way. See the link that @dbltoe posted.

swguy:

It is possible these systems don't use the source filename (i.e. they rename the file according to their own standards).

Good point. Easy to prove - and yes, they do.

From a randomly selected ebay listing with two images:

I highly doubt that the original images would have been called "$_14.JPG" (and for the OP, even though both image names ARE the same, they are located in a different folder/directory (which would also have been automated by the upload process).

Now that I've had a bit of a think about this, with sites like Ebay/Gumtree this kind of automation and renaming would be the only thing they could do because with so many images, and so many uploaders it would be practically impossible to leave it up to the persons uploading to keep the names unique - and this uniqueness is needed else the computer(s) would have a meltdown trying to figure out which to use, (not a literal meltdown of course)

Cheers
RodG

dbltoe:

The problem is most likely involving the naming of the file. https://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?100-how-do-i-add-multiple-images-to-a-product talks about how to name files for additional images.
Basically, if your main image is vinegar.jpg, naming the extras vinegar_01.jpg, vinegar_02.jpg, etc will automatically present the extra images.
There is an app called GoodReader that is supposed to give quite a bit of file management to the iPad including renaming images. It's a paid app so I have not tried it.
Another option is to use image handler. Image handler allows you to set any file as an additional image. With 1.5.4, you will need to find version 4.3.4 on github.

The advantage to the app would be that you could rename all the files and FTP them to the site in one swoop. Then the system would automatically put them where they belong. NOTE: Be sure to read the link fully if you decide to use the renaming app. Similar file names can get you in trouble by adding them to the wrong product. It's discussed in the link.

Thanks dbltoe I forwarded that to the client yesterday. They seem adamant that it's not them and the renaming. I am beginning to think otherwise.

No worries.

RodG:

That could well be the default name that they are presented with when 1st saving a new image, but I can assure you that they will never be able to save it using the same name as a pre existing image/file in the same folder.

Not just Windows - But ALL computers regardless of the operating system. This is one of those *facts that will never change.

*caveat#1: Case sensitivity is to be taken into consideration - "Image.jpg" and "image.jpg" are not the same and will be allowed on most, but not all systems.

*caveat#2: Rarely seen these days, but way back in the distant past file names could only be 6(?) characters long, plus the 3character extension, and there was a brief period where it was possible for a file to effectively has 2 different names - the short one, and a long one - and it was sometimes possible to have 2 (or more) files that appeared to have the same name (the short one).

This is ancient history though and no longer relevant, so it's best to just accept the "fact" that filenames must be unique (withing the folder in which it resides)

If true, that'll be a good reason for me to never buy an iPad. Not that I ever would - too expensive compared to other devices with equal or better specifications.

I'm not convinced this it true though. It just seems 'silly' to not have this ability. Mind you, 'silly' seems to be becoming more common as I get older. Perhaps that's just me though. ;-)

Even this is 'silly'. Most programs/software will give the choice - rename or replace.

If the claim that all of the images have been saved with the same name (not possible), then an 'export' to a PC probably wouldn't work either - unless the prg used for the export has its own renaming option as the export is occurring - else the pc will complain that the file already exists - resulting in an overwrite or a rename.

Unless demonstrated otherwise, I am going to be adamant that the statements aren't true.

I say this is 'bs' - There has to be some misunderstanding going on here and that things are not as they quite appear.

Cheers
RodG

Hey RodG,
My nephew has an ipad so I got him to try to rename and image and he couldn't!
So I will advise the client to upload images to dropbox and rename then download.
Don't buy an ipad! lol

Annie_zaz:

Hey RodG,
My nephew has an ipad so I got him to try to rename and image and he couldn't!l

Apparently a 3rd party application is needed.

Annie_zaz:

So I will advise the client to upload images to dropbox and rename then download.

I'd like to know how this goes. Not the renaming aspect - but more so what the filenames end up as after the upload to Drop box.

I've just performed a couple of quick tests in this regard.

When I changed the image on my local machine and used a 'push' program to upload the 'new' file, it overwrote the original without warning, and no option to rename.

When I'm logged into DropB and 'pull' the same file, Dropbox automatically renamed the file by adding as "(1)", etc after the name, and before the prefix.

I'm assuming that the same behavior will exist with the iPad, and that is also assuming that the iPad has a Dropbox client that does a 'push' ---- So, if your client finds a problem where each image uploaded overwrites the previous image of the same name they will probably need to use a 'pull' method.

If a little confused between the 'push' and the 'pull', the difference (in simple terms) is that if the images/photos are automatically synced to drop box it is using 'push'. If you need to log into Dropbox and select the images/photos to be uploaded it is using 'pull'.

Annie_zaz:

Don't buy an ipad! lol

I'm convinced. :)

Cheers
RodG

RodG:

A
I'd like to know how this goes. Not the renaming aspect - but more so what the filenames end up as after the upload to Drop box.
I've just performed a couple of quick tests in this regard.
When I changed the image on my local machine and used a 'push' program to upload the 'new' file, it overwrote the original without warning, and no option to rename.

Cheers
RodG

RodG,
Today I met with my client and we did the drop box thing.It worked just perfect.
We uploaded the images, renamed them and when we exported them they kept their new renamed names!

Annie_zaz:

RodG,
Today I met with my client and we did the drop box thing.It worked just perfect.
We uploaded the images, renamed them and when we exported them they kept their new renamed names!

Sorry, I'm still confused/unsure.

What were the filenames AFTER you uploaded them to DB, but BEFORE renaming them?

That's the piece of the puzzle of interest/importance.

The "export" (which I assume to mean downloading from Dropbox) isn't a surprise/puzzle/mystery, because that would be the normal/expected thing anyway.

The renaming being irrelevant.

Cheers
RodG

RodG:

Sorry, I'm still confused/unsure.

What were the filenames AFTER you uploaded them to DB, but BEFORE renaming them?

That's the piece of the puzzle of interest/importance.

The "export" (which I assume to mean downloading from Dropbox) isn't a surprise/puzzle/mystery, because that would be the normal/expected thing anyway.

The renaming being irrelevant.

<still scratching head trying to figure out the mystery of the iPad apparently giving all images the same name>

Cheers
RodG

On the ipad itself we couldn't see names / properties. To be honest I didn't upload any images today to the db that weren't renamed.
When we uploaded them to drop box they had numerical names eg: 2151548784245.jpg

Annie_zaz:

On the ipad itself we couldn't see names / properties.
When we uploaded them to drop box they had numerical names eg: 2151548784245.jpg
That looks like it is probably some kind of timestamp.

Shall we now revisit the opening post?
"They tell me that all the images on the Ipad are called image.jpg"

To quote Dr House (remember that show?) "Everyone Lies" (especially customers and patients) ;-)

"Apparently you can't rename an image file on the Ipad"

I've googled this, it appears partially correct in that apparently it requires 3rd party software. However, it can be done.

"So when they upload their multiple images it's just replacing images instead of showing multiple images"

I am going to assume that this is an assumption, otherwise the same would apply to the uploads to Dropbox.

"I told them maybe they need to export to a pc, rename them, then import them back with different names.

Is there a way around this?"

It depends on which "problem" is now to be solved.
The export, rename, import method can be solved with a 3rd party iPad app.
The problem of all images having the same name and therefore overwriting each other doesn't appear to exist, at least based on the findings of uploading the files to Dropbox.

Anything else?

Cheers
RodG

So everytime I receive an image via text from an idevice it comes across as FullImage.jpg. If I receive it by email it comes across as image.JPG. (Notice the capitalized extension).

IH4 would be a way to simplify the naming issue, third party software, and would provide the ability to present images in varying sizes amenable to devices. Of course that said, the typical resolution of such an image may be an issue if it is not already addressed in the latest version of IH4...