Should we delete image-buttons in the next version?

I'm considering deleting "image-buttons" in the next version of Zen Cart, and relying on "CSS Buttons" only.

If you're using an older template/cart, perhaps you still have "CSS Buttons" disabled? (Admin->Layout Settings->CSS Buttons)

Looking for feedback:

1. Do you still use "image buttons"? If yes, why?
2. Does switching on "CSS buttons" now/today create a problem for your site? If yes, which template are you using?
3. If an upgrade of Zen Cart automatically switched CSS Buttons "on", would that cause a problem for you? How so?

Your detailed answers to these questions will help inform our decision-making for the next version.

For those who may not be aware of the difference between these two kinds of buttons:

• the old buttons are .gif files which are stored in includes/templates/template_default/buttons/english.
• the new "buttons" are just CSS wrapping the strings that are used for the button labels.

In the attached image, you can see the new CSS button (yay!) on the left, and the old, ugly crufty .gif button (boo!) on the right.

Vote early and often!

The preceding, unbiased opinion was brought to you by......:P

We have a few customers clinging to the old buttons. Mostly because they go with the theme.

I still vote yes. Do I need to have deceased relatives vote as well?

dbltoe:

Do I need to have deceased relatives vote as well?

Chicagoland rules.

yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes

I would love to see css buttons only.

I vote for GIF buttons. It's incredibly hard to use CSS to have a flashing red arrow to the left of "add to cart" and a set of different-color flashing lights around the same button. And let's not forget about the animated dancing monkey inside my "start checkout" button... Also, if we have to switch to CSS, we won't get the pixelated Super-Mario-style buttons when you zoom in your browser to let's say 300% and I consider that a great loss... Although, I guess I could still use Comic Sans with CSS buttons so maybe, just maybe, there's still some hope...

Now for real - you should've asked this question sometime around ZC 1.5.1 and make it css only for 1.5.3 and higher. :wink:
So, yes, definitely css buttons only.

I quickly changed to css buttons from images. Less to download infinitely flexible. so I vote yes too.

Another yes.

royaldave:

I would love to see css buttons only.

balihr:

you should've asked this question sometime around ZC 1.5.1 and make it css only for 1.5.3 and higher. :wink:
So, yes, definitely css buttons only.

Actually, it IS the default since v1.5.5 in 2016.

I'm advocating for removing the old code that supports images and all the corresponding old .gifs.

Clarification: it is already the default for new installs. Upgrades of older installs retain the initial value 'No' for USE_CSS_BUTTONS.

I am using Japanese and English on my cart,
https://www.proteawines.jp/shop/
and was a bit flummoxed about the button images use.
It turns out Japanese wording for some of the buttons becomes rather long (using katakana characters for example) and goes over the limit kept for CSS buttons. So the switch over to images is kind of necessary in that case for length reasons.
I am not sure if that makes image buttons irreplaceable, but the issue of length seems tricky to handle across multiple languages.

1. Answer:
   No, image buttons became to difficult to style and had problems when switching to mobile devices as sizing and visual problems.
2. Answer:
   No, switching off CSS buttons does for much of my add-ons no longer have buttons. RSB 1.1
3. Answer:
   No, upgrades should be managed, tested offline.

I no longer use image buttons. CSS buttons provided a higher degree of styling, interaction using mouse over and click effects. They also respond well for mobile by maintaining scale and clarity on wording, color and finger interaction. As @gernot, I had problems with the size limits when adding FontAewsome tags to the button names. I had modified html_output.php to my template use of CSS Buttons. Removing size limits and adding submit button tags.

Open source code for styling CSS Buttons is offered across the net, I can create a simple styling mod to help possibly get ride of flat buttons.

swguy:

For those who may not be aware of the difference between these two kinds of buttons:

• the old buttons are .gif files which are stored in includes/templates/template_default/buttons/english.
• the new "buttons" are just CSS wrapping the strings that are used for the button labels.

In the attached image, you can see the new CSS button (yay!) on the left, and the old, ugly crufty .gif button (boo!) on the right.

Vote early and often!

I am using the CSS buttons but they look much uglier than the image buttons and they cannot be easily changed like the image buttons can.... so I vote NO do not get rid of them!

davewest:

1. Answer:
   No, image buttons became to difficult to style and had problems when switching to mobile devices as sizing and visual problems.
2. Answer:
   No, switching off CSS buttons does for much of my add-ons no longer have buttons. RSB 1.1
3. Answer:
   No, upgrades should be managed, tested offline.

I no longer use image buttons. CSS buttons provided a higher degree of styling, interaction using mouse over and click effects. They also respond well for mobile by maintaining scale and clarity on wording, color and finger interaction. As @gernot, I had problems with the size limits when adding FontAewsome tags to the button names. I had modified html_output.php to my template use of CSS Buttons. Removing size limits and adding submit button tags.

Open source code for styling CSS Buttons is offered across the net, I can create a simple styling mod to help possibly get ride of flat buttons.

If your styling mod is a part of ZC then that would make a difference. For most Grandpa's and Grandma's who want to get into business mods are too complicating to install themselves and the cost to have a mod put in is just to much for someone not making money yet .... and is too much for those not making much money.

shrimp-gumbo-mmmhhh:

I am using the CSS buttons but they look much uglier than the image buttons and they cannot be easily changed like the image buttons can.... so I vote NO do not get rid of them!
You might want to try https://www.bestcssbuttongenerator.com/ EasyPeasy to make it yours.

1. Do you still use "image buttons"? If yes, why?
   -Not anymore
2. Does switching on "CSS buttons" now/today create a problem for your site? If yes, which template are you using?
   -No
3. If an upgrade of Zen Cart automatically switched CSS Buttons "on", would that cause a problem for you? How so?
   -No
   -For translations it would be a lot easier as you don't need to provide gif-images which are a problem with local differences in languages. French from France vs Canada or German in Germany vs Austria vs Switzerland. Just rewriting the word in the language file is easier in a language file than remaking the gif-files.
   -Template or custom made buttons can by handled in their own css-file.
   -Loading speed increases.

In short; I'm a full fan.

For most Grandpa's and Grandma's

Don't underestimate them! I've seen a 50+ suffer to use his smartphone and getting schooled by an older guy who handle the thing like a teenager. I asked the older man his age. 78!

We have to move on if we don't want to receive the label of old fashioned from granny.

Philibel:

1. Do you still use "image buttons"? If yes, why?
   -Not anymore
2. Does switching on "CSS buttons" now/today create a problem for your site? If yes, which template are you using?
   -No
3. If an upgrade of Zen Cart automatically switched CSS Buttons "on", would that cause a problem for you? How so?
   -No
   -For translations it would be a lot easier as you don't need to provide gif-images which are a problem with local differences in languages. French from France vs Canada or German in Germany vs Austria vs Switzerland. Just rewriting the word in the language file is easier in a language file than remaking the gif-files.
   -Template or custom made buttons can by handled in their own css-file.
   -Loading speed increases.

In short; I'm a full fan.

Don't underestimate them! I've seen a 50+ suffer to use his smartphone and getting schooled by an older guy who handle the thing like a teenager. I asked the older man his age. 78!

We have to move on if we don't want to receive the label of old fashioned from granny.

I can see where you like CSS ... I just don't think that we should cut off the non-CSS.... It is always very easy to think how easy it is for me to do something and say if I can do it so should the rest of humanity... but it is not necessary to know how to make a CSS button to do ecommerce... or at least it shouldn't have to be. Yes, I have a moded out ZC site and do things others wouldn't think of doing.... but I am trying to think of the millions of other people that are looking to have their own website .... what would make their lives easier to have a nice looking website without have to try to figure out how to make new CSS buttons and install so they don't have ugly square buttons.

shrimp-gumbo-mmmhhh:

easier to have a nice looking website without have to try to figure out how to make new CSS buttons and install so they don't have ugly square buttons.

For everything there's at least one answer and often there're more.

1. The, in my opinion easiest, solution would be out of the box adjustable css. A css that grabs the details for the buttons from the database settings. In Admin -> Tools -> a new page that allows settings for colour, rounding radius, text font, text colour, shadow, padding, ...
2. Writing a mod to do this. But I would prefer if someone takes that effort, it should be taken in the GitHub for the next version so it is an integrated function. So back to option 1.

If the millions of users aren't capable of clicking a few radio buttons or drop-down lists in the Admin, then I don't see how they would be expected to be able to make their own gif-buttons. Instead of trying to replace the farm horse with a race horse, let's use the motorized chariot and invent the gearbox.
People in Lancaster County who use their farm horse won't buy a race horse anyhow. :D

dbltoe:

You might want to try https://www.bestcssbuttongenerator.com/ EasyPeasy to make it yours.

Thank you dbletoe for the link. Once you generate a css button.... how do you install it on ZC?

Thank you!