Multiple (additional) images for the same item?

Are we currently limited to one image per product? I have some items that are identical but come in different colors, so I need to know if I can get multiple views of the same item.

In the FAQ section > The Zen Cart Catalog > Categories and Products > How do I add multiple images to a product?

How do I add multiple images to a product?
by: Ajeh - Linda McGrath

A product owns 1 filename ...

Example:

You load via the categories.php an image file called:

a_bugs_life.gif and put it in the /images/dvd directory via the drop down

Now you FTP additional images to /images/dvd

a_bugs_life_01.gif
a_bugs_life_02.gif
a_bugs_life_03.gif
a_bugs_life_04.gif

I use the numbers so these load in order, as the additional images are loaded alpha/numeric

For the large image I FTP:

/images/large/dvd/a_bugs_life_01_LRG.gif
/images/large/dvd/a_bugs_life_02_LRG.gif
/images/large/dvd/a_bugs_life_03_LRG.gif
/images/large/dvd/a_bugs_life_04_LRG.gif

For the medium image (used on product_info) I FTP

/images/medium/dvd/a_bugs_life_MED.gif

Now you do not need to use subdirectories.

All images can be loaded to

/images
/images/large
/images/medium

You can also change the suffix for Large and Medium from _LRG and _MED to something else or to nothing at all.

I use the suffixes so when looking at 2000 images I can tell what size I am really looking at just from the name.

In a future release, this will be more automated with options for auto-generating the thumb and medium based on dpi, height, width and compression ratio

For now, it uses the same directories that the auto-generated would use, but you do the FTP for the different sizes and additional images.

Additional information:

Note: the base image name is the original image name loaded for the product.

The suffix of _MED and _LRG is optionally defined but very handy for distinguising image names from a visual stand point.

The medium images are kept in the /images/medium directory and the large in the /images/large directory

Additional images can be the base name of the original image plus anything after that example:

Original Image: fred.jpg

All of these are considered additional images because they contain the base image name:

fredabc.jpg
fred_73b2.jpg
fred_01.jpg
fred_02.jpg
freddy.jpg
fredrick.jpg

The advantage of the numbering on the additional images like: _01 _02 _03 is that they will sort in this order when displayed.

These images are places in the same directory as the main image such as /images or /images/dvd

The large image match would then go in /images/large or /images/large/dvd with the Admin defined suffix added to it of _LRG

fredabc_LRG.jpg
fred_73b2_LRG.jpg
fred_01_LRG.jpg
fred_02_LRG.jpg
freddy_LRG.jpg
fredrick_LRG.jpg

Now that was what I needed to see.
Thank You very much!

I have been able to do this successfully in the past - but for some reason - right now - this stopped working. The files are names appropriately - for instance :

napkin.jpg
napkin_2.jpg

yet only one of them shows up in the site. just the other day I was working in a different URL - zen install - and it was perfect - not one issue.

The only difference here - I installed the pdf order center module.

Could anyone offer advice on how to fix this? Maybe i should restart apache? Has anyone else had the problem of multiple images not showing up when they are using proper naming structure?

thanks,
Aeon

never mind - the cache monster again.

I havr the same problem.
I have three categories with 12, 1 and 14 products respectively. I SOMEHOW turned off multiple images for categories 1 and 3 to test a layout issue. Now that it works I cannot turn on the multiple images again for categories 1 and 3, yet turning off the multiple images for category 2 works as suggested. So I must have killed it somewhere for categories 1 and 3. can I set multiple images separately per category somehow?. I have followed the requirements for multiple images as described (small images in shop/images, large, with suffix in shop/images/image_02_LGE and medium in a similar place. If I swap the image in the product settings it sees it fine, so it must be in the right place. Where can I fix this???? Someone mentioned a cache. Where can I reset caches?

ok, I'm having a terribly dumb moment here. I followed the directions on the 'add multiple images' (not different sizes, just different photos)... cleared the cache... and it's not working :huh:
I still only get the primary image

(drop me a note before you go to the site to check this out, as that particular product is not in a live environment at the moment)

any clues?

What is the name of the products_image ... and what directory is it located?

What are the names of the additional images ... and what directory are they located in?

Can you see all images via the browser?

The base image is foundation.jpg, and the subordinates are foundation_01 thru _04

they're in my 'products' subdirectory (.../shop/images/products/), and I can call them up in both FF and IE7

I've worked around the situation, and placed them on the page w/html (in the editor)... but it certainly is a PIA, especially with FF :yuck:

hoping to get this up in the next hour or so... at least the one product :cool:

Is the original image in the same directory?

The images have to follow a pattern of where they exist to work as additional images ...

Also check in the Catalog ... Product Types ... Edit Layout ...

Show Product Additional Images
Display Additional Images on Product Info 0= off 1= on

You might also try changing to Classic and seeing if the images show and if this is a template issue ...

yes, they're all in the same directory - followed the steps for your directions, other than the sizes difference (didn't need different sizes)
all are in .../shop/images/products directory.

Checked the layout setting, and it's ok. Changed the template - voila!
... however, when I changed the template back, they still show bleeping cache :no: I cleared it, but apparently it was still keeping something somewhere

Anyway, I don't care for the way they show up (too much space), so I'll likely remove them anyway.....

Thanks!

Hi,

I have had the same issue (product type setting OK and tried different templates).

Looking more into it, I just realized that

image.jpg
image-01.jpg
image-02.jpg

does not work, however,

image.jpg
image_01.jpg
image_02.jpg

does. This is not in line with the "Fred" tutorial example. Perhaps IH2 has something to do with it (turning resize off does not help).

[May be worth updating the FAQ regarding the Product Types setting]

I also note that the images are not aligned correctly vertically (tried different templates), but that should be a CSS issue (same thing if IH2 resize is off).

Wils:

I also note that the images are not aligned correctly vertically (tried different templates), but that should be a CSS issue (same thing if IH2 resize is off).

This was due to the add to cart being in the layout, but hidden.

Adding

display: none;

to #cartAdd

solves this (site running in showcase mode).

My problem was eventually they did show up, but they just didn't align nicely :(
I've been doing more playing with attributes, and have gotten some nice results, but still need some more tweaking before I'm happy.