Using banner software to rotate main page images?

There may be an easier way to do this. I'm open to suggestions.

I have a center graphic on the front page of my site that i would like to rotate like a banner (currently the 'quiet powerful' red graphic).

I figured I might have a go at making the banner software do this. But, it doesnt appear to want to operate like this.

1. Is there a more preferred way to accomplish this task before i break my head trying to get the banners to work?

2. If the banner software may be the best method, any suggestions on getting it to work.

Currently running ZC 1.2.6D

thanks on both counts.

that's a good idea. i will give that a go.

I used to have a slideshow on my old site (I may put it back on this one). I used a javascript file which worked nicely. I really don't like Flash and tend to avoid sites with it.

You can do a search engine on free javascripts or if you want the code I have, PM me.

Laura

DesignbyDemeter:

I used to have a slideshow on my old site (I may put it back on this one). I used a javascript file which worked nicely. I really don't like Flash and tend to avoid sites with it.

You can do a search engine on free javascripts or if you want the code I have, PM me.

Laura

i like lightweight flash stuff.. nothing that takes over 30 seconds to load over a DSL line. i absolutely hate java applets running on my computer, because half the time they tend to use up all my memory.. and being on a laptop with not too much memory basically makes it start to drag.. so its like the lesser of two evils :)

i absolutely hate java applets running on my computer, because half the time they tend to use up all my memory.

while JS may eat up some resources, there's quite a difference between java and javascript (they were not even developed by the same company). a few lines of JS running isn't going to be that noticable even on a slow, memory starved machine. a java applet on the other hand, is a compiled app running in the JRE which is probably what you're not thrilled with running.

just trying to unmuddle the water there.

Oops! I double posted. Please see below.

I wrote a small image rotator in php and it is used at my site (www.beadhaven.com). I don't use it for the main header but for the smaller banner beneath. I have mine setup so that I manually have to add the links to an array but you could easily remove this if you are just looking to display a banner. Just name images 1.jpg, 2.jpg etc.

<? //start of random image rotator thingy
$file_type = ".jpg";
$image_folder = "../../images/banners";
$start = "1";
$total = "6"; // total number or images

$links = array("null",
	"index.php?main_page=index&cPath=175", //1
	"index.php", //2
	"index.php", //3
	"index.php", //4
	"index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12_7_179_182", //5
	"index.php?main_page=infopages&pages_id=32"); //6

$random = mt_rand($start, $total);
$image_name = $random . $file_type;

// echo html
echo "<a href = \"$links[$random]\"><img src=\"$image_folder/$image_name\" width = 460 height = 125 border = 0></a>";
?>

THANKS MADK! that's great.

i'm working on it right now. but, i've already got the images loading properly. i only have two images to rotate right now--so, i'll be working on that and their respective links this afternoon. this is going to work perfectly.

and, thanks to you as well Laura. I just got this to tinker with first ;)

cudaboy71:

THANKS MADK! that's great.

i'm working on it right now. but, i've already got the images loading properly. i only have two images to rotate right now--so, i'll be working on that and their respective links this afternoon. this is going to work perfectly.

and, thanks to you as well Laura. I just got this to tinker with first ;)

Glad I could be of assistance. I was planning up updating this so that I could store the links in a database and pull the data from that. I just got too lazy and the small script is working fine..although a pain in the ace to update or add links.

If you need any help feel free to ask.

No prob - that scripts looks way simpler than what I had anyway - I think I'll give it a try:thumbsup:

madk:

I wrote a small image rotator in php and it is used at my site (www.beadhaven.com). I don't use it for the main header but for the smaller banner beneath. I have mine setup so that I manually have to add the links to an array but you could easily remove this if you are just looking to display a banner. Just name images 1.jpg, 2.jpg etc.

Can you please give a little instruction on how to use this? I put it in the "html text" field of the banner manager in ZC admin. My ZC is installed in a folder named "shop" so I added that to the image path in your code.  It flashes an image (with a blank image)  box but then disappears and leaves "; ?> in it's place. 

I uploaded six images, named 1-6.jpg respectively, to the shop/images/banners directory on our site. 

Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Rebekah

This thread is really old. I found a more up-to-date solution.

I found a very easy javascript slideshow. All you have to do is paste the code onto the define_main_page

Here's the thread that has the code and explains what I did:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151991

I'm using the slideshow to put sale announcements or to feature certain products. It works great!

This slideshow doesn't have transition affects, but it works very smoothly so I don't think it matters. I tried working with some similar javascript codes but they had behavior problems. This particular one is really a gem, in my opinion.