Picture Gallery product type, 1.3.6 & 1.3.7 versions

Here's my Gallery product type, just scraping in, in my local 2006 time band...

Its not been possible to test it on other people's servers, but it runs o.k for me..

(If you get teething problems let me know, but beware of the IH2 setup, because it just don't work if you get things set up wrongly.)

The full Gallery product type enables an 'album style' picture display. Each main picture is a product, same as other products..

The other purpose is to enable an 'off web' image cache, because that prevents hotlinking, and cached images are less useful to others to copy..

In its full form:

• The Gallery add on combines Image Handler 2, the ideas and code borrowed from Moku's book product, and my own experiences developing the 'Singapore Gallery' add on.

• Gallery product type has the same functionality as a normal product type, in terms of switchable display fields, price attribute creation etc.

• Has 'prev-next- image thumbnails option on the cart display (set in admin)

• has up to 3 web user-selectable options for image surround on the display, singapore, basic and picture frame.

In its basic form:
-Gallery product basic files sets up just the gallery type.

In both the above forms, Gallery will operate without IH2, if necessary, but certain things get less easy to do.

Here's my demo, running off-web cache and (my) Ih2 in v1.3.7, (check the picture url's! I'm using a 'thumbs.php' method to get cached pics from off-web).

Click on the misty tree picture to go in the gallery:
http://consciousness-centre.co.uk/czc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12

This is the 1.3.6 add-on download page:
http://www.hareslade.com/zc/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=50&products_id=477

This is the 1.3.7 add-on download page:
http://www.hareslade.com/zc/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=51&products_id=478

Note that in the full off web cache iH2 mode, 'zoom' images are not useable, mainly because they give away the url of the original image in \images, and this goes against the idea of using 'off web cache' in the first place.

You might want to get to know Image handler IH2 first, by using the standard download. My version looks similar, is the same code but modified in various ways for use with Gallery product.

You might package this up and submit here as a contribution as other have done

hareslade:

Here's my Gallery product type, just scraping in, in my local 2006 time band...
Very nice Paul.

Just some off-the-cuff ideas thoughts and kudos...

I could see that an integrating the search results (creating an on the fly virtual categories if you will) within a thumbnail test strip navigation and/or pop-up slideshow uility would be a bonus.

So the thumbnail images from the search results would display in a test strip at the top of the page while viewing a single larger image below. Then if customer runs another search (via the left column product type dropdowns) the page would not bump back to a product listing (ala categories) page, but continue on displaying the image product page, with the first product returned from the new search displayed, and displaying thumbnails of the other images returned in the search in a test strip above. Maybe the teststrip could be a continuous scrollable strip with arrows at each end (maybe scrollable with ajax)

Can this product type be used with Zen Lightbox which would provide a slideshow ability?

I'm reading the product announce. I'm not familiar with some terms, eg, "singapore" effect. Does that mean 'slide mount'?

On your demo site I'm not sure if I am observing column-grid layout for 'Albums' as described in your announcement. Or maybe this is the example of "albums"? http://consciousness-centre.co.uk/czc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12_13

Does your mod play nice with SEO URL's?

Just thinking of ways to support a more pleasurable and transparent navigation/viewing experience.

The slide mount and picture frame presentation options are very cool. Is there an admin interface available for one to load additional frame and matte styles?

I can see your mod very useful to those who just want to show off personal picts and to professional photgraphers and illustrators marketing their art.

Good job!

I will install and play with your product type mod a bit and let you know how goes. Thanks for sharing this in 2006 and happy 2007 to you.

Woody

A nice mod you got here!!

Does this work to only show non-product related photos, or can it show product images?

I'm just wondering if it could hold something like affiliate images that link to other sites.

thank you,

betty

Can this product type be used with Zen Lightbox which would provide a slideshow ability?

Anything can be used with Zen Lightbox! I'll look at adding support for this contribution in the next release of Zen Lightbox. :)

Hi...
Well its a visual product so I'm sure there will be ideas about presentation.. currently I have 'birthed' this thing (not that I know about that..) so I am interested in seeing if people get it working

... but feel free to post those ideas here..

If I don't answer relatively promptly please PM me, I don't always get the auto notifications from the listing gizmo..

In answer...

Cobra...
yes I'll package it up probably, give it a week or two to iron out any bugs (I should be so lucky)

I've already noticed a 'div' out of place in the fields list under the main gallery pic, so I'll issue an info template update soon.

bettysue

Each gallery image is a zencart product, it should be able to have attributes choices, price deals etc, same as the other product types.

If you just wanted to show photo's/pics without ever selling them as products, you could use my Singapore Gallery add-on, (search it) although its still in 1.3.6 status.

Main purpose of 'Gallery product type' is to make each picture a real zencart sellable product.

You mention affiliate images.. put me in the picture... maybe PM me with definition of the usage.. I assume these need hyperlink to a site outside the actual cart site..

You can go through to checkout on the demo, incidentally.

Woodyman...
Overwhelmed by your ideas, ...

Is there an admin interface available for one to load additional frame and matte styles?
No... but it's not really needed...

The mattes are just small pics for tiling, single colour, they can be added into the current template folder. Mattes are automatically added to the icon row on the picture frame display once the image is uploaded. (provided you get the file naming right!)

The frames are the same, each frame set is kept in a uniquely numbered folder, if you upload a new folder, it will be automatically displayed as an extra frame icon in the frames list. I tested with up to three rows of frame icons, the list area is designed to expand physically to accommodate it.

... but here its a bit more difficult as you have to provide 4 corners and the 4 sides as small images, its an acquired art. There are loads of frame lists with pics on the web to crop the images from - but its not easy to get the images to 'look right'.

I was hoping someone with love of image making would make up some more frames :), you need to use the same corner image height/width as I used, unless you change the picture frame width basic settings.

Searches

Yes I agree, when a search is done, it does go to a (grid) product list, and is not 'in' any category, because of course the search results are not (...in any one category), ---but whether its easy to thumbnail results in a thumbs form, while still showing the original cart page, I'll muse over.

No comment on user (seo) friendly url's, needs someone to try it out..

Incidentally if you want Google and Yahoo to at least look at every site product, use something like xmlsitemap to create xml page lists, and tell them where the listing file(s) is.

I mix up using term 'singapore' and 'slide-mount' , they mean the same.
The display choice dropdown shows 'slide mount' but I think of it as 'singapore' because it's like the Singapore Gallery if you've seen it.

I use the term 'Albums' instead of 'a category'. So each yellowy block at
http://consciousness-centre.co.uk/czc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12_13 I regard as an album ...

When an Album (that is, a subcategory!) actually shows its pictures contents, I still think of this as an album display, even if its really a product listing!

Display listings

The normal product listing is definately 'rows' (tpl_tabular_display.php) ... we have the other mode (which 'new products' etc use as well) .. they use the tpl_columnar_display.php which is the one that gives 'so many' items 'per row'.
I get confused as well, because its tpl_columnar_display that is termed 'grid'. Hope I got that right :) yet the tabular template produces rows (?)

Whatever its called, its the nice display mode that creates the Album pictures lined up in threes or whatever...

Yes the add-on is aimed at people selling photo's or art, in fact its possible to not put prices on the gallery display (set price =0), and maybe remove the 'add to cart' box, then you could have a separate price list page which covers generic picture sizes. e.g a '10 by 12 is x dollars'. I have not finalised my own usage, what you see is the current demo, and using what's in the zip issue1.

One idea I think I'll do, is provide a hyperlink in one of the 'global' texts (e.g where it says 'PLEASE do not order pictures yet' on all gallery products) with the product name or reference I.D automatically passed through to a more general price list page for sizes etc..

Maybe someone knows of an example/possibility of a similar general-ised 'price list' cart method elsewhere in zencart. Me igorant..

IH Watermark image for pics...

I discovered how to do png transparent images in photoshop, its make an image with transparent background, then 'save as web ..png 24'

On the photoshop layer control there's a setting for layer opaqueness, so I started with ordinary text in black, 'found edges' to hollow the letters, then opaqued it to 10 per cent, saved it as a web png type 24.

The copyright watermark on the demo site main gallery pics is currently that png image.. I assume everyone else probably knew how to do it :)

for instance
http://consciousness-centre.co.uk/czc/index.php?main_page=product_gallery_info&cPath=12_13_19&products_id=28

Hi Hareslade,

First of all I love this contribution!

I do have a few questions now that I have it installed:

1. When I select by category, the images are all to the left instead of centered (with 3 across), what would I need to change to have them be centered?

2. How do I create and add more frame styles?
   (added->I just re-read your long response above and saw your response on frames. If I can get some created, I will send them to you)

3. I tried to change the default matte or background color, I did it manually in the files. It added the color to the matte color selections, but wouldn't make it the default. Any clues?

I still need to install the slideshow, so I'm sure more questions will be coming!

thank you,

betty

another question/issue about the frames,

I've been tinkering with frames today, and seem to run across the same issue regardless of what I try. In both frames I've tried to make, neither will load image vert_l.gif .

If I right click on the image properties whereit is missing, it gives the right path and filename, yet it comes up as a missing image.

Any clues?

thank you,

betty

hi
I am thinking about adding a top frame on the pages , but for another reason. I mean by adding this frame I may avoid the users to get access to all the codes from the main zen page, and instead of that, they will get only the contents of top frame page, something like logo, etc, or even nothing.

can somebody help me how can I do and on which files do I have to do changes?

Why would you want to do this?

Hi reza
belatedly..
One can get at the frame elements page html even with a frameset... these are a bit old hat now, one reason I'm told is because crawlers cannot identify separate pages.

See my ancient consciousness centre design,
http://consciousness-centre.com/rival/
the page url remains constant whatever page is shown, so how does one bookmark a page? I had to do a special system there to achieve that (clunky javascript)

bettysue..if you still have q's p.m me, its easier. And I have now set my thing for instant email notification, so at least I'll get updated thread input now..

Just for info, this is my 137 updated gallery product type demo at
http://consciousness-centre.co.uk/czc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12

The gallery add on is the top item at
http://www.hareslade.com/zc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=51

.. the off-web cache IH2 version needs more confidence to do, but for security of pics, to stop the prime originals being copied by browser access, I think its a good solution.

In the basic form, using ordinary IH2, it's relatively easy to get the gallery type added on.

Welcome back hareslade :thumbsup:

Just a quickie for now and then I will pm you the rest, as others may want to know the answer to this one as well.

Can the new version just be uploaded over the old, or does the old one need to be uninstalled?

thank you,

betty

bettysue
yes its nicer now I get instant notify of new posts

(obviously if you ugraded from 136 to 137 zencart fileset, then replace my existing 136 add on with the 137 issue 2 one (but no database patch needs re-applying)

The 137 issue2 add on filepack has an info. file called 'issue2changes.txt' which lists changes, if issue1 is already installed, maybe copy all your cart files down first complete for insurance, then just upload the newer issue 2 add on files.

Of course if you made any changes say in the gallery product display template, or in any of the add-on's 'defines' files, you might need the older ones to transfer your mods, (or replace, with defines files) but in general issue 2

• corrects some minor code errors in the gallery product display layout html/spans etc,

• adds a << >> over the picture frame for easy 'back/forward' and places the pic right at top of page (but use the fresh picture class file fix as I didn't get it totally right in issue2)

• cleans up the 3 gallery search filters to not require manufacturer/sponsor to be inserted in the gallery admin info page (similar mods are just done for the book product add on)

To some extent the 'picture frame' options are always experimental, 'it works for me' ......

are there db changes going from 1.36 version to the 1.37 version? Admitedly I'm a bit confused on the upgrade instructions. My zencart has already been upgraded so it is just the mod I need to upgrade.

betty

Hi Bettysue
Gallery database tables should be the same in 1.3.7 version, as 1.3.6.

You can upload the appropriate new filesets only, (no sql patch)

you'll possibly need your 'old' 1.3.6 includes\languages folder gallery defines files,
and any admin 'dropdown' defines titles (used in admin | extras as page headings) if you changed them.

Hi Hareslade,

Just thought I'd mention,

In both versions of the mod I have to remove fckeditor even if I do not select it as my html editor as it generates the follow errors when I go to enter a new product:

Warning: Missing argument 1 for fckeditor() in /home/mystoredirectory/public_html/store/admin/includes/fckeditor.php on line 44

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: createfckeditor() in /home/mystoredirectory/public_html/store/admin/includes/modules/product_gallery/collect_info.php on line 868

and that's as far as the new product entry screen goes.

If i rename the fckeditor.php file to fckeditor.bak and refresh, I can put a new product in just fine.

thought I should let you know.

betty

Also, I forgot another thing I can't seem to get to work right is the artists to come up under the Picture creators. Their names are in the G authors, listed in the products, yet when chosen in the Picture Creator side box no items show up. What am I missing?

thank you,

betty

Hi bettysue
Thanks for the info, you're a star tester

Yes indeed, the collect info file still has the 'old' fck code, they changed it but I omitted to upate..I will sort that out. And the same on the books type ;)

It just means fckeditor text editor won't work until I fix the code...

The sponsor/ artists thing.. I'll check that out too

bettysue
try this updated collect info file, it seemed to work fckeditor ok

The zip file's at this url, but my host's server is currently on its knees, try later on if its not working just now
http://www.hareslade.com/zc125/downloads/test_zips/collect_info_gallery_update_apr2007.zip