Multiple Images: How to name them?

I've been reading up on multiple images... I understand what's on all the tutorials.

What isn't clear: how many letters in a name are considered a MATCH?

On one thread, they indicated that if you have images which are numbered:

1234.jpg
123456.jpg
10978.jpg
103345.jpg
189027.jpg
187645.jpg

ALL those images would end up on the SAME product page, because they all begin with 1?

Or, if you have names like this:

desk.jpg
deer.jpg
dentalfloss.jpg
dentine.jpg
dishes.jpg
dolls.jpg
ducky.jpg

Those would also end up all on one page because they start with d.

Does the underscore make any difference?

desk_red.jpg
deer_brown.jpg
dentalfloss_white.jpg
dentine_striped.jpg
dishes_amber.jpg
dolls_pink.jpg
ducky_yellow.jpg

If you put an underscore in the name, does that further define what the NAME is, so then the images would go on different product pages?

If the naming convention is based on the FIRST letter or number ONLY, that means you could only have a maximum of 36 products in a directory. 26 for the letters of the alphabet, and 10 more for the numbers 0 to 9. Once you entered 36 products you'd have to start a new directory.

That seems to be awfully limited. And a little bit bizarre to have it structured like that.

Otherwise, ZenCart is impressive. I'm having a good time with it. :smile:

Cyndy

It is based on the full basename of the image where the filename is:
basename.ext

basename: 1234.jpg
123456.jpg

All of these others do not match the basename.ext 1234.jpg
10978.jpg
103345.jpg
189027.jpg
187645.jpg

The underscore is used to help denote the basename.ext of the original filename from the associated additional files ...

Files that match the basename: deer.jpg
deer_abc.jpg
deer_01.jpg
deer_2734.jpg
deer_something.jpg

I like to use numbers as the filenames are sorted alphanumeric and this method allows me to put my additional images in order ...
deer_01.jpg
deer_02.jpg
deer_03.jpg
deer_04.jpg
deer_05.jpg

Oh... the BASE image controls it. Okey dokey.

I'm enjoying Zen Cart so much I can't wait for time to work on it.

Thank you, Linda!

Does the base name include the image type?

I have most of my base images set as gif as the are drawings, however, I want to provide additional images, which are photos of the finished item. If the additional images are jpg they don't appear, how-ever if I make them into gif (which is OK but inefficient as the file size of a photo as a gif is 2 or 3 times that of a moderately compressed jpg) then they show up and work as advertised.

Am I correct in thinking I have to do this, or does someknow of a workaround.

The base image defines both the basename and extention for that product ...

So if the main image is .jpg make all of its friends .jpg as well ...

This is evaluated on a Product by Product basis ...

Thank you for this thread. I am having issues with products showing up on the wrong pages with other products. I have noticed that if my images have the same first 3 letters they will group themselves together.

So to alleviate this issue, I just downloaded a free number generator program so I can just assign a random number to a product image and use the _01, _02 to keep same images together.

If I understand what I just read here, this should work, keeping in mind I keep good records of what images go to what products LOL