Images for links ?

[Rix]

New Image field type, allow webmaster to upload image

This statment is within the features list, yet while I was fooling around with the demo I saw no place to add images. Can someone please explain to me what this feature is and where I can see it in Action?

Regards,
Rix

[Polo5]

I think once a user submits a site, the user has the option to upload an image (after the link has been accepted)

i dont use this feature... but i'm sure someone will point you to a demo...

regards,

[Rix]

Thanx,

I thought thats what it was, however I tried doing that on the demo but i could not find it...

[Polo5]

i dont think that option is set up in the demo...

[sissy]

This capability is discussed in two of the available technotes if you can manage to dope out the explanations that are provided. You'll want to look at the technote on custom fields and the one on image display.

Basically, to add images associated with links, you must use the custom fields capability to add an image field to your idx_link table. "Image" is one of the field types that can be added using custom fields. Once you've done that, then you can use the UPDATE (modify) link form to upload an image for the link. Uploaded images are by default placed in the indexu/upload_files directory and are renamed during the upload process to match the link_id of the link they are associated with.

Once a custom image field has been added to a link, and an image has been uploaded, it's available for viewing on the modify form and in other places where custom fields are displayed. I went quite a bit farther with this and modified all the templates that display links to include the images if they were present. I also changed msg.php to make the maximum size of any uploaded image 75x75 pixels. The default was something like 800x500! This worked fine but caused a problem with a red "x" being displayed whenever no image was present for a link. So, to solve that problem, I created a tiny 1-pixel by 1-pixel image to display for all links that have no associated image. Then I used the SQL update command to revise ALL my links so that they have a default value in the image field that points to the "no image" image. And the result was exactly what I was after. Now, all links have an associated image. but most of them are really REALLY tiny! ;-)

After I figured this out, I went a bit further. Basically I played a small trick on Indexu that used the same capability to provide a clickable image gallery button on some links in ADDITION to the photo. You can take a look at the results in my search directory at:

http://66.221.218.55/indexu31

Please note: This directory features links for mature audiences. PLEASE do not go there if you are at work or if seeing such links will offend you.

When you get to the search engine, look at the hot-links page and scroll down through the links. I have several links there that have both photos and image gallery buttons being displayed but the way I did it, it is possible to have either one or both images displayed for each link. While most of the links do NOT include any images, if you scroll down far enough, you'll soon see some that do. If you want to see the additional fields I added to do this, just look at the update form for any of those image-associated links and you'll see the custom fields I added to make this work. But you should look at the links on the modify page SOON. I'm planning to password protect the display of that modify screen today or tomorrow.

I hope this helps!

Good Luck!
Sissy

[Hart_House]

For image upload instructions, please read the faq forum. You'll find what you are looking for there.

Image upload

[sissy]

Originally posted by Hart_House
For image upload instructions, please read the faq forum. You'll find what you are looking for there.

Image upload

Thanks Hart House for pointing us to that thread... Although, I had pretty much doped out most of what was there the hard way, it was nice to know that someone else had at least blazed the trail before me and had come to similar conclusions. However, I did note that noone there mentioned anything about being able to link to an image gallery directly from an indexu listing; so at least in that respect my solution is unique. Also, I believe I may have gone at least a step or two farther by making my attached small image available for display whereever a link appears in indexu. My intent over the long term is to be able to offer paid sponsors both priority listings and highlighted listings in the search results, listings that will be able to include a personal photo, a link to an image gallery and a copy of the sponsor's banner.

Hopefully, with these two definitions at least some of the users who wish to make use of this feature will be able to figure out how to do that.

Thanks again!