PhotoPost integration hack - photos uploaded to gallery / auto thumbnail creation
 

---------------------------------------
Following this post on the PhotoPost site, http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...threadid=20492
---------------------------------------

A fantastic mod would be one which further integrated TechIMO Photopost with vBulletin, replacing vBulletin's upload function with a gallery upload function.

What I would love to see would be as follows:

1.) When a user posts, instead of the upload to sql databaes function, they have blanks to upload 1 or more photos to the PhotoPost gallery.

2.) Photopost then generates either a thumbnail or specified width version of the uploaded photo (it does this already).

3.) Then after the photo is uploaded to PhotoPost this mod inserts [ url ] and [ img ] tags into the post to calll either the thumnail or the medium resolution version into the thread (these versions are generated by PhotoPost already using ImageMagick) and to link them to the full res version.

4.) The user could also have the option to insert any existing photos in their gallery, as well as to upload new photos.


Some of the advantages would be:

1.) All photos are automagically thumbnailed for faster display

2a.) Thumbnails can be added to posts instead of link icons so you can see what it is you are downloading (if you choose not to display inline)

2b.) If you do choose to display inline, PhotoPost creates a medium resolution version at the width specified so no more images stretching the thread table out of wack. The medium resolution version PhotoPost creates would be linked to the full resolution version with simple url and img tags.

3.) All photos are organized in one place by poster and can be also organized by gallery. At the same time photos can be quickly uploaded / placed as either forum-width images or thumbnails in relevant threads you're replying to at will.

What do you think?

There is a PHP version of PhotoPost. Since many of the vBulletin.org Master hackers are PHP gurus, this should make it easier to code a hack like this... One of the gurus (I forgot his handle) works with vbPortal and he could probably help us with this.

There are so many advantages to having a hack like this that I hope someone will step up to the challenge!!!

Original Example:
http://www.airstreamforums.com/photopost/

Andy

that would be a great idea, or you can just use ImageMagic

I think the only real hard part in this hack would be makeing the java script that inserts the [ img] tages and links. The php for uploading and displaying the gallery would be easy.

I have not purchased photopost yet but this hack would make me buy it with out a 2nd thought.

I am going to have some time this week. I will see if I can put together some detailed info.

I agree, it can't be "that hard". I bet Michael P can help us with the PHP page to access the photos for each user stripped down from the normal templates. Then all we have to do is add the javascript that closes the window and applies the [IMG] code.

I think having a custom uploadphoto.php file would really keep it tight by allowing the user to upload there images then redirect them to their gallery so they can include the uploaded photo.

Look forward to "making it real"!

Andy

My ideas and suggestions will be after I recap some of the threads ... this helps me comprehend what some of you are after as well.

1. As you know, vBulletin ads attached images into the MySQL database. This means that it grows very quickly when you have lots of attachments. This feature wouldsave a tone of spacein the forum DB.

2. Actually, if you use the <IMG> and </IMG> tags to enclose a hyperlink to the image in question, the only thing that VBulletin stores in the database is the URL -- not the image. The problem is that non-technical members have a tough time going to the photo application just to right click and copy and paste the url. I would like to automate that process.

3. boatdesign - you have an incredible idea ...


Ok guys - I am worthless at writing code. But I do have an idea that might solve this problem -- although not as easily or as well as boat design's prototype.

I want to make this clear ... so I apologize if I make it LONG ...

First, remove the upload/browse box from the post or reply form and substitute a hyper-link to the photopost upload page (uploadphoto.php) which opens in a new browser window.

Second, when the image is uploaded into photopost, and the image is shown on the success page, an option exists that says "ATTACH TO POST". This option would also exists in the photopost display pages under EACH thumnail shown. So that someone could easily grab images to include in posts.

(I realize this isn't the EASIEST method there is ... but it appears to be a workable solution. I did notice while experimenting that you must call each image directly and NOT through the showphoto script to make this work).


Third, when you click on "ATTACH TO POST", a javascript pop up box appears with the following message:

"It is easy to add this image to your post! Using your mouse, left click at the beginning of the code (shown by URL), and drag your mouse to the end of the code (represented by /URL) so that the entire code is highlighted. Then right-click your mouse and highlight "copy".

You may return to your post, right click where you would like the image to appear, and highlight paste.

A thumnailed version linking to your full-size picture will appear in your post when you are done.

[U-R-L=http://www.techimo.com/photo/data/500/49bbconcert1-med.jpg][I-M-G]http://www.techimo.com/photo/data/500/49bbconcert1-thumb.jpg[/I-M-G][/U-R-L]


Sorry guys, I'm not smart enough to know how to display the code without the software trying to interpret it ... so I changed url to U-R-L and img to I-M-G ... :mad: ... hopefully you get my point.

THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE PRODUCED:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2002/08/4.jpg


Which would allow the users to insert hyperlinked thumbs into their post -- keeping the pics out of the db, making the thread load faster by displaying thumbs first, and possibly keeping bandwidth down by previewing images ... users don't have to click to see whether it is an image that interests them.

Any thoughts? $20 says someone out there can write this hack in photopost (php version) ...

Nice idea....as soon as I have the money I will look into it if no one else has...

It is a good idea. I may look into it when I have a bit more time. I'm still trying to get the headers and footers to work properly in the newest version of Photopost. :)

Ya, I'm still trying to get the PHP version of PhotoPost to install without any issues and thus have put any further integration on hold until I can get it. The perl version of PhotoPost was so easy to install that I was disappointed by the difficulty and number of issues I've encountered trying to get the PHP version of PhotoPost to work :( But in time I'm sure I'll get it.

I agree. I can get Photopost to work with static headers and footers, but can't get the vB variables to work. :(

Bump**

I'm looking to see if I can integrate Photopost as a FORUM inside vB, so that you can see the latest photos and comments as a forum under vB... :) Gimme some time...

Nearest I could come to integration is hacking the forums home page to show all forums from the PhotoPost gallery. Plus we added an individual image gallery jump box in the postbit for members that have galleries.

Smoothie, that was what I was going to do! :) Check your PM.

got it and sent one back

I would be interested in how you did this. I'm a novice at php, but I finally got the PHP version of photopost working (not with vbheaders yet) but it is fantastic so far.

I would like to resume my efforts, well, to get other smarter people to figure out how to integrate it more tightly with vBulletin ;)

We finally got the total comments, total photos, and last photo installed on the forums. Plus the get new, and on.gif now work for the Photo Gallery in the main forums page.

Smoothie - you've done it. I applaud you. It looks great on your site. :) Are you going to release the integration, or keep it to yourself? Just wondering... If you are not releasing it, can I pay you to have it for my site? I know hundreds of vB and Photopost owners would love to have it...

Anyone know where I can find the hack to do this:
http://www.photopost.com/forum/showt...threadid=32793

[edit]

Smoothie - I really want your photophost/VB integration feature on our forums. Would really like to know if you intent to release this as a hack as well?

Any thoughts? $20 says someone out there can write this hack in photopost (php version) ...

I'm still looking to capture someone's attention and integrate php version of photopost (latest) into vbulletin ... as per my original post ...

Upping the ante ... $50 ....

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but im looking for a small hack nothing big.

All i want to know is is it possible to call in the last picture added to the photopost gallery as a thumbnail on main Index Page ?

If so how...............

Also does both the photopost and VBB need to share the same folder for it to work.

Logins work fine from vbb to photopost so they sort of intergrate to some extent so would like to see if anyone has managed to get the last pic added as a small thumbnail on main index board.

Use the thumbnailer hack that you can find at the Photopost forums - it works well. :)

Cheers Erwin

Yep, works well.

Smoothie are you going to release your integration hack vbb/ppost ?

Hope you do............. thank you

Mone'

This looks pretty good. I might look into it... :)

Smoothie's hack is a custom job made by Chen that you have to pay for.

do you know how much and what exactly the hack consist of ?

Thx

Mone'

Yes, but you need to contact FireFly if you want this, and ask if he wants to install it.

smoothie what option do you get wuth the hack what does it do ?
i will contact Firefly about pricing i just wanted to know from you some feed back about hte hack

Mone'

The hack will display the Photopost galleries on your forums home page. You can set where it should display in your admin cp. It will aslo display new posts (on/off.gif). Photos, Replies, Last photo. Also, a drop down box in the postbit, with links to your members photos. It will only display if a member has uploaded photos. Take a look at my forums, you can see all that it does.

Smoothie: Nice hack BTW. FYI, we reduced the number of MySQL queries in PhotoPost 3.2.0 by about 85%. A typical gallery homepage went from 90+ queries to 12.

And for those who are still on the fence, we cut the price of PhotoPost by $30 on Oct 1.

Ooh!!! Time to upgrade to 3.2.0!!!

I see that 3.2.0 is still beta at the moment. :) I assume you will email all license holders when it turns gold. Looks good.

this sux
Chen is not doing freelance work at present :(
can someone else make a hack like this ?

I know what code was added to make this hack work. But, I will not post it here since it was a custom paid hack

I understand that.
i will ask chen one more time about it and see if maybe we can arrive to some arrangement.

Hope it will work out as this hack is what make photopost worth it ;)

Mone'

Note: It will add 4 more queries to you forumhome page......