I'm testing a new Gallery manager (http://www.retouchpro.com/cgi-bin/gallery/index.pl)

I'd appreciated it if you'd try out the various features and comment back here.

It's still a little ugly, but I think it has a lot of potential.
Limits, functionality, username/password, all are the same as these forums.

Doug,
This is an awesome feature!. Wouldn't it be great if each challenge had it's own "Gallery"? (Were you doing that anyway?)
Just love the feature. I didn't think it was that ugly.
Vikki

Thanks. I've already spent about 12 hours on it, and it's still only about 25% of what I wanted so far, which is why I call it 'ugly'.

We'll see about the Challenges (and the Archives) :)

Hey, that's not "ugly" that's convient. That would be a great way to post all the images on this site. Liked Vikki's idea of using that in the challenges because it would make them so much easier to access and compare. I would say 12 hours well spent. Just hope you feel that way. :)
DJ

:bigthmb: Great new feature Doug! Very cool!!

And since I'm not the one actually doing the work, I'd like to put in my vote for using it in the challenges as well. ;)

Jeanie

P.S. I tried out the "Receive e-mail updates" feature and found that the sender was "dnelson@retouchpro.com" rather than "RetouchPRO Forums Mailer" like the notices that come from the forums. You probably already know that, but thought I'd point it out just in case.

It's a different software package, unrelated to the forums (hence the hours of work).

Anyone have any ideas what to do with all the existing Challenges if we were to move over to this new system? Having them in two places, old/new, would be a drag. And before anyone suggests it, no they can't be merged.

I came up with a blank page. Tried reloading it three times. Hope it's because you were working on it.

Ed

Can you let us know what exactly would have to be done to achieve the move over of the existing challenges? Maybe we could help do the move. I'm just not computer savvy enough to see the total task ahead.
DJ

very cool indeed. I agree that the challenges would be great, if there's sny thing I can do to help just ask.

Ed,
did you try it in IE because I get a blank page in Netscape too but it works just fine in IE.

Doug, is this the same kind of software that the online photo albums use? I like it. You've done a great job on this forum.

Sharon

I don't know what you have planned with it, but it looks cool. I sent myself a photo and it came through perfect. Good stuff :)

Mig

When I saw the subject "guinea pig" I thought ohhh hey I have a hamster I am trying to get rid of maybe...... ha :) I really like the way that gallery is set up. I think the e-card idea is great too, and if anyone wants a hamster.... ;)

Ideas for the old stuff.
I have no idea what software you're working with, so this suggestion is for a work-a-round.
How about a gallery for each challenge, that includes all the entries, with a link to the individual discussions, under each image.

Sandra,

Thanks for the tip. I was trying on Netscape, with no luck. In fact, I just tried again with the same result. I'll try IE. Looks like Doug has a little more work to do.

Ed

Wow! That's *very* cool! I just don't know how Chris grows that stuff in his garden. :D

Ed

Doug, all the functions that I tried - upload, edit description, delete photo, comment, delete comment, send an e-card worked perfectly. The comment section lets you see the photo while you're commenting - that's a nice touch! The "Home" link brings you back to the Gallery Home, not the website home, which could be considered a bit confusing, but the website Home button is right there to click also.

I do like the ability to locate and view a particular person's work rather than scrolling down the list of images looking for the one you want to view.

You've been a busy man!

uh, oh -- just found a problem -- no smilies available for the gallery section:eek:

I just tried it in Netscape and it came up fine. I think there are reports of it working irregularly in Netscape 4. Is that your version?

Using it for new Challenges wouldn't be that difficult, though it will have to wait a bit.

Did anyone happen to notice the new little button under everyone's posts? It lets you check out the Gallery for any individual person.

Like I said, this is a completely separate software that I've managed to integrate *somewhat* with this board. The author has promised in future versions further integration and customization will be possible.

Now to contact all the existing Gallery submitters to get them to resubmit :)

By the way, thanks to everyone who donated for making progress like this possible.

Ok, I've notified all the existing Gallery submitters to upload their work, and changed all the links over to the new Gallery.

It's official, were're online with the new Gallery! :)

Tell your friends and neighbors! Or, better yet, upload some of your own work and send them a postcard :)

Doug, I'm assuming you've noticed that the links to individual's galleries are broken - as well as when I click on a thumbnail to view a large version of the photo? :( -Jeanie

You caught me fiddling :)

It's all better now.

How about putting a copy of each person's challenge entries in our gallery links?
DJ

Aaaahhh - never fiddle after you've announced a new toy! ;)
Jeanie

DJ:

Anyone can upload whatever they want. But the Gallery software and the Forum software are completely different, from different companies, and only marginally compatible due some clever hacking (not on my part). Comments in the Gallery are not linked to the Forums, and won't show up in Forum searches, or when you display new posts, so a lot of potential input might be lost (or simply split inconveniently) if some of the Challenge discussion takes place over there.

The Gallery comments are laid out to resemble the Forum, but are actually unconnected. The software is very new, and rapidly improving, so this might change.

Jeanie:

If I never fiddled after announcing, nothing would ever get improved :)

Brilliant idea, Doug! I think you're onto a winner ...


Except ... er ... I've just noticed that rather personal details get attached to your post ... not sure about that!!

Sam:

Thanks for pointing that out. That's a bug, for sure.

But the pages are made dynamically (ie: they don't exist until you call them, and are only then written from the database), so as soon as I get a bugfix from the author they'll permanently be OK.

Doug,

I really like the gallery manager program! It makes it so convenient to view through thumbnails to check out the photos. I also like the added bonus of sending photos as ecards!

This will also be a great feature to view the challenges instead of scrolling through names. Many times I have gone back to an old challenge to show someone an entry I liked, but didn’t remember who did it so I had to go through each name until I found the photo. This program would make reviewing challenge entries so much easier!

WAY COOL!

-T

Wonderful, Doug! I like it very much.

Originally posted by Doug Nelson
If I never fiddled after announcing, nothing would ever get improved :) Don't think I don't appreciate all that you do on this site! I'm amazed at all of the upgrades just since I've been here! :D But maybe you could wait an hour or two after you announce something before you start fiddling again? ;)

This new gallery feature is a GREAT addition! I do we could figure out a way to make it work for the challenges - I agree with T Paul that it sure would be nice to view thumbnails of the challenge entries so that we know which on we want to go back to! If you can figure out a way technically, I'm willing to help implement.

Jeanie

Everyone seems to like it, yet no one is posting anything :)
Go forth and post!

Like I said, it will be some time before we're able to use it for Challenges. But we'll see what happens with the next software version.

What about copyright problems? An in, people putting pics up in the gallery that are collages, manipulations, stuff like that, using copyrighted pictures?

Mig

Same as here, same as the Gallery always has been. Don't submit anything you're unclear about your copyright on.

Great addition to your site. I sent myself an e-card and received it.

I like the idea of using this sofware for the challenges.

Sharon



:)

Doug,
just installed Netscape Communicator 4.79 because I thought my browser might have been a bit old but still can't get the gallery link to work. Maybe it will work with Netscape 6.2 but I have IE as well so it's not a problem for me. Just thought I would let you know.

Doug,
I was just visiting the new "Gallery" again, and was wondering about the status. I must say that it is a very nice addition/feature to the site. However......to be brutally honest, as I looked at the opening page, all I could think was, what does this have to do with restoration?

My point being, it seems an inexplicable shame to have a gallery feature on a restoration site, and not have the restoration work in it.

I know that it's still new, so I'm guessing that it is because the job of converting everything over must be a monumental task. You also mentioned that there are two different systems working independently, which may hinder the process. But in previous discussions, you weren't sure whether you would go in that direction (galleries for retouch), so I'm wondering if you've given that any more thought, as I'd really like to see that feature.

Vikki

The idea behind the Gallery always has been for the display of retouching, restoration, or manipulation works that members are particularly proud of. The only difference now is that, instead of emailing them to me and having me make up individual html pages for them, they can now be uploaded directly.

As the novelty wears off and users begin to replace their posts, its original purpose will return. In the meantime, I'll think about a more verbose description of its purpose. The only other alternative would be for me to delete un-retouched or un-restored or un-manipulated images, which would not do much to foster our sense of community.

I'll simply state here, since this is the thread where I asked for testers, that the testing period is over, the new Gallery works, and is open for your finest examples of retouching, restoration, and manipulation works.

It's now a couple of weeks later, and I must say there is some really excellent work being posted to the Gallery.