Hi everyone. I think I have a fairly simple request, I'm just having a hard time drudging through the modules documentation to figure out what is out there that suits my needs.
What I basically want is an image gallery that acts precisely like this:
http://barnettcontracting.com/current.html
Which is, essentially, one full-sized photo with thumbnails around it; Click on a thumbnail and view it full-sized on the same page so that all the thumbnails always stay there.
My problem is that I am building this for a client who is not HTML savvy and I'd like to make it as easy for them to maintain as possible (which is why I am leery of just manually coding out the pages myself). Ideally, they would end up on this page:
http://versailles-interiors.com/?q=node/8
And then click, say, Fabrics:
http://versailles-interiors.com/?q=node/9
Which would essentially look the same as this page, but show a larger version of the thumbnails in place of the big image there rather than popping stuff up or appearing to leave the page.
Please help? I'll bake and mail cookies. ;)
<3
Comments
(no title)
From what I have heard, the thickbox module does this kind of thing. Give it a try.
http://drupal.org/project/thickbox
Thanks!
Their demo isn't quite what they were looking for, but is still INFINATELY closer than the other things I've found on here, and I think it'd be easy to convince them to use if I can't figure out how to pin it just right the way they had initially wanted. Thanks!!
(no title)
I haven't used it but I have seen it work in a much more neat way that that demo.
There is also this article which you may find interesting for a more handcrafted solution
http://www.travistidwell.com/drupal_and_ajax
IMAGE MODULE
Image Gallery module is exactly what you are looking for
http://drupal.org/project/image
here is a sample
http://www.iran-amirentezam.com/photo
N.Mehrabany
Baruzh web design & programming
Nima
Some ideas
Is it your goal to have the thumbnail's larger versions load into the space where the current large image is? Or do you want the large image of the room to stay in place, and have larger versions of the fabric choice thumbnails come up in a floating "lightbox" display? Without knowing for sure, I'll try to answer from a few different perspectives and hopefully will at least say "something" useful haha :P
I don't think Image module's gallery, at least on its own "out of the box", can do exactly what you need... for one, Image module can scale images, but isn't able to crop them to an exact size (for that you would need the ImageCache and probably Imagefield modules (and CCK + Views wouldn't hurt either haha... see: HOW TO: Create an image gallery using CCK and Views). Image module does integrate with Thickbox (as do many image-related Drupal modules - view the demo to see how it works) which would give you a lightbox display of the thumbnails when clicked, though I can't think of any way to get its images to load into the space of your larger image (or how to put a larger image there in the first place).
If you are ok with using Flash, then a possibility to consider is:
http://drupal.org/project/flash_gallery
This one is "based" on top of Image module, but builds on top of what Image module generates. It might require you to revise your gallery layout a little bit (though you "can" choose where to put the thumbnails, top bottom left and right), but seems to more closely follow your goal (if I understand you) to load the main gallery images into a larger center image from a set of smaller image thumbnails shown on the same page. Look on the module page for links to a demonstration as well as screenshots.
I can't wholeheartedly recommend this module though since it is 1) unsupported by the module maintainer, and 2) not compatible with the current version of Image module (which means you have to use an outdated version of Image module, and can't expect any security updates if a problem is discovered in Image module (or new features in the future for that matter). There's always the chance the module maintainer will eventually release an update (or someone else may take over), though the lack of support options on the module project page doesn't bode well. Another thing is if you want to remove the SimpleViewer link at the bottom, you have to buy a license for $45 (could be worth it if this is what you need and the client doesn't want the link).
Another possibility:
http://drupal.org/project/cck_slideshow
This one would be less close to your current idea, but is jQuery-based (javascript) instead of Flash... I suspect it could be expanded on to add additional ImageCache thumbnails instead of numbered buttons (which would make it nearly perfect I think).
I've never tried it out, but this one might be worth having a look at:
http://drupal.org/project/pblog
(view the demo, it has thumbnails displayed below the main image - though it doesn't load dynamically)
Anyhow, hope this helps out a bit... if I come up with any more ideas I'll let you know :)
-- Dave
absolutecross.com
That's beautiful - Thanks so
That's beautiful - Thanks so much!
You were right, my main goal is to have the images load in the space that the larger image currently is.
I really appreciate the time and consideration you put into your reply, I will try them out and if I find a way to do it I will let you know in case you come across need for it later. ^_^
No problem, glad to help
No problem, glad to help :D
I have a bit of an idea brewing in my head about how to set things up so that CCK Slideshow does "exactly" what you want. I'm not a great PHP coder yet so hopefully it works out how I think it will using nothing but the Drupal-dynamic-duo (CCK & Views modules), and some theming work with XHTML and CSS. I'll give it a spin and let you know if I come up with a working plan - and if so, will write up a tutorial on how to reproduce it yourself.
If you end up having trouble getting Flash Gallery to work if/when you test it out, let me know and I'll try to give some guidance - it did not work for me since I have the current version of Image module in my local Drupal install and I didn't want to try downgrading it, though it'd be no problem for me to quickly setup another Drupal install to test it out with (oh, the joys of a local development environment haha).
-- Dave
absolutecross.com
Progress update
Just wanted to update you on my progress...
So far I've got the CCK Slideshow module up and running with a specific configuration, along with some specially configured ImageCache presets, a new content type, and a View that brings it all together. Right now I'm to the point where the gallery page is successfully output with the large image, and a set of small thumbnails for every image in the "slideshow-that's-becoming-a-gallery" (currently unlinked).
What remains is for me to do some theming and (maybe, I hope not haha) a little PHP to wrap those images with the special links generated by CCK Slideshow (which is currently outputs as numbers... I'm trying to replace those numbers with each respective thumbnail image). So, I'm close :)
I've also wrote a very detailed tutorial on every step I took to get this far, which I'll post when all's said and done (assuming I don't get stuck - though if I do hopefully someone else can help me take it to the finish line). Fortunately you also won't need a lot of the tutorial, since the developers of CCK and Views have been so kind as to facilitate exporting/importing - so I can just export my copies for you to use.
I know all this seems a bit over-complicated compared to a single prepackaged module haha - it's a side effect of the current state of evolution Drupal is going through, where a much greater degree of flexibility has been made available through tools like CCK, Views, etc (as compared to a fully self contained module - which does what it does and nothing else, often duplicating portions of what other modules do)... the flexibility is very cool, but makes assembling that functionality together more complicated (at least until more modules are developed that automate the process). Some interesting reading if you're interested: 1, 2, 3
Anyhow, will keep ya posted :D
-- Dave
absolutecross.com
Cool!
It's amazing what you've accomplished so far, I'd say.
When you told me it needed an older version, I just went ahead and uninstalled my existing Image module and went with the older release - Worked like a charm! http://versailles-interiors.com/fgallery
Too bad the client is still scared to get in there and play around. :( It's quite simple to use but it's been hard nudging them to try it out.
Well, not quite.. I don't think.
Thanks, but not just quite, from what I can tell from the sample. My main goal is to have thumbnails that load the larger version in the same space that the larger version on my demo currently is. This way people can stay in one place and click on things without feeling like they're doing much. :)
Problem Solved
In case anyone surfs in and needs to do the same thing - I did go with flashbox. It's worth noting that as posted above, you have to actually go with an outdated release of the Image module, and you cannot count on upkeep in the future.
However it's very efficient, easy to install, and good for its purpose - looks quite snazzy as well. I'm not a huge advocate of flash, but meh. I'd say it still gets my vote, because I like to keep it simple when it comes to making sites clients can upkeep themselves.
Here's what we ended up with: http://versailles-interiors.com/fgallery