Since Google doesn't give two shits about image TITLE tags, I've removed that option from my content create form. They do however look at the image ALT tag.

I tweaked the JS to support outputting both ALT and TITLE captions. By outputting both and with a little CSS styling you could make your captions looks like this.
http://awesomescreenshot.com/06dbeel6a

I've never created a patch before, but below is my tweaked image_caption.js and image_caption.min.js. I'll also throw in my CSS as well.

image_caption.js
http://pastebin.com/CFRdMiZn

image_caption.min.js
http://pastebin.com/VMwGxSyv

style-captions.css
http://pastebin.com/B3TyZHis

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#7 1127986-2-support-alt-when-title-is-empty.patch2.57 KBbisonbleu
#6 1127986-support-alt-when-title-is-empty.patch2.38 KBbisonbleu
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Comments

davidwhthomas’s picture

davidwhthomas CreditAttribution: davidwhthomas commented

Yes, I may actually change the js so it prefers the title, but uses the alt text if the title isn't set, but I'm not keen on using both.

cheers,

DT

bryancasler’s picture

bryancasler CreditAttribution: bryancasler commented

Not a fan of using both either, the fall back is a great idea. Everyone has their own way of setting up their site and the default will probably cover 90% of this modules users, but having these options I'm sure will prevent future issue que request. Not sure if this could be an option on a settings page.

Maybe something like:
Use Title as caption
Use Alt as caption
Use Title as caption with Alt as fall back
Use Alt as caption with Title as fall back
Use Title and Alt as caption

davidwhthomas’s picture

davidwhthomas CreditAttribution: davidwhthomas commented

That's too many options and overkill, users can put the caption they want in the title or alt text, or both.

bryancasler’s picture

bryancasler CreditAttribution: bryancasler commented
Version: 7.x-1.x-dev » 7.x-1.0-beta3

Here are the changes I made pulled out so folks can see what's happening and can make the necessary changes against future versions of this module.

Adds support for alt Captioning (image_caption.js)
Once changed the js file needs to be minimized and replace (image_caption.min.js)

-  var captiontext = $(this).attr('title');
+  var captiontitletext = $(this).attr('title');
+  // Get caption from alt attribute
+  var captionalttext = $(this).attr('alt');

-  // Append caption
-	$(this).parent().append("<span style=\"display:block;\" class=\"image-caption\">" + captiontext + "</span>");
+  // Append caption
+  $(this).parent().append(
+	"<span style=\"display:block;\" class=\"image-caption\">" +
+	"<span style=\"display:block;\" class=\"image-title-caption\">" + captiontitletext + "</span>" +
+	"<span style=\"display:block;\" class=\"image-alt-caption\">" + captionalttext + "</span>" +
+	"</span>"
+	);
eric.napier’s picture

eric.napier CreditAttribution: eric.napier commented

If the goal is to only use one attribute (either the alt or title tag), I would recommend using the 'alt' tag to generate caption text, it's and all around better strategy for SEO. Image titles are supposed to be short and concise, whereas the alt tag is generally the place to put longer descriptive text (such as the text synonymous with captions).

I am a fan of this module, it provides great functionality in a very simple, clean way. I have written a patch in my own installation for this module to use the 'alt' text rather than the title text for SEO purposes. But I would like very much to stay on the same path with the current development of this module.

bisonbleu’s picture

bisonbleu CreditAttribution: bisonbleu commented
Version: 7.x-1.0-beta3 » 7.x-1.x-dev
Assigned: Unassigned » bisonbleu
Issue summary: View changes
Status: Active » Needs review
FileSize
1127986-support-alt-when-title-is-empty.patch2.38 KB

I ran into this issue while migrating a Drupal 6 website where image_caption was modified to use the Alt attribute instead of the Title attribute.

I may actually change the js so it prefers the title, but uses the alt text if the title isn't set...

Here is a patch that follows @davidwhthomas' suggestion in #1. It works for me. But I'm no Javascript expert so do let me know if it can be improved and I'll create a new patch.

Cheers

bisonbleu’s picture

bisonbleu CreditAttribution: bisonbleu commented
FileSize
1127986-2-support-alt-when-title-is-empty.patch2.57 KB

Code in previous patch doesn't work with jQuery > 1.5. This new patch fixes this and appears to be compatible with all versions of jQuery available in the jQuery Update UI (from 1.5 to 2.1).