Multiple add interface notices

[postb99]

Hello,

I'm using Phoca Gallery 2.0.1. I find this gallery really great and refer to documentation when I don't understand something at first, but sometimes I find the interface intuitive enough to try to do what I want. I don't want to criticize too much, but I think of the users who will use the website I currently develop and may not want to read docs for "a thing as simple as a pictures gallery". And so I have concerns about "multiple add" section. I noticed the following :

1. when I choose a category, then browse the folder to upload to, the category select resets. This is not fine.
2. If I want thumbnails to generate, I must first check the image in the list, then choose a category, then save. That does not seem intuitive.

I don't know if this behavior appears consistent to you but :

1. in category setting, each category is linked to a specific folder, so, in multiple add view, why not allow category choose that would change the folder location (and remove manual folder browse), so that one would : choose a category, clic on "upload". Some users may do wrong and upload to root folder.

2. I see what folder browse is actually for : "create folder" function, and locate the new folder at the right place. That's ok but may be more separated from... Mmh, my feeling is that it is confusing that one could choose a category that is not directly linked to a folder.

3. last but no least, when a picture is uploaded but not linked to a category, it does not appear in pictures list that seems to be in fact thumbnails list.

Somewhat a proposal, now tell me if I am totally wrong :

- in category edit, when browsing for a folder, option to create a new one in folder select dialog. Remove folder creation from "multiple add".
- in "multiple add", allow category selection that would allow read-only view of folders (or indicate the path, or even show folders in tree view).

So when the user upload images, he will be more concerned about categories rather than folders. And when his category would be inexistent, he would go to category edit page then come back.

Best regards,

Barbara

[caro84g]

1. when I choose a category, then browse the folder to upload to, the category select resets. This is not fine.

No you're right. But you could also choose a folder and then it creates a subfolder with all images within

2. If I want thumbnails to generate, I must first check the image in the list, then choose a category, then save. That does not seem intuitive.

when you're in the image list in multiple add you could also choose a category first and then select the images

1. in category setting, each category is linked to a specific folder, so, in multiple add view, why not allow category choose that would change the folder location (and remove manual folder browse), so that one would : choose a category, clic on "upload". Some users may do wrong and upload to root folder.

At my place categories aren't linked to specific folders. As far as I know this is only needed when frontend upload is available. (there is not multiple add in frontend, isn't it).

2. I see what folder browse is actually for : "create folder" function, and locate the new folder at the right place. That's ok but may be more separated from... Mmh, my feeling is that it is confusing that one could choose a category that is not directly linked to a folder.

You can add the same image to more categories, that's the advantage of not being directly linked - and it creates only 1 set of thumbs

3. last but no least, when a picture is uploaded but not linked to a category, it does not appear in pictures list that seems to be in fact thumbnails list.

The picture list show only the pictures added to the gallery. When I upload pictures by FTP, no thumbs are generated... I'm very happy with that, so no server space is used for thumbnails I'm not showing in my gallery.

The multiple add dialog isn't really intuitive, I agree with you. The problem is that you can upload pictures to the server and that you can add pictures to your gallery. That's all in one screen, while these are 2 steps.

I would rather make two dialogs: 1 for uploading pictures to the server and 1 for adding multiple pictures to a category.
Or another solution: when uploading pictures through the multiple add dialog, adding them straight away to a chosen category.

What do you mean with:

- in "multiple add", allow category selection that would allow read-only view of folders (or indicate the path, or even show folders in tree view).

Best regards,

Carolien (someone from the ancient world of PhocaGallery 1.3 when there was no upload function in multiple add )

[postb99]

Hi Carolien,

Thanks for your detailed post. The more I read the more I understand how you conceived the interface, and I finally fully agree with you, especially when you say :

The multiple add dialog isn't really intuitive, I agree with you. The problem is that you can upload pictures to the server and that you can add pictures to your gallery. That's all in one screen, while these are 2 steps.

I would rather make two dialogs: 1 for uploading pictures to the server and 1 for adding multiple pictures to a category.
Or another solution: when uploading pictures through the multiple add dialog, adding them straight away to a chosen category.

The first proposal would be fine to me.

What do you mean with:

- in "multiple add", allow category selection that would allow read-only view of folders (or indicate the path, or even show folders in tree view).

This was a 2-cent idea because I didn't feel the interface's goal very clear, but your replies make it clear and your change proposal would solve all my questions.

Best regards,

Barbara

[Jan]

Hi,

"Multiple Add" - this is some extra addon to make the image adding very fast...

There are two dialogs - for uploading and adding ... You can upload images in Media Manager and add them in Phoca Gallery Add. So worked the Phoca Gallery from the beginning, but a lot of users wanted to have some "multiple" solution, so I have created the Multiple Add (there was no uploading)... So users uploaded images via media manager or FTP (the quickest way) but they want not to do it this way, they wanted to have all in one, so in Multiple Add there is upload and add function yet...

The quickest and easiest way is still: Upload the folder structure and images via FTP and then add the images in Multiple Add View (all folders and subfolders will be changed to categories and subcategories) ... For users who want to upload via Phoca Gallery, they can use the upload in "Multiple Add"

This solution was asked by users who know Phoca Gallery behaviour and thank this solution they can work faster and they have a lot of variability now...

For such user the updating of gallery is very fast... just go to the "all in one" multiple add view, upload e.g. 10 new images into the folder "first" and click on save. Only new images will be added into the category "first" and it is all (category is updated) and if you use the "multiple add" often (you often update), the you will like the "all in one" solution

[postb99]

Hi,

Thanks for your input. Of course it's like this should be used.

Now I understand what confused me, how dumb : in category properties, there is a "user folder" property, that is useful for front-end. So I believed category was somewhat linked to this folder rather than being an abstraction regardless images location ^^. I didn't drink enough coffee the day I installed Phoca Gallery

Barbara

[Jan]

There are a lot of features in Phoca Gallery, so somtimes I (who have created it) am confused where to find some settings