Suggestions Please

carko

I am starting the process of learning PHP. I have plenty of time for the process and a decent background. My goal is to change my existing photography site to include thumbnails on one side of the page which a rollover will produce a larger image on the same page. I want the thumbnail container to show only a limited number of photos at a time. My question is: what aspect or functions of PHP will accomplish this task. I know I have much to learn, but it seems there are some aspects of PHP that will not apply for what I am trying to do. In the learning process, I would like to have a light at the end of the tunnel to shoot for rather than trying to learn everything there is to know about PHP. I could hire someone to do this--but I like the challenge and fun of learning it myself. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

YAOMK

I would leave presentation to a client side technology such as javascript. If you need to use a server side technology to manage your content (if you have more than just a few pictures) then I would turn to Php.

carko

thanks for responding. I have many showing different types of photo enhancements. I guess I am asking what functions or types of code within PHP will help me do this. It would give me a focus for my studies. After the basics, I would need to learn?

YAOMK

Why don't you head over to Hotscripts and search for a solution, they have a variety of commercial and free scripts. Search for gallery in javascript, and for pictures storage/management in Php.

carko

I have been there and what we want to do is not there. My son who is helping has experience with C++ and wants us to it ourselves. It is in knowing what we are doing and not just copying what someone else did. I am retired and have plenty of time to do the work. I do appreciate your taking the time to post your answers. I know PHP can do what we want--just want to know what parts of it can do it? Again thanks

YAOMK

To expand on my previous post, Php can manipulate images in many ways. What functions you would use is dependent on your needs. This image section of the php manual could be a good starting point.

EDIT: Well post your specific requirements one at a time, and we must certainly will do our best to point you in the right direction.
I can tell you, that the rollover effect will have to be done using javascript or a client side scripting language, the server could prepare the layout of your pages etc. If you use a database, you could use a simple query and use "LIMIT BY [number of pics]" and then Php will use that to prepare your pages accordingly.

carko

The site dbooth.net comes the closest to what we are looking for. We started by completing the tutorial by donald booth at http://store1.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/spry_photo_album.html. We were successful with this but we only wanted a limited number of photos to show at a given time-such as 9 thumbnails. There was a script done in PHP (for sell) where additional thumbs were in the same window with an arrow scrolling to a new set. Another alternative would be to direct people to a new page--but I don't think people like switching pages a lot. How would you build the container--not specifically but would this be a table or a frame? Thanks for guiding us to databases and queries.

Horizon88

You could do it in a number of ways - one would be pagination, where you don't have a container, but something like the page listings here on the boards - shows 15 threads per page, then a Next Thread button.

You could also look into using AJAX. You'd be mixing Javascript and PHP to show the next set of images. You'd load the first nine with PHP, then a Javascript/AJAX link 'Next 9 Photos' would send a request to the PHP script, get the next nine, and update them without refreshing/redirecting the page. It's pretty slick, but utterly worthless if the user has Javascript disabled.

Flash could do it as well, but I don't like flash. 😃

I suppose you could also use hidden divs to load ALL the images, then use javascript to toggle the css display attribute for each element, but that would be considerably slow on page load, depending on the size of your images.

Pretty much you're going to have to go with Javascript (either AJAX or a toggling system of some sort) or use PHP pagination.

YAOMK

The example you provided uses flash, and the tutorial you followed is based on the implementation of spry which is an ajax framework. As Horizon stated there are many different ways to go about what you are trying to do, some more complex than others. You mentioned, you want to use this project to learn Php, and I have to say that this project will deter you from Php as you will be far more involved with client side technologies. Either way, best of luck on your new found adventure.

carko

Horizon--thanks for the choices. this is what i was looking for. now i have to rethink what i want the page to look like and then start the work. Yaomk--thanks for your input and help. [you could use a simple query and use "LIMIT BY [number of pics]" and then Php will use that to prepare your pages accordingly.] this statement from earlier--is this within the pagination concept--or how you set up your database and queries?

YAOMK

Anytime. "LIMIT BY" relates to database queries. This tutorial on pagination may come in handy, if that is the route you decide to take. Again best of luck.

carko

Yaomk and Horizon88--can you let me know how I can contact you in the future. I will continue doing research and then start on the project. When it is finished I would like to show you the results of your help.

Horizon88

You could make another post here - I'd assume YAOMK is subscribed, as am I - you could send us private messages here, or you could get (me, at least) on MSN/AIM/Yahoo.

carko

Thanks and talk to you guys later.

This is getting alot of viewers. If anybody else has any ideas--please post.

YAOMK

Same here. I will be adding my signature along with my personal page and contact info very soon, and it should be reflected in this post once I do it. Most of the guys here and very competent and quite friendly, I'm rather new to the forums, so don't hesitate to post any other doubts you may have. See you around.