9 replies to this topic

[denverappraiser]

Hermann,

Is there a way to set your forum software to allow users to post pictures? This would be very useful to both askers and answerers of many of the various questions and would probably increase your traffic just because folks like to look at pretty pictures.

[Feydakin]

I see an image link button in the reply window.. Let's see if it works..



There's the link, and now the submit button..

But, with the current WMF problem out there, and the fix that isn't really a fix, it may be dangerous to allow people to post or link to images for a while..

Steve

[hermann]

YES!

There are two ways to post pictures. The first (and preferred way) is to include them in your message as an attachment. Images that get added to the message this way are re-rendered by our unix server, which means that there is a strong likelihood of filtering out any viruses or other nasty things.

Here is an example of a thread that contains many such pictures:
http://www.diamond.i...?showtopic=1443

The second and less preferred way is to link in an image as Feydakin did on this thread. There are two problems with this approach:
1) The images are not hosted here, but on the submitter's designated server. If that server goes down or the image is removed, the image disappears from here as well and you get a broken link. Over time, all old messages containing pictures lose the pictures.
2) Since the images are not hosted here, there is a potential for viruses like the current WMF that is going around.
I would actually like to disable this latter method but haven't figured out how to do this in the current version of the forum software.

[denverappraiser]

Most users don't have a handy server to post their pictures to but there are free ones available for those that are savvy to this sort of thing. I think, in practice, most of the users aren't prepared to do this but I suppose if some of the regular posters started doing it in our replies it would have an affect.

The inclulsion as an attachement works ok but it sure would be nice if it would display an image bigger than the thumbnail. The image of Steve's car is pretty compelling and the little thumbnails aren't. Can you increase the thumnail size to, say, 600x600?

Also, is there a way to attach more than one picture to a single message?

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[Feydakin]

My poor car

I understand Herman's reasons for controlling what gets posted.. And I agree to a certain extent.. But as someone that has had countless original images 'lifted' and reused through hot linking etc., I like knowing that if someone "steals" one of my images I can redirect the thief to an image he probably doesn't want to have associated with his name while leaving the original images intact where I meant to post them..

[hermann]

Steve, unfortunately it is easy enough to "steal" an image regardless of where it originates, whether it be your server's or Diamond.info's or anyone else's. All the thief needs to do is right-click on the image, save it to their hard drive, and post it wherever they want. I wish there was a foolproof way to control piracy but unfortunately there is none. Plus, there is still the virus problem with WMF that is going around. In any case, I just figured out how to disable the [IMG] tag and have done so for new posts (old posts, including that poor car :], are grandfathered).

Neil, I have increased the thumbnail size to 150x150. I'm hesitant to go any higher out of pity for those poor souls who still use dial-up. I poked around and asked tech support, and unfortunately my version of the software does not allow more than 1 attachment. I believe the new version does; when the upgrade occurs (later this year) that will be rolled in.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[denverappraiser]

I'm pretty sympathetic to the low bandwidth crowd because I'm a fairly recent convert to better equipment (I finally upgraded in 2005) but I think you may be shooting yourself with it. I was very accustomed to slow load pages. If it was loading something interesting it was far less painful. What made me crazy was sucking up the bandwidth with all the banner advertising and goofy graphics on pages. Thankfully you have avoided this all along
Pictures that are part of the content are actually appreciated and when we're discussing a visual thing like jewelry are often more useful than the text. Describing Steve's poor car would have far less impact than his above photo. A thumbnail would help but it still doesn't really do it justice. How about 300x300?

Can't your server stats program tell you how many of your users are connecting at what speed?

Neil

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[denverappraiser]

duplicate post

[Feydakin]

I agree with everything you said Herman, but you also know that many people are just stupid and simply hotlink.. A guy I know from another tech forum had "Yahoo!" of all places hotlink to picture on his site for their official music site.. They didn't take it down until he changed the image into an ad for his website

I think that 150x150 may be enough for most people, certainly a better place to start than where it was..

As for external linking, I thought that that was a clickable option for this forum software.. I know it is in phpBB (and I have it turned off on the forum I run)..

[hermann]

Gents, 300x300 it is...

Have a great weekend!
Hermann