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Post edited 2:11 am – December 20, 2009 by Ade

I'm already working on v3.1 (development never stops) and have already prioritised the following enhancements:

• Pull image description from existing post content
• Add default image capability for WPMU

As you may be aware, the WordPress and WPMU developers intend to merge WP and WPMU ready for WP 3.0, which is likely to be released in the Spring. In view of this, one of the things I want to do is to phase out the plugin's functionality differences, so that WPMU users get exactly the same functionality as WP users.

The most significant difference is default images – they can't be used when DCG is run on WPMU. Therefore I am considering changing default image handling so that WPMU users get this functionality. However, to do this, I will need to make changes to the way default images are currently handled when the DCG is run on WP.

What I propose is that the existing xx.jpg "category" image will be replaced with options to assign any image as a default image. For example, an additional "default image" field will be provided next to each Image Slot in the Multi Option Settings. A similar option will be provided for the One Category gallery method. (No changes to Pages method – the default image already works like this.)

The advantage of this change is that WPMU users will be able to use default images. The disadvantage, for WP users, is that default images will no longer be automatically pulled in based on the category ID. WP Users will have to assign the default images manually. On balance, I don't think this is a big deal, especially as – generally speaking – once the DCG is setup initially, users don't tend to make changes to its configuration.

Feel free to leave your comments regarding this proposal in this thread.

I would also like to hear from users regarding future features. Please leave your suggestions below.

Thanks!

Ade.

Gil,

Thanks for the feedback.

The "auto" text coding has now been finished and works great with all gallery methods. This will be in 3.1 which I shall be releasing in a couple of days.

Interesting idea re Studiopress. What I will do is add some Studiopress-specific points to the FAQ. I don't really want to give away Brian's code, so prefer to post details of the specific tweaks required, rather than post downloads of whole files.

Cheers,

Ade.

Gil Namur said:

Hi Ade!

That's GREAT news! I will download it the moment its up!

Re Studiopress .. what if the repository of modified themes for DCG resided at studiopress and was only available to registered users? That way Brian's code isn't given away, his customers get options (which being a businessman I ALWAYS give my clients) and you get to see more instances of DCG out there. Just a thought :- )

Cheers,
Gil

Hi Gil,

I'll mention it to Brian.

Post edited 1:24 pm – December 28, 2009 by Ade

Gil Namur said:

You are definitely correct Ade.

Example, TIMthumb implementation should include (in the the theme options) the ability to use the first image in an article. Saves time. Lifeasahuman.com will have 25+ authors some posting 4-8 per month .. thats a lot of content to manage and our copy editors wont all have graphic skills or know where to place images etc. Automation saves time and errors.

Your thinking is bang on!

Cheers,

Gil

P.S. send me an ad if you have one and I will place it at synaptici.com for now. Something that will fit the 1st or 2nd sidebar.  Small way for me to say thanks! When lifeasahuman launches, we will be mentioning our friends

Hi Gil,

There are a couple of potential problems with pulling the first image from a post:

1. It requires another database query.

2. If the post author doesn't add a correctly sized image, the result could look a bit borked in the gallery.

I'll be doing some testing in the next couple of weeks to see if the db query is a problem or not.

PS: Thanks for the offer re the ad. I'll send you one. Thanks! 

Version 3.1 was released today, 28 December 2009.

Development is already underway on version 3.2, these being the features planned for that release:

• Default images for WPMU
• Replace existing "category" default images with user-defineable images
• Upgrade the jQuery script
• Further code optimisation

As always, suggestions are welcome!

Gil Namur said:

Hi Ade,

Re Point 2 – that's very true. However, its easy enough to publish then quickly scroll through the gallery. If a particular image is wonky, then the user can create a custom image and use the dfcg-image field to over-ride the goofy one. As well, one could size the gallery to match the default first image size for a post.

I'll place your as as soon as I have it. I also plan to write a post on DCG soon :-)

Cheers,

Gil

Gil,

Understood. As I mentioned, I'm going to run some tests and see if there's a performance hit or not. On this site, for example, images are always (99% of the time) used at one of 3 sizes – so I agree, it isn't too diffiuclt for people to make sure the image is correctly dimensioned. That is also a little easier now in WP2.9 with the built-in image editing capabilities. (Don't panic, WPMU will get it too, I'm sure).

Cheers,

Ade.

Gil Namur said:

Works GREAT!!!!!

Awesome job – superb new feature :-)

THANKS

Cheers,

Gil

Thanks!