Suggestion on Gallery layout

bananabear

Joined: 2004-11-08
Posts: 34

Posted: Mon, 2004-11-08 13:31

I posted this message on G1 forum. And H0bbel suggested me to post this here. So I repost the message:

As a person who do not know any computer programing language, I would like to express my sincere gratitude of all your hard work in providing the Gallery for us. It is really a dream come true for a photographer like me who do not have the resource to buy a commercial package to showcast my work.

Throughout my experience in using Gallery, which started some 2 years ago, I have most of the time trying to seek ways to customize the outlook of my Gallery powered website.

Gallery is a very powerful package. But the major problem for me so far is that the the layout can't be changed too much with the configuration wizard. For example, I tried to use a random block to display intermediate sized photos on the home page of my phopnuke powered website so that it has a more unique character on the first sight. I end up spending 4 months before I could figure out how. I know that this could be only minutes away for computer gurus like many of you who create Gallery. And it would be lovely if next generation of Gallery could have functions to customize the layout built-in. Considering the power of Gallery has now, I think this is even more important than adding new technical features. Imagine how wonderful it could be if many of us who do not understand too much about PHP would be able to customize unique layouts with the configuration wizard.

I keep thinking that if I could build a similar site like http://www.magnumphotos.com or http://www.eyepress.com with gallery, it would be the day when Gallery becomes the best photo gallery on the net.

No matter how, thank you for Open Source community for bringing us so much wonderful things. THANK YOU!!!

bharat

Joined: 2002-05-21
Posts: 7994

Posted: Thu, 2004-11-11 04:41

I agree -- it's very hard to customize Gallery 1.x without completely stepping all over the code. However, Gallery 2 makes it much easier. G2 has the concept of a "layout" which is a custom set of HTML that you can use to render an album. You should be able to create a layout just like either magnumphotos or eyepress without touching any of the core Gallery code. It's not trivial to create layouts, but we'll make it easier over time. To see what you can do, install G2 and try setting an album to use the Hybrid layout.

lvthunder

Joined: 2003-09-12
Posts: 808

Posted: Thu, 2004-11-11 18:58

After actually going thru the process of creating a new layout and theme it is a fairly easy process once you actually figure out where everything is. I think once the documentation is written it will help a lot.

bananabear

Joined: 2004-11-08
Posts: 34

Posted: Fri, 2004-11-12 08:25

Thanks for the promising development of G2. That's really a good news for people like me.

Even though I am not a techie person, I have been very much into the concept of Open Source and free software movement. I even did a dissertation to analyse in a social science perspective about the impacts of OS in the development of ICT in China for my postgraduate degree.

Over the years, I found there is a very big problem in the OS community, i.e. only a handful of computer addicts are able to utilize the bulk of the free software efficiently.

Take my attempt to build a photo site as an example, it has not been easy at all without knowing any programming knowledge. Though there are many helpful people in various forums, I think the most important thing is to make many of the OS software more user friendly. Instead of asking idiots like me to do the myterious hacks. Its just really time consuming.

I know this is always easier said than done. But this is a crucial step for OS movement to thrive and dominate the majority of the user market in the future.

bharat

Joined: 2002-05-21
Posts: 7994

Posted: Fri, 2004-11-19 09:10

Hi, bananabear. We are doing our best to bring a sophisticated application to the masses in an easy to use form. The best thing that you can do to help us is to be an active member of our community, and encourage others to join us! We can always use more developers, ui designers, tech writers, project managers, tech support folks and testers! If you fit the bill, or know somebody who does -- encourage them to come help us!

bananabear

Joined: 2004-11-08
Posts: 34

Posted: Mon, 2004-11-22 05:44

I will certainly do. I am not on the technical side. But if there is anything that I can do in the management area, I am more than happy to be a member of this community.

Some more about my background, I am a photographer with my first degree in Communications Studies and postgraduate degree in International Communications. If you think there is anything that I can make a contribution, just let me know.

bananabear Joined: 2004-11-08 Posts: 34	Posted: Mon, 2004-11-08 13:31
	I posted this message on G1 forum. And H0bbel suggested me to post this here. So I repost the message: As a person who do not know any computer programing language, I would like to express my sincere gratitude of all your hard work in providing the Gallery for us. It is really a dream come true for a photographer like me who do not have the resource to buy a commercial package to showcast my work. Throughout my experience in using Gallery, which started some 2 years ago, I have most of the time trying to seek ways to customize the outlook of my Gallery powered website. Gallery is a very powerful package. But the major problem for me so far is that the the layout can't be changed too much with the configuration wizard. For example, I tried to use a random block to display intermediate sized photos on the home page of my phopnuke powered website so that it has a more unique character on the first sight. I end up spending 4 months before I could figure out how. I know that this could be only minutes away for computer gurus like many of you who create Gallery. And it would be lovely if next generation of Gallery could have functions to customize the layout built-in. Considering the power of Gallery has now, I think this is even more important than adding new technical features. Imagine how wonderful it could be if many of us who do not understand too much about PHP would be able to customize unique layouts with the configuration wizard. I keep thinking that if I could build a similar site like http://www.magnumphotos.com or http://www.eyepress.com with gallery, it would be the day when Gallery becomes the best photo gallery on the net. No matter how, thank you for Open Source community for bringing us so much wonderful things. THANK YOU!!!
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bharat Joined: 2002-05-21 Posts: 7994	Posted: Thu, 2004-11-11 04:41
	I agree -- it's very hard to customize Gallery 1.x without completely stepping all over the code. However, Gallery 2 makes it much easier. G2 has the concept of a "layout" which is a custom set of HTML that you can use to render an album. You should be able to create a layout just like either magnumphotos or eyepress without touching any of the core Gallery code. It's not trivial to create layouts, but we'll make it easier over time. To see what you can do, install G2 and try setting an album to use the Hybrid layout.

lvthunder Joined: 2003-09-12 Posts: 808	Posted: Thu, 2004-11-11 18:58
	After actually going thru the process of creating a new layout and theme it is a fairly easy process once you actually figure out where everything is. I think once the documentation is written it will help a lot.

bananabear Joined: 2004-11-08 Posts: 34	Posted: Fri, 2004-11-12 08:25
	Thanks for the promising development of G2. That's really a good news for people like me. Even though I am not a techie person, I have been very much into the concept of Open Source and free software movement. I even did a dissertation to analyse in a social science perspective about the impacts of OS in the development of ICT in China for my postgraduate degree. Over the years, I found there is a very big problem in the OS community, i.e. only a handful of computer addicts are able to utilize the bulk of the free software efficiently. Take my attempt to build a photo site as an example, it has not been easy at all without knowing any programming knowledge. Though there are many helpful people in various forums, I think the most important thing is to make many of the OS software more user friendly. Instead of asking idiots like me to do the myterious hacks. Its just really time consuming. I know this is always easier said than done. But this is a crucial step for OS movement to thrive and dominate the majority of the user market in the future.

bharat Joined: 2002-05-21 Posts: 7994	Posted: Fri, 2004-11-19 09:10
	Hi, bananabear. We are doing our best to bring a sophisticated application to the masses in an easy to use form. The best thing that you can do to help us is to be an active member of our community, and encourage others to join us! We can always use more developers, ui designers, tech writers, project managers, tech support folks and testers! If you fit the bill, or know somebody who does -- encourage them to come help us!

bananabear Joined: 2004-11-08 Posts: 34	Posted: Mon, 2004-11-22 05:44
	I will certainly do. I am not on the technical side. But if there is anything that I can do in the management area, I am more than happy to be a member of this community. Some more about my background, I am a photographer with my first degree in Communications Studies and postgraduate degree in International Communications. If you think there is anything that I can make a contribution, just let me know.

Suggestion on Gallery layout

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