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jcocking
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Oct 23, 2003, 2:33 PM
Post #1 of 6
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AM: Consolidated Feature Request
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I have added a few new items to my running list of enhancement requests. - Image Requirements:
- Add an "alt tag" field on the manage image page. (Accessibility requirement)
- Ability to reuse images. Provide the option to upload an image or pick an image from the upload directory
- Ability to create thumbnails. Provide an option during image upload to define the use of auto thumbnail.
- Create the thumbnail at article creation and stored in a directory. (upload_thumbnail). This approach creates the thumbnail at article creation and not on the fly during article viewing (performance issues)
- Utilize the same image functions for the thumbnail. (ie right, left, center)
- Ability to use captions and alt tag with a thumbnail
- There should be three options for displaying the thumbnail
- Only the thumbnail (***thumb1:position***)
- thumbnail with hyperlink to larger image (***thumburl1:position***)
- thumbnail with hyperlink to a customizable template that shows the image (***thumbpage1:position***)
- Article Requirements:
- Ability to post articles to multiple categories.
- Each article will have a primary category
- Option to post article in secondary categories
- Ability to link to other articles within an article.
- Create a view similar to the image upload, but with drop down boxes with all the articles. By selecting an article it will be defined as link1. Each selection would increment by one.
- Within the article be able to place ***link1:content to be hyperlinked***
- Category Sorting
- Ability to define sort criteria on a category level (similiar to todays global but on a category level)
- Ability to do a manual sorting/ordering of articles within category
- Defaults to the global sort order if not defined on a category level
- Sub-categories. The ability to have multilevel categories. Need to be able to define to 3 levels deep. (loved the old am2 screenshot)
- Style - Remove all inline stylesheets from the templates and go to a common css file. (makes upgrading easier. Templates code only)
- Search - Enable search with a defineable sort order that is independent of the category sort and global sort. If not sort order provided defaults to global sort order.
With the list comes a thank you. You have a great product and a great product QA. It is nice to know that when a release is put into production, I do not have to worry if it will work right.
Jeff Cocking
Lotus Elan (AM 1.38)
VoIP Phone Comparisons (AM 2.02)
(This post was edited by jcocking on Oct 23, 2003, 2:34 PM)
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Theo
Project Manager
/ Moderator
Oct 24, 2003, 11:50 AM
Post #2 of 6
(2901 views)
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Re: [jcocking] AM: Consolidated Feature Request
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Thanks for the suggestions, Jeff. I've got some comments on a few of your suggestions.
Add an "alt tag" field on the manage image page. (Accessibility requirement)
The best way to do this is to change the img_caption templatecell to use the caption as the alt text, i.e.:
<img src="$img_url$" height="$img_height$" width="$img_width$" border=1 alt="$img_caption$">
Ability to reuse images. Provide the option to upload an image or pick an image from the upload directoryCliff wrote a great tutorial on how to create an "image repository".
http://www.interactivetools.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=10516#10516
Ability to link to other articles within an article. - Create a view similar to the image upload, but with drop down boxes with all the articles. By selecting an article it will be defined as link1. Each selection would increment by one.
Hm, this dropdown seems like it might be a mite unwieldy. Would it be easier to have two windows open and find the article using the published search features, then paste the article URL into the article text using the WYSIWYG URL button?
Regarding some of the advanced category features (category defined sorting, subcats and multiple cats), as well as some more advanced image management (and thumbnailing), these are things that I'd really like to see in the future of the product as well. I can't really speculate on when they're likely to see release, however.
Many thanks for the input, Jeff!
Theo Wiersma
Project Manager
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jcocking
User
Oct 24, 2003, 12:57 PM
Post #3 of 6
(2897 views)
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Re: [Theo] AM: Consolidated Feature Request
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Add an "alt tag" field on the manage image page. (Accessibility requirement) The best way to do this is to change the img_caption templatecell to use the caption as the alt text, i.e.:
<img src="$img_url$" height="$img_height$" width="$img_width$" border=1 alt="$img_caption$"> Then I loose the ability to have captions. Captions are different then alt tags. Alt tags describe the picture in detail for visual impaired readers. Captions are additional information about the picture. Still need alt tags capability. This should be an easy enhancement.
Ability to reuse images. Provide the option to upload an image or pick an image from the upload directory Cliff wrote a great tutorial on how to create an "image repository". Cliff's repository has limitations. It is to labour intensive. I have articles with 20+ images. It is a good work around, but will not work for my site.
Ability to link to other articles within an article.
Hm, this dropdown seems like it might be a mite unwieldy. Would it be easier to have two windows open and find the article using the published search features, then paste the article URL into the article text using the WYSIWYG URL button?
The problem with this approach if the url changes the link is dead. If I use AM then it keeps the link info. If I move the target article to a different category/file the link is dead. AM knows where the article is and can update the link.
You have provided a couple of quick and dirty work arounds. I have already tried what you suggested. They did not work for my site.
The list is my consolidated enhancement requests. It is not complaining or looking for a quick fix. Most of it I have developed work arounds. If the enhancements where in place I would have a cleaner system.
jeff
Jeff Cocking
Lotus Elan (AM 1.38)
VoIP Phone Comparisons (AM 2.02)
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Theo
Project Manager
/ Moderator
Oct 24, 2003, 1:10 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: [jcocking] AM: Consolidated Feature Request
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Yeah, I agree that workarounds aren't always an effective replacement for designed functionality. Often they solve the problem very well, but some of them don't apear to scale to your needs.
I do appreciate your feature suggestions. Mostly they're very inline with where I'd like to see the product eventually.
Theo Wiersma
Project Manager
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Cliff
Staff
Oct 24, 2003, 5:35 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: [jcocking] AM: Consolidated Feature Request
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Hi Jeff,
While your suggestions probably will not be implemented withing the next couple of quarters, we have taken note of the features that you have requested.
Thanks again for the valuable feedback!
Regards,
Cliff Stefanuk - Customer Service Manager
support@interactivetools.com
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