Newbie questions before install

[busynut]

Hi all!
I just downloaded EE and have been reading through the files to become acquainted. I've been trying out different photo galleries and this looks like everything I could possibly want (and more). But before installing I have some questions I haven't found answers to:

* My web host allows one database and that database currently holds tables for another photo gallery I've been testing. I've looked at all the table names for EE and it doesn't appear that there's any conflict in the names - therefore, it should be okay to install EE without causing conflict with the other gallery's tables?

* The download files seemed to include 2 versions of photos having the same filenames but for different directories: thumbs and microthumbs. Does this mean the thumbs/microthumb files MUST be the same name as the original file? I ask because I already have a lot of thumbnails, but their filenames are slightly different (tn_ at end).

* Although I've been reading through many of the downloaded files - I'm curious about the Photoshop files - is that so I can recolor the EE logo to match my site design?

* What file types are recognized/handled by EE? Is it jpg only? Besides photos, I have some graphics I would like to put in a category/exhibition and some are transparent gifs. Is that permitted?

* If I decide not to use some of the detail info fields (camera settings, etc.) - do I have to do anything special to the files? If not used will the data fields show up as "blank" or not at all? Or is this something that may become clearer once I've installed and run the setup?

I still have a lot of reading to do and will have more questions once I install. I appreciate your patience and any assistance offered.
Bev

[Pekka]

busynut wrote:
* My web host allows one database and that database currently holds tables for another photo gallery I've been testing. I've looked at all the table names for EE and it doesn't appear that there's any conflict in the names - therefore, it should be okay to install EE without causing conflict with the other gallery's tables?

No problem. As long as table names do not conflict you can run several applications in one database. That was one of the reasons why all ee tables are named ee_XXXXX

* The download files seemed to include 2 versions of photos having the same filenames but for different directories: thumbs and microthumbs. Does this mean the thumbs/microthumb files MUST be the same name as the original file? I ask because I already have a lot of thumbnails, but their filenames are slightly different (tn_ at end).

Yes, sorry but EE works that way, there is only one filename per photo. If you do a search I'm sure you'll find a batch rename software.

* Although I've been reading through many of the downloaded files - I'm curious about the Photoshop files - is that so I can recolor the EE logo to match my site design?

That's why the PSD files are there. Shadows and logo can be made to match any background.

* What file types are recognized/handled by EE? Is it jpg only? Besides photos, I have some graphics I would like to put in a category/exhibition and some are transparent gifs. Is that permitted?

It handles now only jpg's but it's very easy to make it accept gifs and png's too. BUT: if you select a gif, all thumbs and sizes of it must be gif, too.

I'll have gif and png there in next update. By design, EE actually does not care which format it is, but I have limited directory listings to *.jpg now for clarity.

* If I decide not to use some of the detail info fields (camera settings, etc.) - do I have to do anything special to the files? If not used will the data fields show up as "blank" or not at all? Or is this something that may become clearer once I've installed and run the setup?

If you leave a field blank EE will not show it. I have improved this in next update so that even text "n/a", "none", "unknown" are ignored, and that the display will remove all respective headers, too.

One thing to make clear: EE does not read camera data from photos. That feature is coming in next versions.

I still have a lot of reading to do and will have more questions once I install. I appreciate your patience and any assistance offered.
Bev

Go in and install it. There is a FAQ inside the editors which may answer more questions. In any case, feel free to write here.

Pekka

[busynut]

Thank you for your assistance! I have a few more questions I hope you don't mind:

*Is it okay to use this program even if I don't (yet) have a Canon?
* I unzipped all the files and notice in the folder called "D30_photos" there are 7 additional folders, "big," "big_hq," "medium," "medium_hq," etc. Is this where the photos go? And if so, is it okay to just ignore some of the folders if I don't have that many versions of re-sized photos?
* Once I have installed it and run setup [assuming I'm not prohibited from using this because I don't have a Canon yet :( ], if I want to use my own stylesheets to blend with my site, would I put them in the styles folder, one of it's sub-folders, or some other place? Hmm.. I just noticed the styles sub-folders seem to hold the graphics for the styles... so if I wanted to use my own colors, etc. would I create a new sub-folder for them and if so, do I need to make some changes to the scripts in order to recognize them? (you can probably tell that I still haven't made my way through every file).
* You've mentioned the next version and there's a separate thread about it - if you expect to release it in the near future should I wait for that? Speaking of which, if my pre-install questions have come up before, perhaps some additional documentation in the install.txt file may be beneficial.

Again, thank you for your patience and help. I've been looking at some of the galleries created by others and they're really terrific.

Bev

[Pekka]

busynut wrote:
*Is it okay to use this program even if I don't (yet) have a Canon?

Of course, it's my software and it has nothing to do with Canon. I just keep support in this forum so that I don't have to open another one and force people to re-register just for EE.

* I unzipped all the files and notice in the folder called "D30_photos" there are 7 additional folders, "big," "big_hq," "medium," "medium_hq," etc. Is this where the photos go? And if so, is it okay to just ignore some of the folders if I don't have that many versions of re-sized photos?


Those folders can be used if you like. You can freely define in path editor where your photos are and how many sizes you offer. Read the editor FAQ about size paths.


* Once I have installed it and run setup [assuming I'm not prohibited from using this because I don't have a Canon yet :( ], if I want to use my own stylesheets to blend with my site, would I put them in the styles folder, one of it's sub-folders, or some other place? Hmm.. I just noticed the styles sub-folders seem to hold the graphics for the styles... so if I wanted to use my own colors, etc. would I create a new sub-folder for them and if so, do I need to make some changes to the scripts in order to recognize them? (you can probably tell that I still haven't made my way through every file).


The style definition (colors, file paths etc) are in style files right under styles folder. Style files are e.g. "original.php", "dusk_feel_1.php".

Those files contain all details for that style, and those details include also paths to graphics files. You can start making your own style by copying some other style (e.g. copy "dusk_feel_1.php" and rename copy to "mystyle.php" and then copy folder "dusk_1" and rename the copy to "mystyle"). Then open mystyle.php and start editing it.

To get the style to show in editor menu and in database (so that EE knows it's there and offers it as a choice in editors) you have to write a few lines in style.php in gallery root. This procedure is very much simpler in next version as I told in other post.


* You've mentioned the next version and there's a separate thread about it - if you expect to release it in the near future should I wait for that? Speaking of which, if my pre-install questions have come up before, perhaps some additional documentation in the install.txt file may be beneficial.


Install.txt is a good idea. I will also put a full live EE editor (without really saving or changing) on EE website so that people can check it out and read the FAQ, too.

I'll try to write next version before the end of the week, but you never know how it goes. 1.22 is very stable, and updates will be easy to do (just copy files over and run one file) so you can install 1.22 without worries today.


Again, thank you for your patience and help. I've been looking at some of the galleries created by others and they're really terrific.


No problem. Keep posting if you still have questions.

[busynut]

Wow! thank you for such quick answers!! I must say that you provide outstanding support and responsiveness. I'm going to go ahead with installing the current version this week and (since I'm a slowpoke) will play around with the styles as time permits.
Thank you again.
Bev