longer filepathname editing boxes in the backend [solved]

[piran]

Suggestion for the imminent ImageShow component:

RANT
I have long cursed (to myself) that applications
and so forth are designed by programmers and not by
site designers or content providers. Then it would only
be a microsecond later that the filepath editing boxes
would actually be clearly USABLE/VIEWABLE by us humans.
Whereas in almost every case the size of those edit
boxes is dictated by programming logic defaults. The
programmers see it just the once during development
but human editors (we customers) see and have to use
the tiny overly short box permanently sliding or having
to expand across the edit window slot to fit in long
real life filepathnames.
/RANT

Please prove that the concept is not universal,
make the boxes long enough to fit real-life use
and not the usual programmers' default.

----best wishes, Robert

[PostEdit: solved]

[vic]

Hi Robert,

Your post is full of emotions as usual :). I got the need of wider edit box for path-related parameters during development, when did testing. But unfortunately Joomla! module mechanism doesn't allow to have edit boxes with custom width. I tried several tricks to make box wider, but it doesn't work. There are kind of auto width reset filter of all edit boxes or something.

If you can provide me some example of Joomla! module that have wide edit box, I will gladly study it and apply to JSN ImageShow module. Or if you have a chance to pass by the discussion/solution of this issue feel free to post link here.

In version 2, where the administration part is moved to component, there will be much smoother workflow. For now, I’m sorry for the inconveniences.

Vic.

[piran]

Vic----

I'm a photographer not a programmer though I have
taught myself enough of the latter to run a server.
Will see if I can find something appropriate. I do
remember patching a JCE graphics-adding component
so as to show more than 'http:||MyWebSite/HereComesTheImagePath/...'
before the rest of the actual active intelligence
can be usefully shown. I know what my darned site
is and the source directory, what I actually want
to check is the end bit - the useful stuff;~/
It's just like the programming stupidity concerning
what intelligence gets shown on the TaskBar buttons
...but don't get me started on that one.

Was hoping that the move to a component would allow
you, the programmers, to incorporate such design
niceties or user-friendly mechanisms. Perhaps you
might consider adding an appropriate mechanism under
the administrator tree?

----best wishes, Robert

[piran]

Vic----

Some pointers.

In the current module's backend the CSS shows...

the title box and it's 'bigger' than that your own code:
<input type="text" value="Slideshow: Mouse..." size="35" name="title" class="text_area"/>

but later on your code shows the images box:
<input type="text" size="" class="text_area" value="/static/2007/" name="params[image_folder]"/>

...the giveaway being the undefined size;~)
That's why your code always shows in 'default' size.
So where do we change (the CSS?) stuff to say size="100"?

----best wishes, Robert

[piran]

Vic----

OK found an example for you.

I assume you're all familiar with RSG2:
configuration|images tab|images storage|original image path
my box's CSS shows the following...
<input type="text" value="/images/rsgallery/original" size="10" name="imgPath_original" style="width: 500px;" class="text_area"/>
...and my edit box occupies half the width of the screen (ie 500px);~)

So it's possible... albeit on a component-orientated package.
My expectation is that the ImageShow component will do so similarly.

----best wishes, Robert

[piran]

Vic----

Done it, here is the patch:
Simply add size="100" into the definition string in the XML.

[/modules/mod_jsn_imageshow_pro.xml]

WAS

<param name="image_folder" type="text" default="/images/stories" label="Image Folder" description="(sales guff)"/>

NOW

<param name="image_folder" type="text" size="100" default="/images/stories" label="Image Folder" description="(sales guff)"/>

Similarly for the other filepath edit boxes.
...and a mere photographer had to
work it out for the programmers;~)

----best wishes, Robert

[vic]

Well, this is so trivial and I must tried it. Anyway let me recheck this and if it works, I will apply the patch to JSN ImageShow.

Vic.

[vic]

Ok I've checked your solution and must say that it indeed works. Don't know how could I miss that, because that is the first thing I must try. Anyway, good job Robert, obviously you are not typical photographer, but power photographer, like usual user and power user.

We will update JSN ImageShow with this patch soon.

Vic.

[piran]

Vic----
The 'Caption Custom Text' entry got missed out in
the 1.0.3 to 1.0.4 patch for longer boxes. I know
it's not a filename path box but in real life use
it would be more desirable for it to be longer.
----best wishes, Robert

[imported_admin]

Hi Robert,

Agree with you. Next update will have longer edit box for "Caption Custom Text" parameter.

Vic.