New gallery as an attachment alternative
Feb 1, 2020 2:19:55 GMT
on Feb 1, 2020 2:19:55 GMT
Last Edit: Feb 3, 2020 5:35:53 GMT by lumiworx
After a number of recent questions and comments about the forum's attachment function no longer accepting any files, an alternative is now available. A members-only and zero-cost gallery has been set up for users at: gallery.yashicaforum.net
This option will allow members who do not have their own personal web space - or who choose not to use or pay for other 3rd party services - to upload any images they'd like to insert and share within forum topics, and to also share their personal work publicly. This gallery will be made available to active and regularly contributing members of the forum, but will not be made available to any/all members who only intend to claim free gallery space for their own use. Please understand that this storage option is not unlimited, and will be managed by forum moderators in how it is used.
While the use of the gallery space will be provided for members at no cost, it will have some limitations on upload file sizes to optimize the limited cloud storage it uses, and to maximize both the number of images it can hold, and the length of time the space can remain available for further use. These reasonable limitations will still allow for high quality images with generous pixel resolutions, where user accounts will not be restricted with an arbitrary quantity limit placed on every user as a prest hard limit.
Upload Limits:
As it is currently set up, the limits are straightforward. Any file you wish to upload can be no larger than 0.3MB (= 307.2KB). No automatic filesize reduction is possible, so your original file size must not exceed the limit to be processed. The resolution limit on the 'Large' original version is set to be no larger than 1600x900px, but if it is larger, it will automatically be resized to fit within that size limit (calculated, for the longest side). The 'Medium' and 'Thumbnail' views are automatically created once your file is uploaded, and they will not count against the upload limit on their converted filesizes. 'Medium' versions will be resized, with the longest dimmension no larger than 600px; and the 'Thumbnail' will be reduced in overall dimmensions and center-cropped at 160x160px. Apart from the two size limits, the files you may upload are restricted to PNG, JPeG, GIF or WebP file types.
The user's own profile image and their profile background image are set at a higher 1MB per image, which should be more than sufficient
At the moment, there is also a "Flood Protection" policy in place, where its limits are time and timing related. They are set to the following maximum per-period conditions for the total number of files accepted. In short, if the monthly limit is reached at any point, the other limits will be zeroed out and no new uploads are allowed. These are geared for storing a moderate number of topic attachments, and not for typical gallery use, but are subject to change if needed.
Per-Minute: 10 | Per-Hour: 50 | Per-Day: 75 | Per-Week : 75 | Per-Month: 125
EXIF Data:
If you upload a file that contains any EXIF data - including your copyright declaration and it's details - it will not be stripped from the file during or after the upload is complete. A subset of the more common values will be available for display alongside any image/photo placed within your albums.
Albums and Categories:
There are no limits set on how many albums each user can create, and it will be left up to users to organize their files into whatever sets you prefer. There are currently no categories created, but please do pass on whatever categories might fit the content you see yourself uploading. I'll create a basic set that may reflect some of the forum's board descriptions to help with quickly accessing them. The software used for this gallery doesn't offer keywords or 'tags', so categories would be the only way to narrow the focus of searching by a preset topic.
Using images within Forum posts:
Initially you would need to upload any files you want to insert into a topic posting to your gallery account first. Once it is uploaded and processed, you can use a generated link to insert images into a new forum post by using the Picture Icon in the toolbar of the reply editor to insert an image into the maessage body, and not by using the 'Add Attachment' button, which no longer accepts them.
There is a possibility that customized code will allow for a new 'Upload' button to be later added into the editor toolbar, so that uploads and topic inserts can be done in one combined operation. That piece is yet to be tested, but with a functioning gallery, it can be quickly confirmed if it will work, and permanently added.
NOTE: Any updates about the gallery and it's use with the forum will be noted at the bottom of this announcement, with a Date followed by the update details. If you have further questions or comments, please continue the topic started here: yashica.boards.net/post/5232/thread
This option will allow members who do not have their own personal web space - or who choose not to use or pay for other 3rd party services - to upload any images they'd like to insert and share within forum topics, and to also share their personal work publicly. This gallery will be made available to active and regularly contributing members of the forum, but will not be made available to any/all members who only intend to claim free gallery space for their own use. Please understand that this storage option is not unlimited, and will be managed by forum moderators in how it is used.
- Initially, this gallery will not be using it's registration function with a public 'member signup' process.
- If you would like a gallery account to use, it will be set up for you. You can then alter your password once you're logged in, and can begin uploading files to any newly created albums.
- Please send me a private message with the credentials you'd like to use on your new account - specifically, a user name, and a working/legitimate email address that can be confirmed to create your account. The address should also be valid for password reset emails, should you need them.
- I will PM you when the account is ready to use.
While the use of the gallery space will be provided for members at no cost, it will have some limitations on upload file sizes to optimize the limited cloud storage it uses, and to maximize both the number of images it can hold, and the length of time the space can remain available for further use. These reasonable limitations will still allow for high quality images with generous pixel resolutions, where user accounts will not be restricted with an arbitrary quantity limit placed on every user as a prest hard limit.
Upload Limits:
As it is currently set up, the limits are straightforward. Any file you wish to upload can be no larger than 0.3MB (= 307.2KB). No automatic filesize reduction is possible, so your original file size must not exceed the limit to be processed. The resolution limit on the 'Large' original version is set to be no larger than 1600x900px, but if it is larger, it will automatically be resized to fit within that size limit (calculated, for the longest side). The 'Medium' and 'Thumbnail' views are automatically created once your file is uploaded, and they will not count against the upload limit on their converted filesizes. 'Medium' versions will be resized, with the longest dimmension no larger than 600px; and the 'Thumbnail' will be reduced in overall dimmensions and center-cropped at 160x160px. Apart from the two size limits, the files you may upload are restricted to PNG, JPeG, GIF or WebP file types.
The user's own profile image and their profile background image are set at a higher 1MB per image, which should be more than sufficient
At the moment, there is also a "Flood Protection" policy in place, where its limits are time and timing related. They are set to the following maximum per-period conditions for the total number of files accepted. In short, if the monthly limit is reached at any point, the other limits will be zeroed out and no new uploads are allowed. These are geared for storing a moderate number of topic attachments, and not for typical gallery use, but are subject to change if needed.
Per-Minute: 10 | Per-Hour: 50 | Per-Day: 75 | Per-Week : 75 | Per-Month: 125
EXIF Data:
If you upload a file that contains any EXIF data - including your copyright declaration and it's details - it will not be stripped from the file during or after the upload is complete. A subset of the more common values will be available for display alongside any image/photo placed within your albums.
Albums and Categories:
There are no limits set on how many albums each user can create, and it will be left up to users to organize their files into whatever sets you prefer. There are currently no categories created, but please do pass on whatever categories might fit the content you see yourself uploading. I'll create a basic set that may reflect some of the forum's board descriptions to help with quickly accessing them. The software used for this gallery doesn't offer keywords or 'tags', so categories would be the only way to narrow the focus of searching by a preset topic.
Using images within Forum posts:
Initially you would need to upload any files you want to insert into a topic posting to your gallery account first. Once it is uploaded and processed, you can use a generated link to insert images into a new forum post by using the Picture Icon in the toolbar of the reply editor to insert an image into the maessage body, and not by using the 'Add Attachment' button, which no longer accepts them.
There is a possibility that customized code will allow for a new 'Upload' button to be later added into the editor toolbar, so that uploads and topic inserts can be done in one combined operation. That piece is yet to be tested, but with a functioning gallery, it can be quickly confirmed if it will work, and permanently added.
NOTE: Any updates about the gallery and it's use with the forum will be noted at the bottom of this announcement, with a Date followed by the update details. If you have further questions or comments, please continue the topic started here: yashica.boards.net/post/5232/thread