Spec Image

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Spec Image

Spec Image

Background

We wanted to be able to show different images appearing across the footer of a site which would change depending on which area of the site the user was in. A small development on the core Joomla random image module. The menu items are linked in the database to an image, or a folder from which to pick a random image, and footer was expanded to any module position.

Technicalities

The workings are split into two parts - the module and the component. The component part sits in the administration area as a way of interfacing with the database to store different image urls according to different menu links. The options are provided for the user to choose a specific image url, no image at all, or an image chosen at random from either a specific folder for the menu item or a master random image folder specified in the module parameters. The module parameters give the options to specify the random image folder, choose how big the area will be in which to display the image, and how you would like the image to fit into this area. The options for this last parameter are:

Stretch the image to fit the area
Shrink the image (to scale) so it fits entirely inside the area
Expand the image (to scale) so it covers the entire area - note that this invariably cuts off parts of the image!

Changelog

Version 1.1 (02-09-2009)
New feature - now for each menu item you are able to specify a folder from which to display a random image. Special thanks to Wouter van den Eerenbeemt for this addition who provided the suggestion and working code!

Version 1.01 (29-07-2009)
Fixed a couple of reported bugs - if you were seeing either of the errors: "unknown class JFile" or "Please install the component" (when it was installed) then these should both now be fixed.

Downloads

Spec Images Version: 1.1	Download
GNU/GPL This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Homepage 2009-06-04 English Joomla 1.5 40.27 KB	7539

Comments

David H. Eastlack

Is there a way for this module to support Section 508 ? Specifically the use of the ALT or LONGDESC parameter of the IMG tag?

Friday 18 September 2009, 01:39

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Tom0

Hi David,
Thanks for the comment, I like the idea. I will try and find some time to implement this soon for a new version.
Tom

Friday 18 September 2009, 13:23

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David H Eastlack

Thanks for the quick response! Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities act (a.k.a: ADA or Section 508) should boost usage in all sites that must meet compliance standards, i.e. all government sites and sites of those who do business with the government.
Any ideas on timeline?

Friday 18 September 2009, 15:06

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Tom0

Unfortunately at the moment we need to focus on paid work and are very busy for the near future. Hopefully I will find some time in October to do this. If you need this sooner and are willing to pay then get in touch using the contact form and Im sure we can sort something out.
All the best,
Tom

Friday 18 September 2009, 15:13

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Ronald

It would be of great help to newbies like me if you would explain on how to lenter the URL in the component and the folder in module as a parameter

Saturday 28 November 2009, 23:46

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Marco

It works perfectly on line, but on my pc with easyphp, the module choose a random image in whole site, no matter the folder I set.
Anyway a very useful component / module!
Thank you very much,
Marco.

Wednesday 02 December 2009, 23:10

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butch

where is the problem to add an empty alt attribute?

Thursday 03 December 2009, 15:02

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Linda

I got an error when I tried to upzip the file in joomla (in extension manager). There is no xml set up file. also, no directions for installation, so I went to the joomla default installation for modules.

Friday 11 December 2009, 18:54

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BigG

Hi - Great work Tom - fits the bill. Only thing is that I want to use it twice - to control the banner as well as images at the footer, how can I control 2 instances of the module when there is only one component option. I have made the second module and its displaying random images fine coming out of a separate directory (as it does for the header) - but how do control specific page driven images through the second instance of the spec_image module?

Tuesday 15 December 2009, 12:54

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FX2 LTD

Hello, I've installed the module on a development website, and I have noticed that sometimes despite I have specified an header image for every menu link that is being selected, but I have other modules (like an online booking form) that for some reasons want to load a header image and they return a MySQL error. If the developer wants to take a look, I'm available to provide him with the link to go and check. It would be very nice if apart from an automated scan of the menu items, the module could allow also the addition of further modules in the header image list, so that the header could change also when the modules are working...
Apart from that, it's a nice concept that I would really like to see developed in a further way... Keep like this!!!

Sunday 03 January 2010, 17:22

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FX" LTD

Hello, I've installed the module on a development website, and I have noticed that sometimes despite I have specified an header image for every menu link that is being selected, random images appear. *** Sorry, a line was missing

Sunday 03 January 2010, 17:26

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Nigel Evans

I too have the same problem. It works fine on my developement site (WAMP), but not my production site (LAMP).

Wednesday 06 January 2010, 13:12

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Nigel Evans

Update: Solved!! WAMP not case sensitive, LAMP is! It was just the filenames of the images which were upper/lower case.

Wednesday 06 January 2010, 14:03

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Joppe

Same problem for me. Although specific image URL (fx: http://www.mydomain.com/images/header/gastis_1.jpg), the module shows random image (from right preseted catalog, so that works).
URL is fx index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3. In database´s table jos_specimages the field "item_id" is set to 3. But the correct field "img_url" doesn´t show up on the generated page.

Thursday 07 January 2010, 14:47

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Joppe

I solved it! The image URL must be relative (fx images/header/gastis_1.jpg), NOT absolute (fx http://www.mydomain.com/images/header/gastis_1.jpg).

Saturday 09 January 2010, 20:47

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Joppe

Would this module work together with SEO-friendly URL/mod_rewrite activated?
I guess not.

Thursday 07 January 2010, 14:51

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Clare

Hi - I am a bit of a rookie - for some reason i am getting the below error on a PC, but it works fine off a Mac. I have put in images/random/* in all the spec image page under components. I'm not sure what the \ means?

http://psps-joomla.staging.lelapinblanc.com/images\random\bar_general2.jpg

Please help!! Thanks

Monday 25 January 2010, 19:39

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Eugene

I have the same problem! Please, help!

Saturday 20 February 2010, 20:16

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Michel

Trying to get it work. Set the component parameters on: * for a menu-item and the module Random Image Folder on: images/subfolder/subfolder

It doesn't work.. I tried a lot of different combinations but in the fronted there is still a random image from somewhere in all my folders.

Is there a solution for setting the module Random Image Folder on: images/subfolder/subfolder and the component menu item on: * so the page in the fronted will load random images from images/subfolder/subfolder?

Tuesday 09 February 2010, 01:08

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Grant Fletcher

this is driving me mad, I have been entering url's endlessly but the module just keeps showing random images..........what sort of url do you use in order to have a specific image appear on a specific page????????????

Sunday 21 February 2010, 16:53

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