picture posting

[Steve Gregory 1Participant @stevegregory1]

Why can’t we upload pictures from our own pc?

I find having to upload to my own picture gallery first, THEN repost on a forum thread very time consuming.

 

If you are restricting on picture size, then simply put a limit on picture size, so forum members can simply use a picture compression program, microsoft picture [program for example has a simple to use “compression device” for pic uploads.

 

You may well find a lot more forum members will be encouraged to post pics of their builds and projects.

[Steve Gregory 1Participant @stevegregory1]

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

No doubt Colin will explain why and how this website platform operates as it does when he returns from holiday next week. However, the MB website platform is basically an MHS corporate one, similar to those for other magazines in the group, so changes to how it operates are made centrally.

 

Paul Freshney – Editor

 

 

 

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Steve,

 

I edit the website on a freelance basis for MyHobbyStore and do not have access to the operating software as such.

 

Essentially, the Forum software is an ‘add on’ to the main MHS operating platform set up to support its stable of magazines. As such, it utilises pre existing features of the platform to provide forum functionality and does not offer the same degree of sophistication as dedicated Forum software does. This does mean that the only way at present to post photos is via an album or direct from an external URL such as Photobucket. I appreciate that this can be irritating and direct image posting is on the ‘wish list’ but you will understand that this is a commercial site and that the Forum facility is provided by MHS as an ‘extra’ at some expense (our leading comptitor does not have a Forum). Improvements to the Forum have to be looked at in the context of other competing priorities which may have more commercial benefit. Hobby magazines are not run on large budgets, for example Model Boats is produced by Paul plus the half time of one designer, and scarce resources have to be applied to best effect.

 

With regard to file sizes, you will find some suggestions in the FAQ section on the optimum. The website will accept large files and cut them down but they take a long time to load and the connection may time out due to bandwidth pressures across the site. As you suggest, it’s better to scale down the files before uploading. Around 150kb for album images is a good compromise.

 

I hope this explains the situation and doesn’t put you off posting your images as we do get a lot of views even if the number of regular posters is relatively small and many of the Forum topics are both useful and interesting.

 

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 08/10/2011 17:06:05

[Steve Gregory 1Participant @stevegregory1]

Hi Colin,

 

Many thanks for the detailled replies, they are appreciated.

 

my “main” concern was that to post a picture on a forum, you have to first pot to a member album, then post to the forum thread.

 

So this is in fact “doubling” the space taken by pictures, as more often than not, someone may be simply replying to a post, wityh a picture to help explain something.

So if someone has to upload to their own album, then post to a thread, its very time consuming and also very frustrating.

 

yes, I admit, you could then go back to your album and delete the “said” photo, but again, takes time and a majority of people woul;d not bother to delete again afterwards.

 

Its just merely from “casual observation” that quite a lot of posts go without pictures, perhaps its because members cant be bothered to upload to personal galleries before posting to a thread.

 

 

Ok, ok, I know its beyond your control and appreciate that, but unless something is highlighted to site admin, then nothing can be forwarded to the main admin as and when possible to do so.

 

merely a comment, not throwing toys out ! [YET] ha ha.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Steve,

 

I don’t hink there is any ‘doubling’ involved. When you insert an album image into your post the Forum software simply references the album image and displays it from the album location.

 

I agree that the rather convoluted method of getting the image into the post probably does put some people off and this point has indeed been made to the powers that be. I will send them another reminder when the office opens on Monday.

 

What I have done is to set up a private album called ‘Colin’s odds and ends’ and I put any images I want to post into this. Then when I make the post I just call up the image. Granted it’s not as good as being able to load the image directly but it is relatively painless if a bit time consuming. I think it is fair to point out that other Forums don’t always make it easy to add images, some are better than others but one of the biggest problems is that people try to upload images as taken by their camera which are umpteen megapixels and this in itself can put a strain on their Internet connection regardless of how the incoming image has to be resized at the receiving end.

 

Regards,

 

Colin

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