This is the biggest upgrade of PhotoPost since we released the first PHP version. Virtually all of the code in the product has been gone over and improved - resulting in a faster, leaner and better integrated PhotoPost!
Everyone who uses PhotoPost will benefit - from the small sites to the large, integrated with forums or standalone, there is something in here for everyone. Check out the new features and you'll see that once again PhotoPost raises the bar on features and integration far above anyone else.
New Features for PhotoPost 5.1
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. PhotoPost Image Protection System (IPS). IPS gives a webmaster much more flexibility in controlling access to original images; images can be located outside the data directory structure for additional security. Image locations can be masked through the use of a redesigned watermark.php which adds security and can serve up images every from password protected directories (this ensures that only those people who you want to will have access). Additional features include: Admin section for IPS which groups options for protecting images into one area, allows for the directory for image storage to be changed (and moves files to new location), edit/creation of .htaccess files and configuration of the watermark.php script.
. Recent comments listing - previously a modification, this addition provides for a "more" link off the Recent Comments box and gives people a thumbnail listing of photos with the most recent comments.
. Group By Member option in category dropdowns which allow a user to change the category display to show images grouped by user (display is changed to showmembers.php format to show a list of members who have posted in the category and allow selection of that user to show only their photos posted in that category).
. Members Gallery. An option to make any category funciton like a Members Gallery by default. Works like the function above, but changes the functionality so that the gallery is presented in the Member Gallery format each time.
. Optimizations of queries to improve performance, increase security and reduce errors when invalid data is passed.
. New integration:
http://www.fusionbb.com
. Approve a photo while viewing it (Admins and Mods)
. Images awaiting approval will display "pending approval" thumbnail in category to indicate their thumbnail is there, just waiting approval
. Improved language strings for easier comprehension
. Smarter URL parsing when grabbing images from a URL
. Single image uploads done in 1 step
. When image uploading complete, auto forwarded to category (no click here page)
. Second dropdown for album selection (if user has albums) during upload to make it easier to find the category/album users wants to upload images to
. Most Recent features/Most Popular/Last X days/All features link to "virtual categories" where next/prev links take a user through the images
. Revamped URL construct to remove unnecessary URL tags
. Rewritten slideshow feature - works as expected, much faster and uses alot less memory
. Further admin script consolidation with the integration of 4 more Admin scripts into one.
. New "filmstrip" layout for showphoto - templates for placing in default, side or top will be available (top by default)
. Improved switches for turning off the Last Photo Uploaded/Last Comment Posted columns which place the new posts icon in the same box as the number of photos/comments. You can see this on
http://www.photopostdev.com/photopost/index.php and
http://www.viperalley.com/gallery/index.php
. Albums attached to categories will have their last photos/posts links updated when new photos are uploaded (saved 1 query in upgradecategories)
. Approve photos sorting ignores display orders when displaying sorted views
. vB3enhanced users can create separate sets of templates based on the styleid (Members of extremefitness.com can see this with the half dozen styles we use all being skinned in the
Photo Galleries section)
The IPS is the next step towards a secure photo gallery with eCommerce capabilities. By providing security for images our users will be greater control over the distribution of content from their sites.
UPGRADES
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As always, we recommend you perform a database backup prior to performing an upgrade. While the changes to the database are minimal, we are performing some maintenance on some fields to remove excessive backslashes. Because we are changing the way we store data in the database, you may find yourself needing to reedit some descriptions to remove a slash or two.
Every file in this upgrade has changed and will require a complete reupload before executing the upgrade.php script (except config-inc.php and config-int.php).
/*.php
languages/*.php
forums/*.php (whichever forum integration file you use, you do not need the others)
templates/*.tmpl
templates/vb3enhanced/*.tmpl
Note for vB3Enhanced users: We no longer require you to copy your templates over the old ones, you now upload the vb3enhanced directory in its entirety and PhotoPost will select this directory automatically when vB3Enhanced mode is enabled.
How do I upgrade?
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1) In your Admin Options, close your gallery.
2) Backup your database. There are some small updates to your database contained in this update.
3) Copy the files from the ZIP download in the main directory, except config-inc.php/config.int.php and install.php. Upload the templates, templates/vb3enhanced, forums and languages directory.
Note for vB3Enhanced users: See note above concerning new templates directory layout.
4) Run the upgrade.php script and follow the upgrade instructions to upgrade from your current version.
Note that all the upgrade scripts have been combined into one easy-to-use upgrade script and you no longer have to upload individual scripts from the upgrades directory.
5) Once the upgrade is complete, delete the upgrade.php script and reopen your boards.
WATERMARK.PHP
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The watermark.php file has been significantly changed to incorporate security and the ability to serve images from a secure location without the need to configure the file separately as in past versions. All options for this script are done in the Admin Options panel for the new IPS section.