Comments in threads on pics v's comments in gallery on pics... how do you manage?

[imported_theMusicMan]

Hi All

I don't yet own Photopost but have a query for someone who does, and that might make things clearer as to if I need to purchase the product for my site.

I am a member of several vBulletin sites where Photopost is integrated as the gallery function. However, I see a flaw in the process here and would like to know if there's already a solution to this issue. As I don't own the product - hence asking here.

When an image is posted in the gallery, a user can comment on that image etc. All well and good but... very often users take the link of their image from the gallery, and make a post in the forum about it. Replies also appear in that thread.

So, I am wondering that if Photopost is integrated to a forum (vBulletin in this instance) as there are then two locations where a user can reply to and make comments on an image... users have to then check these two locations to see if replies have been made.

Assuming full vBulletin integration here... Is there a method that is already available in the product that allows replies to images posted in the gallery to appear in a distinct forum category on the vBulletin home page...? These would then appear when 'New Posts' link was clicked, and thus would provide a more elegant solution to this issue.

I appreciate that if one uses Photopost as stand alone - then this of course is not a concern. But where Photopost is integrated to a forum as their gallery solution, I wouldn't want users having to look in two places for relies to their posts/threads/images. It would be an elegant solution if Photopost allowed the Admin to specify a forumID where the comments or replies to images could be seen.

Is this functionality available folks...?

Thanks, hope I explained myself clearly here. Shout if not..

John

aka - theMusicMan elsewhere!

[mike parsons]

I didnt see any option for that functionality before going from VBG to PP.

[Chuck S]

I am sorry I do not see any flaw here and thats because the forum is not a gallery in any manner. Photopost is an online photo gallery. vBulletin is an online community forum. Sure you can place attachments in a thread post in vbulletin but that is not a gallery or place to try and have such things. I dont think you ever going to find a product like you want if I am following as your trying to merge gallery and forum functionalities together and thats not what each product is going to do. If a users uploads a photo to the gallery users can comment and rate the photo. Thread discussions are not suppose to be dedicated to discussing photos most times on most forums every now and then someone can use the attachment feature to link a photo as an example of something in the discussion. At least thats how I see most sites that use a forum and gallery integrated.

I guess in the end its all how you look at it but the same thing still remains each product is its own product in its own right and each is not what the other is.

[imported_theMusicMan]

Originally Posted by Chuck S

I am sorry I do not see any flaw here and thats because the forum is not a gallery in any manner. Photopost is an online photo gallery. vBulletin is an online community forum. Sure you can place attachments in a thread post in vbulletin but that is not a gallery or place to try and have such things. I dont think you ever going to find a product like you want if I am following as your trying to merge gallery and forum functionalities together and thats not what each product is going to do. If a users uploads a photo to the gallery users can comment and rate the photo. Thread discussions are not suppose to be dedicated to discussing photos most times on most forums every now and then someone can use the attachment feature to link a photo as an example of something in the discussion. At least thats how I see most sites that use a forum and gallery integrated.

I guess in the end its all how you look at it but the same thing still remains each product is its own product in its own right and each is not what the other is.

Of course you're right Chuck, a forum is a forum, and a gallery is a gallery... however, trying to get my point across, why then does Photopost offer and promote integration to vBulletin, and not the other way around i.e. vBulletin does not and will never work to offer integration to Photopost. The answer is of course that there is a market for integrating gallery functions and features into a forum, hence why you offer that feature - so when offering integration to vBuletin why not use the features to the full?

Another point is that in Photopost one can comment on images yeah? and so as a stand alone product, yes of course this is all that's needed. But all I am suggesting is that if you [Photopost] are working on an 'integration' between a forum and gallery, then it would surely be pragmatic to utilise the thread system of the forum as the repository for comments on images. Why have both...? It could be perceived as a tad confusing for users to look in two locations for responses to their threads and/or images.

So, please don't think I am criticising Photopost - I'm not, it is an excellent product. I am simply asking and having found the answer, am now suggesting that on the integration of the product, you perhaps should consider utilising the forumID for the location of responses/comments to images posted. This would = better integration...

[Chuck S]

Simply put that is not what integration with a product means at least in the means of most software that do integrations. We do not alter or tear apart their coding in any way nor would we ever support or do that in any way. Integration with any product is mainly offered so users have one login throughout there site and products thats why we do integrations as it is fiscally responsible to do so in attracting customers. With vbulletin we offer integration in the form of user login stylesheet and header footer. Being they are separate products you basically would need to create an entire thread everytime a photo is posted and clone the comments as well. Not really a desirable effect in the long run to most customers as I understand what you want done.

[imported_theMusicMan]

Hi Chuck,

Fully understand your position and thereby Photoposts definition of 'integration', just not sure I enjoyed being 'put in my place' by your reply, especially as a prospective client.

25 years in business management as a successful Project Manager, working on many £20 Million + projects (not $, but £) suggests clearly to me that my interpretation of integration is greatly different to that of Photoposts interpretation of 'integration'. Not a criticism, just an observation. I appreciate that there is a great difference in expectations here, and also of the levels of business and client expectations that I am used to, and that you guys have done a great job, with the relatively simple and straightforward integration of a nonetheless super product.

Apologies, my misunderstanding. I now fully appreciate that the 'integration' of Photopost to vBulletin and other forum applications simply means ensuring that simple items such as the header, the footer and the login scripts (including MD5 hashing) are the very basic and simple functional units that are made consistent across the apps.

I still stand by my suggestion though, and don't feel it's a big enough requirement to be out of scope as a possibility for you guys to consider for what could be a huge integration feature success.

[Chuck S]

I dont think anyone put you in your place and sorry if you felt that way. Simple put I merely am explaining the integration so as not to mislead you in any way about our products features. Our company would never modify another companies software and as noted we integrate how we can integrate to allow a common login and look and feel but both applications are separate with their own functions.

[glowinggal]

I agree with original poster that running a scrapbooking site - one of the goals and drive of our visitors is to find comments on their layouts; one thing that would encourage a lot more comments would be having the comments posted in the forum

A site that does this but doesn't use photopost for example is:

The Best Scrapbooking Supplies On The Web - Two Peas in a Bucket

Two Peas Message Boards - PeaNut Praise

this forum - a new thread is created each time a comment is left the first time in the gallery. I know it's not your job to integrate it as it's vbulletin as well - but just saying how nice that would be!!!