Hi, and thank you for submitting this module that looks very promising. But I would like to ask few questions about some missing component and usability problems. Sorry for the long post :)

- Links and Browsing : the links are very messy : If I click on an image thumbnail I view the image, but if I click on the number of images, I view the album... even in full view ? My point is that the user never really know where he is when viewing an album. There should only be one place to view the images. This issue is very anoying when there is comments on the album : if I look at the album, I see the comments, but if I start to browse the images, I cannot see the comments anymore.. The right process should be :

1/ teaser >> I can only see the cover image.
2/ Album >> the thumbnail of all images, I can see the first image in big, the description of the image I am viewing, next/previous links, the comments, and some secondary links like : change description/view original/flash view/use the image...

I can work on a preview of the right workflow if you are interested :)

- I've noticed that it is not possible to delete an album when editing it. Usually there is always a DELETE link when editing a node. I didn't find it here, and was wondering if it is just because I didn't look enough.

- It seams a bit weird that the admin user HAVE to set a limitation for the number of album a user can create... it should be possible to set it as unlimited for all or specific roles.

- I like that the block in the sidebar do the browsing like on Flickr, but if the block is not there, it is impossible to browse... there should be a way to browse the images even without the block. (like just a 'next' and 'previous' links)

- I think you might want to review the english translation. I can help you with that, and even add 'french' (my first language)

- About the upload, I like that you can add 10 images at the same time, but it could be better if the user who is creating an album set the number of images he want to upload. It could start by default with 5 fields, and a link to add more (like on CCK for drupal 6).

- Icons : the admin should be able to choose if you can or not view thumbnails on the teaser view.

- The 'Album Photo' Link should lead to the latest albums page instead of the latest photos

- I REALLY like the fact that you provide a link to use the image, but it is a little bit hard to find.

In general, I love the module for what it can do, but not for how it does it. The browsing is not very easy and very confusing. The user never really know if he is viewing an album, or all the images of a user... or else. I think that it should also be way more configurable and flexible to be fully exploited on real projects. For example, the admin should be able to de-activate the 'photo quoted link' if he wants to, or any other feature of the module. Also, some links are shown even if the user doesn't have access to it (like 'Click to change description' even if the user doesn't have the permission). These links should be hidden in such case.

I think my company might be interested in helping you make this module spotless, and I really think that if more work in UI and flexibility are put into your module, it could become one of the most important modules of Drupal. You might want to have help from other developpers.

Also, one last question, how do you see the integration with CCK and Views ?

Thanks for your great work.

:)

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#6 2008-08-15_161625.png591.83 KBeastcn
#6 2008-08-15_161658.png13.28 KBeastcn
#5 photos.pdf807.81 KBAnonymous (not verified)

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Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

Also, you might want to look at multi-upload solutions, like : http://drupal.org/project/image_fupload

eastcn’s picture

eastcn commented

Thank you, couzinhub:
Your proposal was very good! Album photos is not perfect, especially in the workflow, browser navigation. I need more advice.

- Links and Browsing :
----This is also troubled me a question, the current picture is divided into the album, according to the article (node), according to the user in three ways here, and generate navigation, which is very confusing, needs to be improved.

1/ teaser >> I can only see the cover image.
----At present, this can be set up. To admin/content/types, can set the number of shows, one, 10, or 0.

- I've noticed that it is not possible to delete an album when editing it. Usually there is always a DELETE link when editing a node. I didn't find it here, and was wondering if it is just because I didn't look enough.
-----Need to DELETE privileges. To admin/user/permissions#module-photos

- It seams a bit weird that the admin user HAVE to set a limitation for the number of album a user can create... it should be possible to set it as unlimited for all or specific roles.
----Yes. Version 2.0, the limit will be set up in accordance with the role, and have unlimited options.

- I like that the block in the sidebar do the browsing like on Flickr, but if the block is not there, it is impossible to browse... there should be a way to browse the images even without the block. (like just a 'next' and 'previous' links)
----Good suggestion, in version 2.0, will be added. thank.

- I think you might want to review the english translation. I can help you with that, and even add 'french' (my first language)
----I use Chinese. I am not good at English . Thank you for your help. You can submit a language pack here (in French or other), or contact me through the account pages(http://drupal.org/user/134014).

- About the upload, I like that you can add 10 images at the same time, but it could be better if the user who is creating an album set the number of images he want to upload. It could start by default with 5 fields, and a link to add more (like on CCK for drupal 6).
---- Good, You can see it in version 2.0.

- Icons : the admin should be able to choose if you can or not view thumbnails on the teaser view.
----It is, in settings. go admin/content/node-type/photos

- The 'Album Photo' Link should lead to the latest albums page instead of the latest photos
----Good proposal.

- I REALLY like the fact that you provide a link to use the image, but it is a little bit hard to find.
----In version 2.0, will make some changes.

In general, I love the module for what it can do, but not for how it does it. The browsing is not very easy and very confusing. The user never really know if he is viewing an album, or all the images of a user... or else. I think that it should also be way more configurable and flexible to be fully exploited on real projects. For example, the admin should be able to de-activate the 'photo quoted link' if he wants to, or any other feature of the module. Also, some links are shown even if the user doesn't have access to it (like 'Click to change description' even if the user doesn't have the permission). These links should be hidden in such case.I think my company might be interested in helping you make this module spotless, and I really think that if more work in UI and flexibility are put into your module, it could become one of the most important modules of Drupal. You might want to have help from other developpers.
----In fact, I hope to have an understand English and Chinese partners to jointly safeguard the module. I am very happy to accept your help. You can contact me through the account pages(http://drupal.org/user/134014).

Also, one last question, how do you see the integration with CCK and Views ?
----cck plan is to provide an image field, but imagefield have achieved this feature, I do not want to repeat. Therefore, it is also considered. Perhaps you have better suggestions?

Thanks again for your suggestions!

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

Thank you for your quick (and very detailed) answer :)

Happy to see that some of the features, if not already there, will be included in 2.0
I'll work on a better translation soon, and luckily, I have some co-workers in china that might be a great help.

About the views/CCK integration, I think that instead of adding just fields to a cck, it would be great if I could create another 'album' content type. That would give the full flexibility users might need. About VIEWS, I think that when listing an album, it should be possible to pick at least :

- cover (and choose it size, and if link or not to node)
- Thumbnail (choose size and number and if link or not to node or image)
- Link to view in flash

Also, will it be possible to use imagecache to create the thumbnails and previews ? I think that it would be really great for multiple reasons:

- Imagecache is the standard for image manipulation on Drupal
- By using http://drupal.org/project/imagecache_actions , it could be possible to creat some very fancy cover image for each album (hopefully on 6 one day)
- It might facilitate the integration with views and CCK

I'll contact you soon through your user account.

Keep up the great work ! :)

eastcn’s picture

eastcn commented

In version 2.0, I will join many new things, version 2.0 will be a brand-new!

- cover (and choose it size, and if link or not to node)
- Thumbnail (choose size and number and if link or not to node or image)
- Link to view in flash
----This is a very good proposal.

I thought about using imagecache, but in my development album photos, it does not support 6. X version. imagecache_actions not support 6. x version.

Thank you again.

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented
StatusFileSize
new photos.pdf807.81 KB

Hi. I spend some time to work on a preview of how I think the usability can be improved. As you'll see, it is pretty close to what is already in your module, but I tried to make it simpler, with less links.
It is a PDF file, but the links are clickable, so you can browse it like a website. I included a connect/disconnect link at the top of the page so you can compare what are the differences between the two states.

Hope that it helps :)

eastcn’s picture

eastcn commented
StatusFileSize
new view Custom.png13.28 KB
new view image.png591.83 KB

Very good, thank you. I will make amendments.
In version 2.0, code with the theme of separation, the production designer for the theme. This two picture, a picture is the default browser interface, One shows a .tpl.php documents.
Completely free to set up.

nathaniel’s picture

nathaniel commented
Status: Active » Closed (outdated)