Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

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E9A7F3bD
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Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

There are two paths (methods) for uploading images:
- Add images to post (max file size 2 MB) -> FLM Image Upload
- Attachments (Maximum filesize per attachment: 1 MiB)

It is recommended to disable the image types of Attachments and only allow uploads from "FLM Image Upload".
This may help reduces confusion and facilitates unified rendering and layout.

Then, for images uploaded via "FLM Image Upload", a unified view is provided when rendering the page:
- Whether the BBCode is line-breaked or not, it is rendered in grid form by default.
- Currently, since the line break is included when inserting automatically, it is not actually a grid, and manual editing is cumbersome.
- Converting to "large image" view requires manual editing, which is cumbersome and error-prone, and has no documentation and instructions
- Need to retain the ability to render large images directly (e.g. posters), but preferably not by code line breaks
- Provides an ability to display two images side-by-side (for comparing images)

Therefore, it is best to directly provide switching between two views in the rendered page:
E9A7F3bD wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:33 pm
mimzy wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:05 pm
I think it should provide a switch of both views, when the page is rendering rather than when posting/editing.

By default, it is displayed in grid view (overview and space saving), and after active switching, it is displayed in large images, so you don’t need to click to view one by one.

example (similar effect achieved through "spoiler", but not good enough):
viewtopic.php?p=122594#p122594
The above are only preliminary thoughts and suggestions, and there may be aspects that have not been well considered.
It should be noted that these does not help me directly, and I can use automated scripts to simplify my publishing process.
But the details experience in the full process may affect/prevent all other posters, especially newbies.
Last edited by E9A7F3bD on Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
E9A7F3bD
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

Above ideas are limited to image types.

But maybe improvements to the entire posting process will be more direct.

For example, providing a template-form directly when posting movie content instead of a normal post editor:
- The template form directly contains different fill boxes such as imdb, plot, poster, previews etc.
- With the template, the posting process will be obvious, rather than reading a long posting guide.
- Templates help with data parsing and classification, thereby better promoting rendering and reducing all complexity.
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mimzy
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by mimzy »   0 likes

Suggestions are welcome, but keep in mind that we are probably not going to rewrite phpBB or implement a highly customized board software for FLM ;)

We have already implemented quite a few FLM extensions, which are probably going to be a pain in the ass when upgrading to next major phpBB version (eg., 4.0) :wall

If you are really interested in improving phpBB, I would suggest to join phpBB developers at https://www.phpbb.com/development/
E9A7F3bD
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

mimzy wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:20 pm If you are really interested in improving phpBB, I would suggest to join phpBB developers...
No, FLM is my entire interest, I will not be involved in phpBB.

These are just ideas, and I won't expect when and how they will be implemented by whom.
E9A7F3bD
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

mimzy wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:05 pm
E9A7F3bD wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:03 pm I found that the images uploaded by "FLM image uploader" can only show smaller preview images, what should I do if I want to display the full image like an attachment?
viewtopic.php?p=115211#p115211
Another problem is that when I edit this way, I lose the code for the small preview and once I want to restore it there is nothing I can do.
Unless I upload again or save the code in advance.
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Night457
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by Night457 »   0 likes

E9A7F3bD wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2025 1:12 am Another problem is that when I edit this way, I lose the code for the small preview and once I want to restore it there is nothing I can do.
Unless I upload again or save the code in advance.
There have been occasions when my editing skills failed, such as pressing backspace one character too many and not noticing it before the Post Preview. It annoyed me to upload the image again even though it did not take long. Because of that, I either paid careful attention to my editing, OR if I could not trust myself to do that I would Copy-Paste the original upload code into the Post-in-process before editing. (Copy-Paste is easy, so I can manage that.) I would edit one version of it and view the results in the Post Preview. When I was satisfied with it I would delete the original small image preview copy.

Maybe I am misunderstanding, and that there are other reasons for restoring the small image preview other than for editing the Post. (?) I do know that some people keep personal copies of the FLM screenshots they have generated. If PostImage or some other site has deleted them, then they can restore the images themselves. Myself, I always delete all my screenshots from my computer after I have posted them. I can generate new ones if needed, although very likely they will not be as perfectly chosen as some of the older ones.
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

I won't try to educate every FLM friend on how to post in a good code format, but you can definitely see the difference in browsing experiences brought by different layouts:

viewtopic.php?p=122928#p122928

viewtopic.php?p=122859#p122859

That's why I recommend being smarter in terms of layout rendering, rather than expecting every user to do this.

Of course we can also expect moderators like @Night457 to do these tasks manually, but this will be an endless huge amount of work.

As you can see, even myself, sometimes it takes several repeated edits to get a final kind of beautiful layout effect.
E9A7F3bD
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

By the way, I think my excessive suggestions and expectations have caused dissatisfaction and annoyance from several admins and caused any post content I have seem to get very little response.

I think maybe I should shut up so I don’t both annoying everyone and make myself bored.
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thecyanray
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by thecyanray »   0 likes

E9A7F3bD wrote: I won't try to educate every FLM friend on how to post in a good code format, but you can definitely see the difference in browsing experiences brought by different layouts:
Hiya, I assume this was in reference to the single column layout? I apologise, I did not realise that there's a grid option available. I only open FLM on my phone, which always displays a single column for FLM image uploads. I just checked this site on my desktop and realised that you can form a grid format - my post is now reformatted!
E9A7F3bD
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Re: Unified previews upload path and optimized layout

Post by E9A7F3bD »   0 likes

thecyanray wrote: Thu Mar 06, 2025 8:47 am Hiya, I assume this was in reference to the single column layout? I apologise, I did not realise that there's a grid option available. I only open FLM on my phone, which always displays a single column for FLM image uploads. I just checked this site on my desktop and realised that you can form a grid format - my post is now reformatted!
No, I apologize for using your post as an example. And that's the whole reason for my feedback on the issue, namely that the option is not obvious and that that learning cost could be avoided by better design or automation.

You did nothing wrong, thank you for posting the content, and I appreciate you seeing my feedback (although not for you) and modifying them (although this breaks my example 😝). Thank you for your kindness and enthusiasm! ❤️❤️
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