flash xml portfolio
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- meisterschueler
I want to build a flash portfolio for a photographer.
He is the absolut computer noob, so i have to make maintaining the site as easy as possible and i am doing this for the first time, so here are some question i would like to start with:1. I saw most of the portfolios use xml files to maintain the site. The problem is, the xml has to be maintained as well, meaning the path in the xml have to be correct etc.
Ithaught of directly loading the png files from a folder (the files have to be numbered incremntaly 001.png, 002.png ...). So i'll check how long the loading of files in the folder "portraits"p.e. returns a positive value. Any thaughts of this. Advantages/Disadvantages of theese methods or alternative ways?2. i thaught about an easy flash cms for the job, but i guess it is out of budget. Or are there any free ones you could recommend?
Thanks for the help!
- ********0
You could also use indexhibit or Cargo wich have CMS, it's not flash, but I it could work though.
- Jordy0
what's the added value of flash here? if it's just for fancy animation and not for functional purposes i'd first consider doing this in a non flash way and using techniques like sIFR, jQuery and open source CMS' to do the job, it's going to save you a lot of trouble.
- sIFR and jQuery to make it look it a little more fancy in an indexable way.Jordy
- meisterschueler0
thanks and yes you are right and i am on your side, but the customer.....
anyway, i need to find the best way to do it in flash no way around that.
- ********0
free alternatives, both simple to use.
http://www.airtightinteractive.c…
http://highslide.com/
- ornj0
I second the Airtight viewers. I had a photographer friend use that and he was even able to set it up and customize it himself.
- ********0
I used simpleviewer pro for our site... it's the most customizable I've found, and easy to update
- fyoucher10
I use XML for my folio, images, data, and news and use XML notepad to edit the XML. "Tree View" allows you to input data without really having to see the code (however it also has a XSL Output view so you can see the actual XML data). I think that's about as easy as its going to get without using a CMS. As far as paths go, you can just create individual elements for each folder path and then just connect the path and image name in the Flash code. You don't have to name the images 01, 02, 03 etc., you can just add the image paths into an array...which means you can name them whatever you want, you just have to have them in the right order in the XML file. With XML Notepad, you can just drag child elements around to whatever order you want too.
If you're looking to stay within a certain budget, maybe tell the client about this option and then teach them how to edit it.
XML Notepad is free too >
http://www.microsoft.com/DownLoa…
- Daithi0
SSP Director is quite straightforward and is very affordable
- acescence0
i would suggest something like wordpress or drupal and creating a custom template to output XML instead of XHTML
- gabe0
if you can read, write, and have the mental capacity to operate a computer, you can maintain a simple XML site.
create an XML file for each photo category, and walk him through adding a photo by copying and pasting any one of the nodes. all he would have to do is save the photo & thumbnail, name it, then plug that name into the XML.
he maybe slightly overwhelmed at first, but once he's done it a few times i'm sure he'll get the hang of it...
- PonyBoy0
^^what gabe said
I create portfolio sites for photographers, designers... small agencies often... all flash - all xml driven...
... I sit down over a cup of coffee and explain while doing and show them how to update etc...
In the end I may get a few instant messages / phonecalls... no worries - very easy to educate on how to use a simple xml file / update nodes... write accurate paths etc. :)
- version30
do an xml file updated by php with an upload form to populate the image folder
- meisterschueler0
ok,
thank you everyone.
That really helped!
I'll have a look at all the options.
- zarkonite0
if your photographer client uses Lightroom he'll be able to update his own site if you use the airtight galleries, they have plugins that let you publish your local galleries/collections/libraries.
- Jnr_Madison0
cosmo once built me a lovely CMS for a photographers site (XML based with a nice web front end) that a monkey could use (while ripping someone's face off).
- if you want to pay, he maybe would do you a deal.
http://www.qbn.com/c…Jnr_Madison
- if you want to pay, he maybe would do you a deal.
- PonyBoy0
^^cosmo has built a couple cms's for me... one for a photographer's site also... flash driven. :)
- the CMS wasn't flash driven... the site was. :) the cms is phpPonyBoy
- mine too, does he not have his portfolio up anymore, used to be on his site /potfolio.htmlJnr_Madison
- he's being a tool about getting it online...PonyBoy
- ...he and I are actually working on this very issue - a skinnable flash & backend cms for gallery stuff just like this thread's all aboutPonyBoy
- aboutPonyBoy
- Well, hit me up once it's done.Jnr_Madison
- meisterschueler0
I am currently tinkering with the idea of building an php driven CMS myself. Would be some extra effort, but could be reused in other projects.
- maximillion_0
use flickr - super simple interface for the client, extensive api allowing you to get the images and info via xml
- omgitsacamera0
I was thinking of a flash portfolio that resembled something like a microfilm viewer for myself, but I barely know anything other than CSS or HTML...I'm pondering going forward or using simpleviewer or indexhibit..
- ********0
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