Expert: LizaL - 10/16/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi, looking for detailed info on how to set ALL the options the are used in running the Automate|Web Gallery (Photoshop CS on Windows 2K.  I am modifing the Template files  indexpage.htm  subpage.htm  and thumbnail.htm  but there are a whole bunch more options that I wish to potentially edit, where do they come from? how do I get to them or change them.  For instance: the output is either .htm or .html extensions  I wish it to be  .asp  as I have some script at the top of the subpage.htm  which is used to generate all the individual photo pages.  I am having to rename a TON of pages.  There are other options I wish to change to, but suspect they are all in the same place.
Thanks Ahead

Brian Platz
The Web Doctor
brian@oregon.com
Answer -
Hi Brian,

I've done some research and some program-searching, and I don't see a way to change the options in the Web Gallery, other than the ones you see in the front end of the program. And I honestly don't think there's a way to batch-change the extensions from .html to .asp -- at least within the Web Gallery function of Photoshop CS. This is my theory:

When you create -- or when Photoshop CS generates -- a page in the Web Gallery, that page is coded in HTML. I'm sure you know that. But simply changing a file's designation to .asp doesn't make it an Active Server Page.

So you've got a page that has a VB script, and you designate it an Active Server Page. I can understand that you expect it to do the task of custom-generating all the other pages into the template you've created, but what I think you're winding up doing is interfering in the automation Photoshop has already set up.

In other words, you're sort of creating an automation within an automation -- does that make sense? And the way Photoshop is set up, with their pre-configured automation choices, this just won't work.

There are two things you could do: 1) create your own set of Actions, using the Actions palette, to rename every page you're using. I haven't tested this out myself, but it might be worth a try     or     2) just use Visual Basic to code an .asp template, and set up this gallery *outside* of Photoshop. I just don't think Photoshop is the answer here for what you're looking to do, unless youre able to create an Action for it.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news! But unless I can find info that will otherwise convince me, this is what I think.

Let me know what happens!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa, that is what I have come up with too, unfortunately... By simply chaning its file extension, that page DOES become an ASP page. An .asp page is an HTML page with potentially (not necessarily) VBScript or JScript code embedded in it.  In the Web Gallery IndexPage.htm and SubPage.htm preset pages, I am putting some VBScript amongst the HTML code, especially at the top when it first comes to it, but that code will never "Execute" unless the page is a .asp on the server it is being run on. And becuase each page is linked to the previous and next pages, it makes it a tiny bit more trickier.  I am bringing in all the  .htm of the finished Web Gallery project into Dreamweaver and then when I rename a file, it prompts me that two-three other pages reference this page, do you wish to change that reference to the new name (.asp) and I say yes.  That works great, but it is TIMES the number of pages or Photos you have, which can be a drag, but it is a SOLUTION and that is A GOOD THING... I am building a Shopping Cart onto my Web Gallery, so that clients can ADD That Print Order (of a specific shot) to a Shopping Cart, but it needs to know exactly what image it is and what directory it came from (long story). It works pretty dam slick..., but if PS could simply name the Web Gallery Pages with a .asp extension (upon creating or initially), I would be saving myself a lot of time.  Especially this event i am doing, I am doing a different Web Gallery (same Custom Preset), but different directories for different days of the event.  if you wish to see the final result, send me an email and I will reply with it. I do not wish to post to this site however.

Brian Platz
The Web Doctor
(503) 373-4728
brian@oregon.com


Answer
Hi Brian,

You're exactly right -- I wasn't clear when I intimated that it wouldn't be an .asp just because of the extension. Like you say, you do need that code embedded in the page in order to make it function. And since ASP is really a function of SSI, the whole thing will be kicked into action by the server.

Funny you mention Dreamweaver, because it came to mind yesterday (but only AFTER I'd tried to answer your question, LOL!). And then I thought that this being a Photoshop forum, maybe I'd be stepping over a boundary or something if I tried to go into that. But I've been using DW for a number of years, and since it will indeed build back links when you make changes, that is a good solution. I'm glad you're aware of this!! I just can't think of another way to save you more time -- that's the unfortunate thing.

Your project sounds VERY cool, and yes, I'd like to see it. I'll send you an email in a few minutes and you can send me the link.

I'd also like to know how you get along with the Web Gallery in Photoshop. I've never published with that tool, and I'd be anxious to see how well it works. I do freelance work for a couple of photographers in my area, and one in particular could benefit from this.

Thanks for the info, and for keeping me updated!

Lisa