After getting the new PR8 Image Machine set up on both MMUI and CSSUI sites I find myself in a love hate relationship with it. I haven't quite figured out why it seems that I have to enter the Product Display Layout Image Machine Image Element, Thumbnail Container, Closeup Container, Closeup Image Element and Closeup Close Element info on some sites and not on others. I'll have to pay closer attention as I do that. But it was one of the gotchas for me.
I love how you can EASILY add additional image and the thumbnails get automatically created. Tweaking the CSS took a bit of figuring out. I think this is a huge plus for the store owner. It cuts out the need for creating a lot of Custom Product Fields. Being able to set the Product Display Layout Image Dimensions is fantastic.
I'm trying to figure out how to have a "Click to Enlarge" message conditional appear if the page is using the Additional images and not the Legacy image. That Product Display Layout Image Dimensions > Legacy Fallback Image setting was another gothcha for me (am I just missing this stuff in the docs, probably so).
But the biggest disappointment for me is that the store morph isn't available to edit to be able to use things like Lightbox or Magic Zoom. I find myself rolling back to the PR7 Product Display Layout because it's soooo much easier to pop the code in and use a few as needed custom fields to control it. I can even put in the conditionals needed to hide any Click here messages unless the zoom functions are being used.
I apologize if my javascript tweaking skills are weak and I can't figure out how to override or augment the Image Machine functionalities - I've been really spoiled being able to do this ala store morph. I'm really frustrated that I can't just add tags to the images to implement different functions.
One of the things I was "thinking" that was going easily be able to do is use the Attribute Swatches in a slightly different way than designed. I am wanting to be able to display just one swatch at a time in the swatch location and have it change when the attribute drop down is selected. I'm not wanting it to change the main image but that might be the way I'm going to have to go, but that means the client is going to have to redo all the swatch images to a large size to display in the spot...sigh.
I've encountered some misunderstanding in the "mouseover" function of the Image Machine - I'm only finding onclick to swap the additional images and to display the popup (still would like to be able to conditionally display some sort of "instructions" for the customer). Is there any sort of mouseover functionality or would this be tweaking the ImageMachine.js via the Product Display Layout Image Machine > Head Template field? The javascript-foo is weak with this one (me).
I do appreciate all the help and assistance I've received getting some of the self induced problems I have had trying to implement certain features into existing code. I've found it's been easiest to create a new PROD page, start with the basic implementation, test and then implement into existing code. Some how I have misplaced the post that had just the new items that need to be inserted, instead of the copy and paste of the entire field. Could someone post that link here?
So that's my 2 cents (plus a bit more). I really do love the new features, I just want to be able to make them even better :)
Leslie
ps...I think we need a forum just for PR8 questions & comments.
I love how you can EASILY add additional image and the thumbnails get automatically created. Tweaking the CSS took a bit of figuring out. I think this is a huge plus for the store owner. It cuts out the need for creating a lot of Custom Product Fields. Being able to set the Product Display Layout Image Dimensions is fantastic.
I'm trying to figure out how to have a "Click to Enlarge" message conditional appear if the page is using the Additional images and not the Legacy image. That Product Display Layout Image Dimensions > Legacy Fallback Image setting was another gothcha for me (am I just missing this stuff in the docs, probably so).
But the biggest disappointment for me is that the store morph isn't available to edit to be able to use things like Lightbox or Magic Zoom. I find myself rolling back to the PR7 Product Display Layout because it's soooo much easier to pop the code in and use a few as needed custom fields to control it. I can even put in the conditionals needed to hide any Click here messages unless the zoom functions are being used.
I apologize if my javascript tweaking skills are weak and I can't figure out how to override or augment the Image Machine functionalities - I've been really spoiled being able to do this ala store morph. I'm really frustrated that I can't just add tags to the images to implement different functions.
One of the things I was "thinking" that was going easily be able to do is use the Attribute Swatches in a slightly different way than designed. I am wanting to be able to display just one swatch at a time in the swatch location and have it change when the attribute drop down is selected. I'm not wanting it to change the main image but that might be the way I'm going to have to go, but that means the client is going to have to redo all the swatch images to a large size to display in the spot...sigh.
I've encountered some misunderstanding in the "mouseover" function of the Image Machine - I'm only finding onclick to swap the additional images and to display the popup (still would like to be able to conditionally display some sort of "instructions" for the customer). Is there any sort of mouseover functionality or would this be tweaking the ImageMachine.js via the Product Display Layout Image Machine > Head Template field? The javascript-foo is weak with this one (me).
I do appreciate all the help and assistance I've received getting some of the self induced problems I have had trying to implement certain features into existing code. I've found it's been easiest to create a new PROD page, start with the basic implementation, test and then implement into existing code. Some how I have misplaced the post that had just the new items that need to be inserted, instead of the copy and paste of the entire field. Could someone post that link here?
So that's my 2 cents (plus a bit more). I really do love the new features, I just want to be able to make them even better :)
Leslie
ps...I think we need a forum just for PR8 questions & comments.
Comment