TWG 1.8 is now using css sprites for most of the icons and buttons.
Sprites is a technique that only one big image is loaded which contains all the other images. The position of the images inside the big image are defined in a css. This saves a lot of requests (e.g. in TWG only one language flag is now loaded instead of 29) and bandwith (1 language image = 5kb; 29 language images = 28 kb).
There are a lot of different tutorials out there and I have read quite a
lot to find the best way which should be used if you have an existing
application and you want to introduce sprites.
I have tried different implementation methods and this are the 3 main ways
you will find in the web:
- with ul/li like explained in http://www.alistapart.com/articles/sprites
- with divs like you can see at http://css-sprit.es/
- and with using a img tag as explained here: http://cssglobe.com/post/3028/creating-easy-and-useful-css-sprites
And unfortunately the first ones you find with google if you search for “css sprites” are not the easiest and best way in my opinion! Most of the time they use the ul/li solution.
This works fine if you don’t have a complex layout where each pixel counts and should look
exacly the same. I have started with this in the TWGXplorer but was not able to get the exact same positions as before.
Then I tried using divs. This works quite nice at a lot of places but at the end I also had problems to adjust the divs exacly the way I needed it.
So I finally ended up by using the img tag solution. And for an existing application this is the way to go. You simply replace all images with a transparent 1px image and apply the class for the big image and the class for the sprite. That’s really simple and worked for me in all browsers without any modifications.
I was using the sprite generator you find at http://css-sprit.es/. It has the advantage that the size of each image is specified in the css too and not only the position. The disadvantage is that if you run the generator twice with the same images a different sprite can be created because it does not sort the images. I have contacted the author about this and maybe this is already fixed when you read this post.
I hope I have saved someone a little bit time because for me it took quite a while to compare them.
Have fun using sprites,
Michael
Hi,
The new layout of the TWG website is online.
- A new header line with a section for each of the tools for easier navigation.
- A complete new entry page for easier navigation.
- The new logo is included
- The new versions of TWG/JFU/TFU/WPU are online – more details about them in following posts.
Just go there by yourself – everything should be nicer now…
The blog will soon move from blog.tinywebgallery.com to www.tinywebgallery.com because I want to include the 3 latest news always on the main page and I need direct access to the wordpress classes for this. So please don’t wonder if you will be redirected if you go to the blog!
Have fun using TWG/JFU/TFU/WFU,
Michael
Hi,
JFU 2.10.7 is finally done and available in the forum:
http://www.tinywebgallery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2395
Get all details there. I currently do the new website and this will be done pretty soon.
Have fun using JFU,
Michael
Hi,
I have finished the last tests and everything seems very good.
Therefore I uploaded the final of TWG 1.8 to the forum
http://www.tinywebgallery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2321
Please note that the additional language files are not included in the download anymore. You can always download the latest versions from the website. You find a link in the forum thread.
When the new website will be online there will be a direct link in the menu.
Have fun using TWG,
Michael
Hi,
I have updated Wordpress flash uploader first because it was not working with Wordpress 2.9.1 because they changed some internal paths.
This is the new stuff:
- Now compatible up to Wordpress 2.9.1!
- Updated the flash to TFU 2.10.7
- Wrong message was shown after importing only one image.
- Improved the normalizeFileNames function
- The Uploader and the Sync option can now be activated independently in the menu and the media manager tabs
- The ‘Sync’ has now a detection of already crunched images of an original. This can be turned off in the settings because the detection is very basic.
Download it directly form the wordpress site and please vote if you do!
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-flash-uploader/
Have fun using WFU,
Michael
TFU 2.10.7 can be downloaded now. It took quite a while because I extended the plugin part and you are now able to log each action!
- New: Upload of files with the size 0. This is not supported directly by flash upload. I do this by creating the file through a direct php call.
- New: Download of 0 KB files are now disabled because flash does not support this.
- New: Plugins are now called by file functions (e.g. delete, create folder) too. Check the updated plugins and the new help on the plugin page.
- Fix: $hide_hidden_files was not working properly because this settings was not used for actions like preview, delete… Please update to this version or don’t use this feature because at delete the wrong files would be deleted!
- Fix: The new zip class was not compatible to php 4.x – now it is.
PLEASE NOTE: The log plugins on the website are currently not compatible with this version. You have to open them an replace the function debug with tfu_debug.
And here is the link:
http://www.tinywebgallery.com/dl.php?file=tfu2107
If you have any problems please let me know!
JFU 2.10.7 will be available in a few days. I’m just waiting for the feedback of some testers!
Have fun using TFU,
Michael
Hi,
TFU/JFU 2.10.7 are almost ready.
If someone wants to test them please contact me.
This is the new stuff:
TFU:
- New: Upload of files with the size 0. This is not supported directly by flash upload. I do this by creating the file through a direct php call.
- New: Download of 0 KB files are now disabled because flash does not support this.
- Fix: $hide_hidden_files was not working properly because this settings was not used for actions like preview, delete… Please update to this version or don’t use this feature because at delete the wrong files would be deleted!
- Fix: The new zip class was not compatible to php 4.x – now it is.
JFU:
- New: Updated TFU to version 2.10.7
- New: Added $truncate_dir_in_title to the configuration.
- New: Added $hide_hidden_files to the configuration.
- New: Added the new logo to JFU
- New: Added icons to the menu entries.
Best,
Michael
Hi,
I’m using Dropbox as an additional backup medium for TWG. But I’m running out of free space right now.
If you are looking for a nice free Online Backup, File sharing webspace simply signup there.
You get 250 MB extra and I’m too 
.
Just use the referal link below:
https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTI1NjQ2MDY5
Create a free account and install the dropbox on your machine – you will not be disappointed. Want to send a file with 200 MB to a friend – use the dropbox and only send the links to your friends.
Thanks,
Michael
Hi,
I have found a bug when
$hide_hidden_files is set to true!
If you are already use TFU 2.10.6 please don’t change $hide_hidden_files (default is false) or update to the 2.10.6 you can download now.
- Michael
Hi,
I have now created a patch to upgrate your existing version to TWG 1.8
http://www.tinywebgallery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12472
I still recommend to do a new install and then to move you config files because This version has ~360 files less without loosing any functionality.
And I have a nice suprise for all registered users when I release the final with the new website.
Stay tuned,
Michael
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