Gallery2 Tutorial
This is just a quick tutorial for the Gallery2 photo album. There is a lot that it will do that I don't understand so I will stick to what I do know which is the basics. I will try to keep it short and to the point and will add more as I learn. Feel free to play around with it a little and see what it can do. I doubt you will mess anything up that cant be fixed. The video feature does not work properly at this time. I need to add some binary code to the server and am having a hard time configuring it. It works now but will not stream. This means you might have to spend a half hour downloading a large video before you can view it. Once it is configured correctly you will be able to view videos right away and stream them as you watch.
There are two things you need to remember when uploading files:
  1. No file can be over 2mb in size
  2. No group of files can be larger then 8mb in size
If you don't follow these rules you will get an error and your files will not upload.
  • Adding an album

    • To add an album you must first be in the root of the Gallery. This is the first page where you can see all the albums. Click on the "add album" link on the list to the left. For "name" all they want is to name the directory the files will be on the server. It doesnt matter what you put as long as you only use alphanumeric characters, underscores or dashes. Next add a title. This will appear under your album. Next you can add a summary if you like. This will appear under your title. The rest of the stuff you can mess with if you want but it isn't needed. Click create and you have a new but empty album.
    Note: If you are already in an album and create another album it will be a sub album inside the original album. I have not done this yet because it might be confusing for people (me).

  • Adding a photo

    • Adding a photo is much like adding an album except you MUST be in the correct album when adding a picture. Before doing anything click on the album you wish to add the picture to then click "add items" from the left panel. Make certain the "from web browser" tab is selected. Browse for the file on your hard drive. Add another if you like using the next browse button. You can now add a caption for your picture or you can wait and edit it later. When you are finished click the "add items" button on the bottom. When it is finished uploading it should tell you your files were sucessfully added. If not you may have exceded the file limits. If so reduce the file size(s) and try again.

  • Adding whole folders full of pictures

    • To add whole folders to an album makes it much easier and quicker if you have a bunch of photos to send. I use this after creating a new album because I usually have a bunch of pics to add at once. Start out clickinig the "add items" like you normally would. Instead of clicking the "from web browser" tab select the "upload applet" tab. I usually get a security message when I do this but I think it is just because it is letting the Java applet access the server. I just ignore it and click no. Next click "add pictures". Go to the directory where the files are located and click "upload". It will upload all the files in that directory. I usually create a sub directory on my hard drive called resized and resize all the photos ahead of time to make sure the directory does not exceed 8mb. Remember only 8mb at a time or it will not work. Even having to resize it is still a lot faster then sending them all a couple at a time.

  • Uploading photos to your computer

    • To upload pictures that are already in the Gallery all you have to do is click on "add picture to cart" or "add album to cart" depending on if you are in an album or looking at a specific picture. This will automatically open your cart. Click the dropdown box at the top right and select "download in zip". Tell is to save file and it will create a zipped file and download it to your computer just like any other file you download. If you have downloaded pictures in more than one album it will keep them separate in their own folders.