Hi All!
TL:DR Summary: I set a new 512kB limit on uploaded attachments to conserve storage space and work better with the Forum's inline photo viewing software.
Full explanation...
Despite my entreaties, users are increasingly uploading photo attachments in full size rather than in reduced size. As a result, each unreduced individual photo can require as much space as 4-5 or more reduced photos. Multiply that by up to 4 attachments per post and the storage requirements are staggering if the practice spreads across all uploaded attachments.
In the past when the attachment folder on the server became full, the Forum crashed with every additional attempt to upload photos. I increased the allocation size several times but this was when almost everyone uploaded only reduced photos. If uploading full-size photos becomes the norm, much more server space will be needed and/or more frequent Admin intervention.
When full-size photos are attached, the Forum viewing software becomes severely challenged and the photo opens to show only the upper-left corner, leaving users to scroll around manually to see the picture one small piece at a time -- or download it for viewing on their own device. This is especially true with mobile devices, but the same viewing problems obtain for laptops and desktop monitors thanks to the way the Forum software displays large images inline. The viewing size can be increased, but then we're back to problems related to excessive filesize and not all devices will display the photos without distortion. We're at a sort of happy medium now.
In the past, I have manually resized photos for users but this is very time consuming when it could be done by users in advance. The most logical way around this is to set a hard limit on uploaded attachments in Forum software, as almost all other Admins of SMF-powered forums have done. Because server space is expensive, many have set low limits of perhaps 100-200kB per photo. I think something a bit larger would be helpful here, so 512kB per photo is worth a try as it allows pretty big and detailed photos while still conserving space compared to unreduced photos. I may need to reduce the size further, but this seems worth a try.
I'm not sure how existing photo attachments sized beyond the new limit will fare. There may be some unintended consequences -- they might not display at all or they could be unaffected. Results vary when viewing other Admin's experience. EDIT: Good news -- it appears photos already uploaded before the limits remain unaffected.
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For tips on how to upload and resize photos for posting as attachments to the Forum, see:
http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=4313.0The operating software on many devices includes options for resizing photos or apps can be downloaded and installed to do the task. One of the easiest and most universal ways to reduce photos can be found in email software, which will either ask or automatically reduce file sizes before mailing. Mail a photo to yourself, download it, and then select it for uploading as an attachment in the Forum posting options.
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If you wish to display larger photos or more of them per post, then it is better to use inline html tags to link to where your photos are stored at a remote hosting service. Done this way, no uploaded attachments are needed because the photos are stored elsewhere. Just remember if you later change hosts or pull your pictures down from where they are stored, the inline photos in your posts will also disappear unless you manually go back and update the tags.
Best,
Dan.
