Currently, OpenPublish comes with the Apture module, which is a very tantalizing almost solution to a problem that we all have struggled with: a legit wysiwyg solution that allows embedding of images and other content within a wysiwyg editor while allowing uploading of content from a user's computer or linking from remote urls. Apture does this in a clean, almost magical way.
Unfortunately, Apture is vying to be a commercial solution and as such, greatly restricts the ability of a news site to customize links and content sources. (for instance, if a user uploads an image through Apture, the image is hosted on Apture's own S3 account) What we really need is an open source solution to the Apture embed capability.
I'd just like to propose a UI scenario, in hopes that someone out there can suggest (or develop) a solution that might give us all the best of all worlds:
Like Apture, it would be great if a publisher could embed or link to external sources through one interface, and have those sources display in a popup window so that readers do not have to leave a website page to view videos, images, podcasts, Amazon pages, etc.
However, the publisher (OpenPublish user) should have the ability to customize the source lists for all these media sources. For instance, I might host my own images in sites/default/files, or I might host images at a flickr or photobucket account. (or even a CDN) I should be able to choose the hosting source for my images. Then, whenever uploading a local image, it should get posted automatically to my hosting account. (as it does right now with Apture's S3 account or the flickr modules)
If I host videos on youtube or vimeo, etc., I should be able to configure the interface to default to that particular host and user account, automatically bringing up the available videos for MY account. (sort of how Kaltura works)
Same thing for other content. If I choose to list content from Amazon, I should have the option to use my own Associate ID account. (rather than Apture's)
The interface should also allow for generic search or URL input. (as Apture does right now)
Using this one simple interface, it would now be possible to embed or link to all media and use it with several popular wysiwyg editors, anywhere on the page, without going through all the machinations of using IMCE, embedded media field, imagefield, Kaltura, Apture, or any of the plethora of other image and media embedder options out there that never quite provide a total solution.
I know this is a bit off topic, but a clean and simple wysiwyg solution is ESSENTIAL for most publishers because we often employ many different authors, journalists, and editors, who may know NOTHING about Drupal, but just want a clean, simple way to assemble an article with varying content.
This seems to be the critical problem that no one has managed to solve. The Apture approach comes close to providing the ultimate solution, but I fear that it will never provide the degree of customization necessary for serious consideration by Publishers.
I'd just like to issue this as a challenge to Drupal developers. (I wish I had the expertise to do it) I'm sure Apture put a lot of effort into their application, but for it to be useful to varied publishers, we need the ability to simplify and control our own content.
Comments
Zemanta = similar issues
The Zemanta has similar issues. I caused abit of a stir by calling Zemanta a Spammer tool. LOL
Maybe, yes, maybe no. I guess I have my own definition of spam.
If someone puts links from my sites to other sites without my permission or knowledge I call that spam.
If you use applications that facilitate content development that poke links into the code I call that spam.
That is what Zemanta does. It is pretty cool for users to just scroll through a bunch of thumbnails that have some search based criteria to focus on the content the user is adding it helps users. Most users aren't that interested to have their own unique pictures. They could careless where pictures come from. Users just want pictures to help communicate and perk their postings.
If you look at the code programs like these create you'll find you are providing links to other sites you have no knowledge of. This is a way for those sites to enhance their rankings for sure. Zemanta has some kind of revenue gathering mechanism and the go to site pays and contributes pictures and stuff.
We need similar modules in Drupal. The IMCE module comes close, because users can view all the catalogs. Yes you can view thumbnails in IMCE, but a large number of pictures needs better tools.
We need soemthing like a memory resident application with high quality semantic type search tools, which will display pictures and videos thumbnails in a window/popup. The pictures or vidoes can be inserted by drag and drop, resized with tools like IMAGE RESIZE. Naturally, the pictures should come from either the site webserver (uploaded images), picasa, flickr,etc. The videos should come from the site webserver, or vimeo,youtube,etc. Each image should have an accompanying ability to create alt tags. Description of the images need not be there, because the images are being tied to the content the user is creating.
Pictures make a huge difference for creating viewer interest. People like pictures and videos.
I am very excited about the WYSIWYG.API and editor integrations possible with it. I use it, along with the Insert, and image resize modules. The procedure for installing images with and resizing them could be improved alot.
A few thoughts on Openpublish. IMO, the potential is excellent for a package like this. By moving off the proprietary forums to groups.drupal should open a lot of opportunities for good feedback for the developer. I appreciate so much the PHase II. I actually search for their contributions when I build sites.
The developer has made a good start and is really getting roasted and toasted here. That is very good, because they are listening to us.
There are things like apture, and several other modules included and not included that need to be more carefully thought through. Just having a mixed bag of stuff is not a best answer. Currently, I just apply the OpenPublish and take out the stuff I'm not comfortable with and the stuff I want. I'm not going to go into stuff we need or may not need in this posting.
I build and admin sites. Social connections within sites are becoming much more important and a good package that pokes in those connection tools is a great "jump start".
Is this similar to what you
Is this similar to what you are looking for? http://drupal.org/project/filefield_sources
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http://twitter.com/inadarei
not quiteThevery important
not quite-
A couple ideas:
There are limitations on each, but I'll not go there. Just trying to explain abit better.
(1)
If site admin or user has large number of image files finding the correct files becomes too difficult, even for users selecting from their own files. An iframe into a picasa or flickr might work in many situations and be a great help, especially for selecting images from Picasa or flickr type repository sites. Users can have a viewable picture array of choices. Then the module would just require a clickon to return the image or video URL into the popup for placement and resize within the text content. A gallery type tool might serve well enough on the site webserver.
(2)
User clicks on an icon of the tinyMCE header or other editor, which opens a popup window. Within the window there is a high quality semantic search tool, with advanced search elements. This would require user to select the location of the images, from a pre-built folder index of image locations. The search would be limited to those locations for images, supplied by the site admin or by permissioned users. Permissioned users can also contribute to the image files folders. It is important that permissions are very specific in order for respective users only to search within specific locations. Naturally the site admin would want to create a large folder of images that were available to users by permissions. In other words, authenticated users would be allow to use only certain folders on or off the server maintained by the site admin (to prevent abuses). More trusted user roles would be permissioned more broadly and less restrictively.
The user creates a search and then a box drops down or opens with image thumbnails that can be scrolled, which relate to the search. The alt tag of the image or descriptive field is required for each image for search gathering tool. Using the image name would not be a best way to search. Users scroll through choices available. Then the user drags and drops within the document... or user can insert image at a selected cursor position. Image resize and a placement tool would be used for best placement with in the content text.
Lastly, the image selected could be a video, photo or other graphic file. Therefore, something like a flowplayer would be required for proprietary videos, and embed tool would be required for vimeo,youtube,etc.
The embed media CCK is a good example, but not quite workable as I recall, because it ejects the image data into a field that is not within a body of text. Yet, it might work if there was a way to specifically place the field withing the text data and format it within the document.
This of course would be a very valuable tool for all of the Drupal community, not just OpenPublish users. I do think if someone carefully reviewed the Zemanta or Apture code they could probably develope a good spin off Drupal module. I don't think the search is as good as it could be with either, but it would be a start.
Some good news!
After a discussion with the guys at Apture, I can pass on the following info:
It is now possible to set your own Amazon Associate ID in the account setup at the Apture site. (yay!) This makes it far easier to include non-intrusive links to Amazon products in your blog.
It also appears that the Apture development team is committed to making the service more powerful and useful for site developers. Eagerly awaiting possible enhancements.....
The Media module will do all
The Media module will do all you want and more. There's to be a demo on Tuesday if you're interested.
Aaron Winborn
Drupal Multimedia (my book, available now!)
AaronWinborn.com
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