Idea for the AJAX Layout

Wow, that's cool! How did you do that? Fancy javascript?

I don't really need that for my site, but I may consider incorporating it somehow just because of the cool factor. :D

In essensce it's a great deal of javascript and css. I't will be part of the AJAX layout I proposed for googles summer of code. I'm working on an IE friendly version this weekend.

I've began working on a set of javascript functions that that apply AJAX properties like draggabillity and resizeability to html objects. My mission is to have the layout function like an OS UI. In this way i can include my functionality as modules in the event I don't get to work on the ajax layout as a whole. I'll try to post some examples this weekend.

Thats an excellent script, i'm impressed. I'd like to extend that functionality to the entire application. For instance, You could reorder images visually and the calls to the API are made automatically. I'd refine it to do some docking and other things. Anyway, youll have to excuse me, my mind is going a mile a minute, I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Thats a great idea, I wish I would have put that in my proposal. I think that functionality could be built into the AJAX and/or Flash layout. The admin could either select from pre-defined configs or create their own.. Thanks for the Idea. I'm getting excited about this.

You're talking about the rearrange view right? If so, yes it is! I love that feature. I was very impressed when I saw it. I think the only polish that could be put into it was to this drag and drop functionality to swap and move the images around.

I use it instead of reorder all the time. I am curious as to why we have both rearrange and reorder. I can understand using reorder if you don't have javascript installed. But why not make them one and the same? Then you could degrade to the reorder view if javascript isn't enabled or can't support those functions or the end user could have the choice of selecting which one is active.

Anyway, there's more pressing important things to worry about right now ;)

I don't know about removing it as there are some people who surf with Javascript disabled. Though if you're admining a Gallery install I think it would be silly to not have javascript or java enabled.

ahh your right it is. I saw rearrange but not re-oder for some reason.

After some consideration I find that the best implementation of an AJAX layout would be in creating view windows for content. For instance, when thumbnails are selected they will load into a draggable, resizeable window. From this window users can have access to all the functionality of the showItem Item veiw and perhaps also the item actions available through the showItem thumbnail view. Think about the way email clients work; allowing you to work with a set of emails or an individual one. I'm still studying the code to find out how to augment current api calls with an Dynamic interface so i'll keep uou abreast on my ideas. Otherwise what do you think?

Interesting discussion area. Something that is missing imo is more flexibility on how information, like Descriptions for instance, are displayed. Metadata, descriptions, all this kind of information would have much more impact if it were given an Ajaxian or floating capability. G2 is terrific at its image management and gets cooler constantly. But to me what would enhance this would be a way to "tell a story". Titles and Descriptions work, but there is much room for some simple enhancements, like with letting an image resolve for viewing, then allowing a user the opportunity to "call up" additional information.

Some themes do this now with simple EXIF. But this seems an area where some slick enhancement to how metadata and associated text material could be selected and viewed in a compelling way, beyond the flat text that most themes present. If someone typed up a lengthy Description, it would be nice to select it for viewing and have it appear in a predetermined location on the screen. It would make the art of storytelling, while leading with images, far more enhanced. It would take on more of the expression of what photography books accomplish. That being images, with text, at times lengthy text.

Just some thoughts. There are a couple of themes that are touching on this. But an enhanced way of calling forward text, from EXIF to Descriptions to Custom Meta fields, that would create a fulfillment that photography books attain. And of course, audio is a cousin to all this too....

pglightbox, opticalpork, ..
http://themes.gallery2.hu/v/beaches/?g2_theme=PGlightbox&g2_colorpack=PGcharcoal