Topic: Flash Gallery With Database

I'm developing a site for my church that I need to make as easy as possible for the non-computer illiterate to use.

I've used several flash galleries in the past (simpleviewer, adobe flash viewer, etc.)

Here's the major features that I'd love to see in it.

1) I'd like the viewer to pull all images from a specific directory.
2) I'd like to be able to give each image a caption.
3) An automatic slide show feature would be nice.
4) Music in the background would be great as well.
5) A simple way to upload the image with the caption via a php input page or something similar.

If it costs a little $$$ I don't mind buying something that will do it. I just don't have the time to try and develop something like this from scratch.

thanks gurus!

Have a look at Slide Show Pro:
http://slideshowpro.net/
and its companion admin tool Slide Show Pro Director:
http://slideshowpro.net/product_sspdir.php

The former is very solid and configurable.
The latter sounds good but I have no first hand experience.

yeah I think this is probably the best be t for me... I've looked around quite a bit... I'll see what some other inmates suggest first before I shell out the $$$... :-)

No surprise here but I would advise against using Flash for a gallery.

Certainly you'd like your gallery to be accessible and apear on search engines. Slide Show Pro is not. There's a few accessible galleries based on jQuery, YUI, Prototype, ... please consider an XHTML+CSS+[JS] solution.

Hi Poi;

I'd love to have links to a couple of what you consider best examples. Always on the lookout for good galleries.

Just a note to add that I use Slide Show Pro too, as I think does Sleeping Wolf.


Those who look for monsters should look to it that
they do not become monsters. For when you gaze
long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

A bit late but that could be useful nevertheless : AJAX & Javascript Galleries, Slideshows and Effects Redux

Poi they look fabulous I've bookmaked that link and will be returning often. My brain seems to have developed an aversion lately to learning new things, but that has certainly woken up some brain cells. Looks like I'll have to get experimenting.

A little late but two excellent (free) galleries are:
Coppermine
http://coppermine-gallery.net/
(I use coppermine just to store images: http://www.sleepingwolves.com/portfolio/ )
and
Menalto Gallery
http://gallery.menalto.com/

PixelPost is another good one - but it is more for photoblogging than slideshows.

As for SSP, Poi has a good point about SEO - one workaround is to put text in the html wrapper (visible or not)
You can see my implementation of SSP here if interested:
http://www.sleepingwolves.com/gallery/sssp.html
(bandwidth heavy)

Another interesting Flash but too costly and a little overkill:
http://www.imagevuex.com/

for other opensource galleries:
http://www.opensourcecms.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=388&Itemid=143

As for scripts, HighSlide is wonderful (much better than LightBox). I use it with my WordPress blog.
http://vikjavev.no/highslide/

Poi: thanks for the link - always good to see what else is out there.

Nature & Travel Photography
Visit the Sleeping Wolves

(Edited by SleepingWolf on 10-27-2007 17:10)

Fantastic collection of resources! Oh my - so much to evaluate now.
Thanks a million!