A possible addition to the wpg generator ?

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Edited by George to say:
Ive broadcast this topic to invite comments and suggestions from our WPG enthusiasts.
Your feedback by way of contribution in this topic is invaluable, and will help shape future development.
NOTE:
WPG= Web Page Generator, the feature in IG Pro and Bonsai Genie which allows users to create web sites like these.
http://www.ideasforgardens.net/

Now on the original posting by Malcolm

George

What are your thoughts on an addition to future wpg output.

Would it be possible to have the wpg generate "alt" text for the plant pictures, the "alt" text would be the plant name derived from the IG pro database.

When one of the wpg pictures is moused over the name will appear, as on our home page here www.lynandmalc.co.uk
This would also be friendly to search engines apparently.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Yes, that should be easy enough Malcolm.

Use this topic to make any other suggestions. When I get back to work on Gardening Software I can then look up this topic for "things to do"

[Lyn and Malcolm]

I'll get me thinking cap on then George. 

Thanks

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Nothing to do with the Wpg at the moment I know, but illustrates what I would like to see on the Wpg later.

Have spent a lot of time on our garden website adding the "alt" feature to a lot of the pictures.
One instance is the Clematis mosaic page. /if you mouse over the 97 individual pictures the names of the Clematis are shown.

http://www.lynandmalc.co.uk/clematis_mosaic.htm

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Just thought that there are lots of possibilities for the "alt" in the Wpg, perhaps it could pick up the height and flowering time, instead of name of plant which is on the Wpg page anyway. Would get a bit of user activity going.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

RE:

the mosaic page with Alt http://www.lynandmalc.co.uk/clematis_mosaic.htm

Excellent. Its a lovely presentation and thats a lovely touch.
Not every visitor would appreciate the time and effort that goes into that web page, and the clever Alt function is only one aspect! I do, and look in wonder.

IF I can get it to work, I could offer an option for the user to use Plant Name OR Height/Spread OR any 3rd , 4th or whatever option you guys come up with. Search engines Image searches will naturally do better if the Plant name is used for Alt, but as you say, its there already for visitors.

Lesson for today!
Use GA004
Display a list of plants
Click on a Plant in the list and move mouse slightly
Details about the plant appear at cursor ==== Alt 

[Lyn and Malcolm]

I hadn't noticed that before in GA004.

More reason to get all the details for each plant into the database.

I suppose we would have to incude the name in the "Alt" and Height and flowering time would suffice for me.

I look forward to the next edition.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

I think it would be too much to have both Name and details.
What do you think?

[Lyn and Malcolm]

I agree with you George.

The wpg doesn't auto generate height of plant from database details and put it into the wpg output.? It doesn't on mine.

If it doesn't then could it be made to. Then I guess stick to just name for the alt to make it more search engine freindly.

All my filenames of plant pictures where saved with no spaces ie     monardasquaw.jpg   Something I have always done.
These filenames are of course repeated in the properties of the pictures on the wpg output.
It means nothing to a search engine when it sees those filenames, so rather than change all my 1000+ filenames, it would get over the problem by using the "alt" with the plant name. Does that make sense ?

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Yes, it does indeed, Malcolm.
Have you done any research to find out if the search engines index on the image file name or the alt tags?

RE:

The wpg doesn't auto generate height of plant from database details and put it into the wpg output.? It doesn't on mine.

Its nothing personal - its the same for everbody at present.
That is an essential thing to include in the next update!

[Lyn and Malcolm]

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=114016

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

And an insight into Frames and how search engines read them

http://searchenginewatch.com/2167901

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Two good links there Malcolm.
As you know, in the linking Plants to Photos process, you have an option to change the file name of the photo.
This can be done in IG Pro, IG, Bonsai Genie and Flower Genie.

I can provide the option for WPG enthusiasts to rename the thumbnail which the WPG program creates.
That could give the image a searchable name, and the alt would have the same name.
Means the file name on disk for the original could remain "as is".

Thus in the example you quoted:
monardasquaw.jpg   could be the name of the original
Monarda_Squaw.jpg  could be the name of the WPG thumbnail (which is uploaded to the server)
Monarda Squaw could be the ALT name.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Regarding the option to rename the thumbnail that the Wpg creates.
Hows about the possibility of actually picking up the name of the plant from the IGpro database for the renaming.
That would alleviate any miss spellings (as we check them on RHS link anyway for the database) or filenames like DSC2345.jpg that come from the camera numbering.

If that could be done, then not sure about what could go in the Alt, as I guess pointless to have the plant name in both filename and Alt.

One possibility is to have a button in the review page GA32S08 where you could input a short descriptive text for the Alt when you add a plant to a review.

Then that would satisfy in full, the requirements of the page I gave the  link to, in Google Webmaster tools.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

RE:

Hows about the possibility of actually picking up the name of the plant from the IGpro database for the renaming.

Thats what I had intended to do, Malcolm.

The Alt name has another function.
If, for any reason, the image cannot be displayed, then the purpose of the alt is give a hint as to what should be there.
As such, I would propose to make both the Alt and file name one and the same.

RE:

One possibility is to have a button in the review page GA32S08 where you could input a short descriptive text for the Alt when you add a plant to a review.

It will be generated automatically as above, and placed in a new field. The user can edit, then save
Same for Image renaming (it will be much the same as you have already when linking photos)

It will make a nice touch. Keep the ideas coming Malcolm (& all, of course)