Building a photographer's portfolio site

[s1deus]

I am building a photographer's portfolio site and the client would like to update their own site. I am building the site using XHTML and CSS.

One of the pages needed is a thumbnails page and I am wondering about creating this page so that the client can simply edit a text file in order to update this page. Is this possible without building a database? Is it possible to have the browser read let's say a text file and load the images from the text file into the site. I am hoping the client would only have to upload the images and type in the path or url to the image in order for the site to work.

Is this possible?

Thanks.

[phpnovice]

You can make it one step simpler by omitting the text file -- such that merely uploading a new image to a particular folder would automatically mean that the new image appears on the page in question.

[solomon]

It can do better than that...

1) point the script at the right directory and it will count and read all the files you ask it to. You can then output the results in any manner you require. Thus negating the need to write a txt file - you just need to upload the images to the right folder. Read this (http://uk.php.net/manual/en/function.readdir.php)

2) do away with giving your client ftp access to their server (as this is often a very bad idea...;) by sticking in a file upload script. Read this (http://www.phpfreaks.com/tutorials/36/0.php)

3) dispense with wasting time creating thumbnails yourself, get php to do it for you. Read this (http://uk.php.net/manual/en/ref.image.php)

[s1deus]

Thanks people. I will be reading through these links and testing out the ideas. Are there any sites that use these methods of creating php thumbnails?

Thanks again.

[solomon]

The first thing that leaps to mind is Coppermine - the opensource photogallery application. You upload pictures (by ftp - easier when there's loads to do) and it resizes it to whatever you size you want. I use it on my personal site here (www.thrutch.co.uk/gallery)

[s1deus]

Thanks, I think this might be more appropriate for my client since there is support and a CMS.

Nice pictures and what a beautiful child!!!!

Thanks again.

[solomon]

Gee thanks :D *blush* :o