1. Download and install the JoomGallery
Basically the installation (and also the update) of the JoomGallery takes place via an upload in the extension manager of Joomla!.
Besides to directly uploading the zip file you can also use the 'Install from web' tab. During installation the files are copied to the correct location and the necessary database tables are created. A later update will overwrite all files and update the database tables if necessary. Your pictures and settings will of course be retained.
After a successful installation the following screen appears.
Here you have the possibility to click on 'Languages'. By clicking on the respective flag, the respective language files are installed. You may install multiple languages for multilingual websites. There are currently 38 languages available.
2. Create a category
The images of the JoomGallery are organized in categories. Other image galleries often use the terms 'albums' or 'galleries' for this. Images can only be uploaded to an existing category. So at least one category must be created. To do this, call the 'Category Manager'. Then click on 'New' in the toolbar. The only mandatory field for the new category is the 'title', all other fields are optional.
3. Upload images
When you have created a category you can upload the first images. We recommend using the Drag'n'Drop upload as it allows you to upload any number of pictures at once. To select the images, click on the large green button or drag and drop them to the button.
The selected images will be displayed in the upload form. The next step is to select the category in which the images are to be loaded. Now you have to specify the image title and other parameters.
When everything is ready, click on the 'Upload' button. Then the images are uploaded and processed one after the other. You can follow the progress for each individual image. Wait until all images are shown 'green' before you change to another page.
You can find a video tutorial for uploading also on YouTube.
4. Create menu entry
In order to be able to see the images on your website a corresponding menu entry has to be created. To do this you have to create a new menu item within Joomla!'s menu manager. Please select JoomGallery >> 'Gallery view: Standard layout' as 'Menu entry type'.
In the field 'Menu title' you have to enter the name of the menu entry (here e.g. 'Image gallery') and click on 'Save'.
If you call up your website in the frontend, the menu item should already be available in the menu. When you click on it, the 'Gallery view' of your JoomGallery will appear with the categories you have created. You can find an explanation of what different views here.
5. Change configuration settings
The JoomGallery has a very extensive 'Configuration manager' which can be used to control almost anything.
As an example, we want to change the size of the thumbnails and the information displayed in the category view.
Change thumbnail size
Instead of a thumbnail height of 100px you may think of displaying square thumbnails with 200x200px. To do so you have to change the following settings:
- General Settings >> Image Processing >> Thumbnail conversion to 'free settings'
- General Settings >> Image Processing >> Part of image to be cropped to 'center'
- General Settings >> Image Processing >> Thumbnail width to '200'
- General Settings >> Image Processing >> Thumbnail height to '200'
Note that changing these sizes will only take effect to the thumbnail and detail images of new images you'll upload. In order to change the existing images, these (thumbnail and detail images) must be recreated. This is done using the 'Recreate' button in the Image Manager.
Customize category view
Instead of two columns with thumbnails, we would like to display three columns:
- Category View >> Generell Settings >> Number of Columns to '3'
Hide number of comments and hits in category view:
- Category View >> Generell Settings >> Show Comments to 'No'
- Category View >> Generell Settings >> Show Hits to 'No'