Community Webmaster Alert: Your Images Need Updating

Submitted by Michael Kisor on May 11, 2008 - 10:34pm. CMS

Anyone who has created web pages which display graphics using SWNI’s Drupal content management system (CMS) will want to know about an impending change which will affect your pages. We are about to upgrade Drupal, but due to compatibility problems, we are dropping the [Inline] module, which we previously used for displaying graphics on web pages.

Effective immediately, the standard HTML image tag should be used for inserting images in all new pages, or when you edit existing pages with images. Once we update Drupal, the [Inline] tag will cease to function. We will attempt to automatically convert existing [Inline] tags into equivalent HTML image tags, but due to the evolution of the [Inline] tag over several versions of the module, we expect only about a 90% success rate. Older pages are most likely to be missed by the conversion. While we hope to generate a listing of those pages which weren’t converted, it would be a good idea to verify all your pages to ensure the conversion was handled appropriately.

The HTML image tag is actually more versatile and allows greater control over graphic placement on the page and relative to the text, so you may wish to manually update your pages now rather than have them converted automatically. That will ensure nothing unexpected happens when the conversion occurs. Or you may want to wait and verify & tweak them after they’re converted. The Adding images to your web page FAQ has been updated with instructions on how to use the HTML image tag.

When we first started using Drupal, use of the HTML image tag wasn’t properly supported and couldn’t be used, which is why we originally adopted the [Inline] module. Now that the HTML image tag is supported, and given the problems with the [Inline] module, the decision was made to make this conversion. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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No more INLINE tags - woe is me!

Submitted by Mike Charles on May 12, 2008 - 5:50pm.

As I've said before, I use Inline tags A LOT. It's a great way to make a page more interesting by inserting a picture. Losing INLINE tags is going to decimate the webpages I have created for three separate neighborhood associations and Friends of Marshall Park. So my hope is that the automatic conversion to HTML image tags will be successful, and it will accomplish the same as the INLINE tag.

Some questions ... When exactly is this change going to happen? How can I insert a picture using HTML image tags (example please)? Will the pictures I've already uploaded still be available for me to use? And my question to the makers of Drupal --- what are you thinking of?

Having done all my whinging, I reckon this too shall pass, and it will probably be ok. Change happens. Moving right along ... :o)

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It’s the end of the world!

Submitted by Michael Kisor on May 13, 2008 - 12:33am.

So cash in all your stocks and bonds now. ;-)

When? is a good question, but i really don’t know the answer. Could be in just a few days; could be much longer. Depends on whether the stars align, or not. Fortunately you can start using HTML image tags now, before the [INLINE] tags turn into pumpkins.

How you insert a picture using HTML image tags, including examples, are in the FAQ page which used to describe how to use the [INLINE] tag (follow the link above). Updating that page was a prerequisite to making this change.

Yes, the pictures you’ve already uploaded will be available; no need to upload again. So all that needs to be done is convert the [INLINE] tag into an <img src="filename path"> tag. Either you can do it yourself, or hope the automation works (and clean-up after it, if not). I would suggest converting at least one of your existing pages manually (as soon as possible), so you get a feel for how the “new” tag works.

What were the makers of Drupal thinking of? They were trying to see how much grief they could bring to the greatest number of people. ;-) It’s unfortunate we couldn’t do images the HTML way to begin with, because they do offer more control than the [INLINE] tag, and it would have saved us all a lot of grief now. HTML image tags also work in previews, which is another advantage. Once you get used to them, i think you’ll like them better.

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Switching to HTML img src tag is a good thing

Submitted by BNA Webmaster on May 13, 2008 - 5:42pm.

Being able to use more universally known HTML img src commands (which many of us have wanted to do all along, and which anyone who has been using HTML is already familiar with) is much preferable to the Drupal INLINE construct we have been forced to use in the past. We are NOT losing the ability to post pictures with this change, but will be able to use the many options of the img src command instead. This is a good change for us and Drupal users.

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