[mod] Category Images/Banners

[sigma]

What Im looking for is a way to add a banner type image to categories that have subcategories within them. I just dont like seeing nothing being there. Text alone is boring and small category icon images wont work. Sure you could upload images to that main category but i dont want these images to be seen anywhere else. They dont need a thumbnail. they should be embeded into that categories template, if possible. I just dont know how to go about this.

Ive added a photoshoped exaple of what Im looking for. the big image in teh center is what I want to add about the subcategories. If this could be something I specify in the ACP for each parent category that would work nicely.

The original page looks like this
http://cydonian.com/photos/categories.php?cat_id=13

So the question is, how do I add a banner type image inside categories?

[V@no]

You can try modify

Code: [Select]

$lang['no_images'] = "There are no images in this category.";
in lang/<your languages>/main.php

Or if you applyed this fix you can use {ifno thumbnails}your html banner code here{endifno thumbnails} in categories.html template

[impss]

Or you could use html in the Description box under edit catogories, and where {cat_description} is posted in your categories.html it will show what you set for that particular catogory. only downside to doing it this way, you would have to add it to each catogory individualy that you want the banner to appear, but still would be fast unless you have alot of catogories.

[sigma]

I think both have some possibilities.

The only problem im seeing now with the html is that the image shows up on the main page. Is there a way to exclude the description from showing up on the parent category? Right now it totally messes things up on the previous page because the image is huge and pushes the rest of the info for the other subcategories.

How do I remove the category 'description' from being displayed in the parent category?

[V@no]

mmmm...its hard to imagine what is that you talking about without seeing it
I see no description on your screenshot, so have no clue what is pushing what and where

[sigma]

I understand. Should of showed you an example.

So here are two shots using the HTML in the Category Description.

1. Shows what it look slike in the parent category. Dont want the Image showing here. Everything gets pushed as you can see.

2. Shows Inside that Category with the html in the description. Looks Fine.

Any ideas how to hide the description in #2 so the image/description doesnt get displayed?

[BartAfterDark]

I like the idea

[V@no]

Again, using the fix I've mentioned above, you can use {ifno num_images}{cat_description}{enfino num_images} in category_bit.html

[sigma]

But will that method V@no add the same image to each category? It looks like it would be a global setting if Im adjusting the template, wouldnt it? I would like each category to have their own banner type image.

[impss]

you could take:

Code: [Select]

{if cat_description}<span class="smalltext">{cat_description}</span><br />{endif
cat_description}
out of your category_bit.html.

But..  this will take all your descriptions out of your catogory lists, even the text.

[sigma]

Yes true but I would like to keep text descriptions for some of the sub-categories i have. What I would like to do is remove the html from showing up in the parent category.

[V@no]

Ok, lets try another method, based on impss' suggestion - using description.
Now, in the description, insert you banner like so:

<!--// html code for your banner //-->

(it doesnt have to be on one line)
The banner will not be displayed on the screen by default, because browser will treat it as a comment in the page source (yet you'll be able see the banner code if you look in the page source).
And to show it in categories.php find:

Code: [Select]

  "cat_description" => $cat_cache[$cat_id]['cat_description'],replace with:

Code: [Select]

  "cat_description" => preg_replace("#<!--//(.*)//-->#Um", "\\1", $cat_cache[$cat_id]['cat_description']),Hope this is what you are looking for

[sigma]

holy sh#t. V@no strikes again.

Thanks man! it works great.
Im thinking more people would like this little tweak.

[mawenzi]

@sigma,

I use also individual banners / tables as header for my category pages. First I had realized it with different templates for categories ( categories_[cat_id].html ). But now I use the tag "cat_banner", its contents can be defined / modifyed for each category in ACP - > Categories. The tag will be shown only in categories.html. If you have extensive code for your "category banners" (e.g. tables ...) V@no's solution must "hide" ( <!--// html code for your banner //--> ) a lot of code of your "cat_description" on other sites as on categories.html ... e.g. home.html ... .
If you are interested ... I will post my solution.

mawenzi

[BartAfterDark]

@sigma,

I use also individual banners / tables as header for my category pages. First I had realized it with different templates for categories ( categories_[cat_id].html ). But now I use the tag "cat_banner", its contents can be defined / modifyed for each category in ACP - > Categories. The tag will be shown only in categories.html. If you have extensive code for your "category banners" (e.g. tables ...) V@no's solution must "hide" ( <!--// html code for your banner //--> ) a lot of code of your "cat_description" on other sites as on categories.html ... e.g. home.html ... .
If you are interested ... I will post my solution.

mawenzi

mawenzi I would like this code If you still wanna post it