kag's tech blog

This new version fixes a bug where the image thumbnail size was incorrectly saved, and unchecking « Picasa slideshow link » wasn’t saved either.

As a new feature, it is now possible to enter your own values for these fields (instead of one of the predefined choices):

• Album thumbnail size
• Image thumbnail size
• Image full size

Posted from Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada.

I didn’t realise I had started to work on other improvements before releasing 0.2.5.

Google has doubled the maximum image size from 800 pixels to 1600 pixels. So kPicasa Gallery now has the option to select what image size you want.

I also corrected a small bug that always showed the « Picasa slideshow link », even if that option was unchecked.

Posted from Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada.

I received a lot of requests to hide the new Google+ albums (scrapbook and profile albums). So this maintenance release only adds an option to show/hide them.

Posted from Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada.

For those who were having problems with kPicasa Gallery for the last two days, please be aware that it was because of a modification to the XML provided by Google. They acknowledged that it was a bug and fixed the problem last night. Everything should be back to normal.

Link to the discussion on the Google Groups:
http://groups.google.com/group/google-picasa-data-api/browse_thread/thread/5861daf155a0e725?pli=1

Posted from Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada.

I would like to take a few moments to thank the people who donated money via PayPal. I’ve invested a lot of time in kPicasa Gallery and it’s a good feeling when people show their appreciation, whether by leaving comments, rating it on the WordPress plugin page or donating money.

For those who are curious, I used that money to:

• Buy an iPhone armband that I use for jogging
• Buy a subscription to MetaFilter
• Donate a few dollars to Jeffrey Friedl, for his Export to Picasa plugin for Adobe Lightroom
• Buy a 52mm-58mm step-up ring adapter so I can install my circular polarized filter on my 50mm f/1.8 lens

Posted from Quebec, Quebec, Canada.

A new release just in time for Christmas.

• Added the instructions to the configuration page.
• The published date format can be customized.
• Added a link to view the slideshow provided by Picasa.
• Added the Fancybox engine. Video playback is buggy, but someone requested it.
• Other miscellaneous internal changes so it’s more self-contained. Not that it was spreading accross your WordPress install, but it’s even cleaner.
• Now connecting to Picasa the WordPress way.
• Uninstalling kPicasa now deletes the configuration settings. Nothing should be left behind.

Upcoming features:

• Multiple unlisted albums.
• Switch to Shortcodes.

Remember to vote for kPicasa Gallery in the WordPress directory!

Posted from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Although this is a maintenance release, there are quite a few changes in the code:

• Moved the configuration page under the Plugins sub-menu
• Added the Shadowbox picture engine, which works like a charm for both photos and videos.
• The album summary, location, published date, and number of photos can now be shown or hidden on an individual basis
• Added the possibility to play a slideshow when using Highslide
• Made the plugin ready to be translated (using _e() and __() functions)
• Thickbox can now play videos, although it’s a bit buggy under IE. It was clearly not made for this, it needed a little hack to even work. There’s not much more I can do.
• Including SWFObject and all the CSS files with the proper WordPress functions (cleaner that way)
• Fixed a HTML validation problem (minor)
• Fixed a bug where Thickbox was always called on my server

I’d like to hear what picture engine you’re using. Lightbox and Slimbox 2 can’t display videos. Video playback is buggy with Thickbox as it was not made for this, it only works after a bit of hacking. I wonder how many of you are using them.

In an attempt to resolve a conflict many people are having with other plugins, kPicasa Gallery is now loaded differently by WordPress. Thanks Salman for the solution!

If you have Google Analytics for WordPress, Digg Digg or TweetMeme installed, please let me know if my fix resolved the issue for you, or if you notice anything else unusual.

For the technical people, add_filter() is now called with priority 9 instead of default priority 10. I’m not sure if I should have went lower than 1 below the default priority. I’m very open to your comments on this!

I also applied Simon Foster‘s correction to diminish the chances of failing to load an internal file.

If your current installation is already working correctly, there’s nothing new for you this time.

Don’t forget to rate kPicasa Gallery on its WordPress plugin page. All votes are appreciated!

This new version fixes one very minor bug, one minor CSS annoyance and is a little bit more flexible with those with very custom installations:

• Was not using the PHP function defined() correctly. But this is more of a cosmetic bug fix, as this wasn’t causing any trouble;
• Removed « !important » from one of the CSS rules, as requested by Ted Thompson;
• For those using WordPress 2.6 and higher, it now tries to use the WP_PLUGIN_URL constant, instead of hard-coding the plugins directory path. This allows people who moved the plugins directory somewhere else to use kPicasa Gallery. No impact on people who are already using kPicasa Gallery. Requested by Martin.