jClientUpload Image / File Upload Applet

Uploading images and files is an essential part of web content publishing. AssetNow NX provides a number of options to upload images and files:

• Using the standard web browser form-based file upload. This method is suitable for small images and files and does not require any additional software on the client machine. This method is not reliable for large file uploads and only allows uploading one file at a time. You have to wait for the upload to complete before you can continue.
• Drag/Drop and Copy/Paste images and files into the XStandard XHTML editor. This method uses web services to transfer the files to the site server. Files are compressed for faster and reliable uploading. This method is recommended for, but not limited to, files that are typically less than 5MB in size. You can upload multiple files. You have to wait for the file upload to complete before you can continue editing.
• jclientUpload Java upload applet. The applet is downloaded and installed automatically on the client machine. The applet requires the free Sun Java Runtime Engine (JRE 1.4 or higher) to be installed on the client machine. The upload applet provides an upload progress bar, cancel button, and supports drag/drop and selection of multiple files for upload. The upload applet can upload very large files, over 2GB, and can run independently whilst you continue with other tasks.

Using the Upload Applet

Clicking the upload applet icon will display the applet in a pop-up window. The applet takes a short time to load initially. The pop-up window lets you minimize other windows making it easier to drag and drop files into the applet. To upload an image or file select or drag it into the applet window, to upload multiple files select/drag them into the applet window.

Once you drop or select files for uploading the applet will transfer the files to the server providing an accurate progress bar indicator. To cancel uploading click the Cancel button below the progress bar.

Alternatively click Select button on the applet menu to display a file selection dialog. You can explore your local machine/network and highlight/select files to upload.

The upload applet can resize (scale) and compress jpg and png format images on the client machine before uploading them.

The upload applet is launched by clicking one of 6 icons with default resize (scaling) values as follows:

Icon	Width	Height	Quality	Description
	-	-	-	Upload with no resizing applied to any images
	100	85	0.8	Upload and resize images within maximum width/height
	200	170	0.8	Upload and resize images within maximum width/height
	310	255	0.8	Upload and resize images within maximum width/height
	420	340	0.8	Upload and resize images within maximum width/height
	530	425	0.8	Upload and resize images within maximum width/height

Images uploaded with scaling have _s and the scaling preset number appended to the file name. For example uploading an image named bike.jpg using the 3 scaling preset will result in a file named bike_s3.jpg. This allows you to upload the same image using different scaling factors without file name conflicts.

Setting Scaling Values

The scaling values can be set by your Site Administrator. Scaling can enforce maximum width and maximum height values, or apply a scale factor. Scale factors less than 1 reduce the size of an image, scale factors larger than 1 enlarge the image. In most cases setting the maximum width is recommended. This will ensure that images fit within the width of your site page templates.

Typically the scaling presets are configured to suit the site template size requirements allowing publishers to upload digital camera images and have them resized and compressed to fit the site templates size requirements.

Each of the 5 scaling presets is has an associated .properties file containing the scaling filter settings. These files are located in the /sys/cftags/assetnow/tools/jupload directory. For example the settings for resize option 1 are in the scale1.properties file.

The javaZOOM site has details of the setting parameters for the scaling filter.

Other Image Resizing Tools

Windows XP users can resize images using the Image Resizer available for free download as one of the Microsoft Power Toys for Windows XP. Once installed simply right-click on any image and select the Resize Pictures option. From there you can choose one from preset sizes suitable for specific screens or select the Advanced option to set a custom size.

FAQs

• Applet is not loading (grey box) when hosted under IIS , what should I do ?
  Basically, IIS settings don't allow to serve files with unknown extensions. IIS returns 404 error when jClientUpload tries to load i18n.properties. You have to update IIS settings to map .properties to text/plain mime-type. See instructions for IIS 4.x/5.x or 6.x.
• How to internationalize jClientUpload resources (messages, errors , ...) ?
  jClientUpload is ready for internationalization. First, enable "resources" parameter as explained above. i18n.properties will be the default resources file. Second, if you want jClientUpload to support multiple languages then add i18n_xy.properties translated files (with xy the ISO 639 language code such as : en, es, de, zh ...). For instance, to add German support :
      1. Copy i18n.properties into i18n_de.properties.
      2. Translate all resources into German in i18n_de.properties.
      3. Optionally, use JRE/bin/native2ascii.exe tool to convert extra characters.
  jClientUpload will automatically load i18n_de.properties if end-user settings are in German. If not then it will load i18n.properties.

See the javaZOOM jClientUpload FAQs for additional support information.