Need input Please

ozsan · 11th May 2008, 10:30 PM

I'm not quite sure what I can do about my problem.
Some of my customers send me photos to restore ect over the internet. I have a quote form with an upload section for them to use but even though UH has helped the file upload limits are still too low for a lot of my customers. Because of the condition of a lot of the photos sent to me a scan of 600dpi is often helful but this creates a large file size and when they try to use the upload form it of-course fails. Some of them then email it to me, which is fine except for the fact that then I have to chase them for their details which I would have received if they had been able to use the form. Another problem is that some customers give up once they try the form and it fails and don't then email me the photos, losing me business.
I can't afford a dedicated server, I might as well go out of business if I had to go that way.
So what I really need is some really easy way of my customers sending me the large files. The reason it has to be really easy is that the majority of my customers are not computer savy and it's an achievement for a lot of them to actually scan the photo to send let alone navigate a complicated uploading system.
I hate to look outside of UH for a solution but as the megapixels of digital cameras and scan sizes increase I need a reliable way of receiving thses large files.
I hope you can understand what I need and somebody out there has some suggestions for me.
Thanks in advance
Sandra

MrBen · 11th May 2008, 11:14 PM

I think the first thing you need to do is break your photo submission down. First of all collect the customer information (contact details etc) and then give them the option to upload or send an email. At least then if they have problems getting the files to you, you will have their contact details saved.

With the email option, give them a code or number to include in the subject or body of the email so you can then link it back to their original submission. It is worth noting though that some providers do restrict the size of emails that can be sent.

When it comes to uploading, once you have their details try allowing only one file to be uploaded at a time and/or look at using something like JumpLoader. JumpLoader is Java based which some PCs might not have. I think Flash versions that provide similar functionality too which may be better as Flash is more widely available.

At the end of the day, HTTP wasn't designed for shifting large files about hence why you're having these issues. I don't think you'll fare much better outside of UH. Not because UH are amazing, it's just because what you're trying to achieve isn't simple.

Ben

ozsan · 12th May 2008, 06:42 AM

Thanks Mr Ben. If my customers use my current quote form I can get all the info I need but I can see what you mean. I could change the form to give them an option of uploading or emailing me. Not 100% sure how to do that at the moment but it's certainly worth thinking about.

I was thinking of maybe having the form go to a "large file" up load site but I don't want my customers to have to join or log into a site. I will have to keep looking for the perfect solution.
Thanks again
Sandra

ijl · 12th May 2008, 06:43 AM

I suggest a two step submission form as mentioned by MrBen.

In the second step, provide links (and if required instructions) to a couple of the easiest, free on-line large file sending services. There is a list of some of them here (make sure you check the comments out as there are many more shown there).

Some are very simple - it's just a case of finding the one or two which offer the right balance of ease-of-use, free non-subscription use, large file allowance, etc.

Simon · 12th May 2008, 06:57 AM

Code:

<form method="post" action="mailto:email@domain.com?Subject=Your Subject" enctype="text/plain">

Using the above will try and open up the users email program and complete the email body with the form contents.

I'm not sure how this works for people who use online email (hotmail/yahoo/gmail) but it might be an idea, you can still collect the users data, and then when the email opens up in Outlook they can attach the photo and send.

Simon

ijl · 12th May 2008, 05:27 PM

I wouldn't use an email link like that, as Oxsan said " ... majority of my customers are not computer savy ..." the likelyhood is that they use their ISP's email address, on-line email and home page. If they click on the link to a 'post' form it will open their PC's standard associated email client, which is likely to be Outlook Express for most Window's users, which they won't have set up with their POP email account.

So they'll get a programme opening up they've never used, which is not configured, and so just throws up a 'do you want configure this programme?' message - which will probably mean they are put them off the whole idea and decide to give up!

vord · 12th May 2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijl

they'll get a programme opening up they've never used, which is not configured, and so just throws up a 'do you want configure this programme?' message - which will probably mean they are put them off the whole idea and decide to give up!

That's something I've never thought of - very good point.

Does anyone know what the new upload limits are with UH and PHP5? And what controls them? I've found them to be related to pixel size rather than file size in the past, though that might be just to do with things like GD and imagemagic.

MrBen · 12th May 2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vord

That's something I've never thought of - very good point.

Does anyone know what the new upload limits are with UH and PHP5? And what controls them? I've found them to be related to pixel size rather than file size in the past, though that might be just to do with things like GD and imagemagic.

I would look at the following two for starters...

upload_max_filesize - PHP: Description of core php.ini directives - Manual

maximum script execution time - PHP: set_time_limit - Manual

Ben

percepts · 13th May 2008, 01:48 PM

There is a way of bypassing the uploading filesize limit but it requires using PHP FTP and I'm not sure whether that has an impact on server performance because its PHP based.
Would need some comment from UH on this before spilling the beans on this one as I would not be popular if it hammers server performance. It does require upping the POST_MAX_SIZE limit as well as overiding other limits but it worked for me yesterday when I tried it on 12MB files.

ozsan · 13th May 2008, 10:41 PM

Most of my customers are older people and I find that if you confront them with something a little difficult they simply give up and try to find somebody who provides an easy option.
ijl said

Quote:

I suggest a two step submission form as mentioned by MrBen.

In the second step, provide links (and if required instructions) to a couple of the easiest, free on-line large file sending services. There is a list of some of them here (make sure you check the comments out as there are many more shown there).

Some are very simple - it's just a case of finding the one or two which offer the right balance of ease-of-use, free non-subscription use, large file allowance, etc.

I think that is the way I will have to go. UH generously upped my upload allowance to 12mb but that is still not enough and I'm getting comments from customers a couple of times a week saying they cannot upload with my quote form. Luckily I have given them instructions to send photo by email if this happens but as I said before when they email they don't give me all of their details. :-(

quote form Photo Renovate - Professional Photo Restoration and Retouching

Thanks for all of your input
Sandra

Vger · 14th May 2008, 11:54 AM

Every website has access to its own local php.ini where the Post Max File Size can be reset. The Max Script Execution Time can also be reset there, or in the script itself.

Vger

percepts · 14th May 2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vger

Every website has access to its own local php.ini where the Post Max File Size can be reset. The Max Script Execution Time can also be reset there, or in the script itself.

Vger

That may be true, but in itself it won't work because of other limitations.

Vger · 15th May 2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

That may be true, but in itself it won't work because of other limitations.

An explanation of these "other limitations" would be useful.

Vger

percepts · 15th May 2008, 03:44 PM

I refer you to my earlier post. And besides, your dedicated sever is only bound by the limitations you set for it unlike the rest of us on shared servers who have to abide by the UH policy designed not to allow any one user to hammer the sever..

Vger · 17th May 2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

not to allow any one user to hammer the sever

If the website is very active and Max Post Size and Max Execution time are drastically increased then it can impact on a shared server.

However if the site is not that active then it should not impact.

UH do not put a blanket ban on people editing those settings in their local php.ini files. They would only act if it did cause a problem.

Vger

percepts · 17th May 2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vger

If the website is very active and Max Post Size and Max Execution time are drastically increased then it can impact on a shared server.

However if the site is not that active then it should not impact.

UH do not put a blanket ban on people editing those settings in their local php.ini files. They would only act if it did cause a problem.

Vger

In that case change your Max Post Size and Max Execution time and don't worry about it.

TygerTyger · 17th May 2008, 06:37 PM

I would suggest Mr Ben's method rather than editing php.ini, which is not particularly appropriate in most cases. Editing the .ini values in script instead allows for portability, gives easier access to changes and prevents your script and any others on the site from running away with excess resources, obviously very important on a shared server. You can raise the value immediately before you need it and then reset it afterwards to be safe.

PHP Code:

  ini_set('max_execution_time', '60');
ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '16M');

YOUR SCRIPT HERE

ini_restore('max_execution_time');
ini_restore('upload_max_filesize');

Change the numbers to suit, of course.

percepts · 17th May 2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TygerTyger

I would suggest Mr Ben's method rather than editing php.ini, which is not particularly appropriate in most cases. Editing the .ini values in script instead allows for portability, gives easier access to changes and prevents your script and any others on the site from running away with excess resources, obviously very important on a shared server. You can raise the value immediately before you need it and then reset it afterwards to be safe.

PHP Code:

  ini_set('max_execution_time', '60');

ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '16M');

 
YOUR SCRIPT HERE

 
ini_restore('max_execution_time');

ini_restore('upload_max_filesize');

Change the numbers to suit, of course.

so which server are you on that has not got php running in cgi mode?

ozsan · 18th May 2008, 12:26 AM

UH have already generously given me a maximum of 12mb but that is still not enough. I think I will have to go with an outside upload system. The problem I am having is getting one that does not require my customers to either join or log in to. I'm happy to pay but can't afford some of the options, some are as high as $99 per month and that's more than I earn in restorations. So I'm still looking and contacing the file sharing sites but I have very limited internet access at the moment (I'm staying a a friend's house for a couple of weeks and can't use all of their internet allowance) so it's taking longer than I would like I'll just keep looking.

percepts · 18th May 2008, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozsan

UH have already generously given me a maximum of 12mb but that is still not enough. I think I will have to go with an outside upload system. The problem I am having is getting one that does not require my customers to either join or log in to. I'm happy to pay but can't afford some of the options, some are as high as $99 per month and that's more than I earn in restorations. So I'm still looking and contacing the file sharing sites but I have very limited internet access at the moment (I'm staying a a friend's house for a couple of weeks and can't use all of their internet allowance) so it's taking longer than I would like I'll just keep looking.

You should set up a new user in your account with ftp access. Then read up on PHP FTP because in theory, once it has made the ftp connection to your user account, everything happens via ftp and not http. That way you can upload any file size without using http. I think the php task controlling it will only be waiting for the ftp put to finish so it will use minimal resource. So providing UH will remove the limits for you on PHP FTP, then there is no reason why you can't do it from your site. But you have to read up on how to do it first. There is plenty of info on the web.