Image Transfer Module released...

[summer]

Introduction of the Image Transfer Module

A picture worths a thousand words. With the optional Image Transfer Module enabled, users are able to share pictures with each other to add spice and power to the conversation.

Admin can define the maximum file size for the image to be transferred, in xml configuration file. By default it's 1MB and you're recommended to restrict it to less than 1MB if the bandwidth consumption is your major concern, or if your server is not very powerful, or your server has limited space to store the pictures.

Users are allowed to share picture either in chat lobby or in private chat, admin can choose to enable or disable either one of them, in xml file.

For end users, the prerequisite to use this module is having flash player 8 or above, otherwise they will be guided to Macromedia website to download and install the latest flash player 9, free of charge.

At present, only JPG (JPEG) file can be transferred for the sake of security and efficiency.

The Image Transfer Module is packed in the demo version of v6.4, however, it's not available in 6.4 full version originally. The price of the Image Transfer Module is $99. Furthermore, the Image Transfer Module is recommended to be used in conjunction with the Moderated-Chat Module so that the Admin and the Moderators can filter nude pictures and keep things under control.
How to use this module ?

1. Button

The "image transfer" button is above the chat input area, besides the "predefined message" button.





2. Select a Picture

Click the button and an image browsing window will popup. Please bear in mind that only JPG(JPEG) file is supported.



To check previews before sending out images, tell your users to click "view menu"-> Thumbnails



Here is what we get,



A too big picture which exceeds the file transfer limit predefined by Admin will get an error notice: ��This picture is too large in filesize to be transfered, the file transfer limit is ***. Try to reduce it before transfering."

3.Image Loading Status



4.View Image

The image uploaded can be displayed in chat in two ways, the full picture or a simple image icon indicating a picture can be displayed by click. The setting can be altered by admin in xml configuration file.

If full picture,



If image icon, click the icon to view image.



the dimension of the chat box containing the picture is 450x305 pixels in standard chat client, and admin can define the maximum image size in server configuration file, depending on which chat client are you using in your website: the standard one or the full screen chat client. If the standard one, you probably can set it to 400x300 pixels.

If the width or the height of the uploaded picture exceeds the default value, the picture will be squeezed into the chat area, without keeping the aspect ratio.



You are also welcome to test the Image Transfer Module with our live supporters on the 123 Flash Chat demo site,
http://www.123flashchat.com/demo.html

Note:

If you already installed a full version of 123 flash chat and enabled the Image Transfer feature in the configuration file, but failed to turn it on, it is probably because you haven't bought and installed the Image Transfer Module yet.

you can then purchase the module here:
http://www.123flashchat.com/buy.html

[joy]

Image-Transfer Module Configuration Intructions

This module can be available after your purchase of the module key file,
and configure the xml file to launch it.

The code goes like this:

<image-transfer enableLobby="On" enablePrivate="On" uploadURL="" downloadURL="" maxUPLoadSize="1024" imageHeight="200" imageWidth="200" allowGuest="Off" autoLoadImage="Off"></image-transfer>

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Explaination of the parameters in the code above
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- enableLobby: To enable or disable transfer image(support file type: JPG, JPEG) in lobby chat window,
- enablePrivate: To enable or disable transfer image(support file type: JPG, JPEG) in private chat window.

about uploadURL and downloadURL, we need to clarify how the module works, it's not user to user image file transfer essentially, but one user upload picture to server, and others download picture from server to watch, that's why uploadURL and downloadURL will be involved.

- uploadURL: To configure the URL of the picture upload application. You can use your own upload server (apache, tomcat, etc.) or use the default 123flashchat http server. If you user 123flashchat server, leave the uploadURL's value empty. If your own server, the format is like this: "http://www.123flashchat.com/upload.php".
Following formats are supported: PHP, ASP, asp.net, JSP, etc. And we offer samples of the four mentioned formats, check the attachment package.
You're strongly recommended not to change this value if you don't really know what you're doing. Change it only when your concern is that too many picture upload will affect the chat server performance or cause slow speed in sharing picture and only when you do have professional technical support.

- downloadURL: To configure the destinate folder that the file will be downloaded, you can use your own download server (apache, tomcat, etc...) or use 123flashchat http server, if you user 123flashchat server, you must leave the downloadURL's value empty. If your own server, then it's like "http://www.123flashchat.com/upload", no slash behind.
You're strongly recommended not to change this value if you don't really know what you're doing! (To ensure the downloadURL is configured in a right way, you can test in browser with downloadURL+ picture name.)

- maxUPLoadSize: The maximum file size of each picture to be shared. Measurement Unit: KB. By default it's 1024KB.
This value must be less than the value maxUPLoadSize in <123flashchat installed directory>/server/etc/fcserver.xml, if the value <= 0, then image transfer function is disabled.

- imageHeight: the max height of the picture, whether in the lobby or in the private chat window.
- imageWidth: the max width of the picture, whether in the lobby or in the private chat window.

- allowGuest: The setting that the unregistered guest can upload file or not. Recommended setting: OFF.
- autoLoadImage: To enable or disable auto-loading an image and display it in the chat window to all chat users. If disabled, the users will get an alert message instead of loading the image from server directly. Recommended setting: OFF, unless there are only a few chat users in your chat rooms.

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Frequently Problems
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FAQ1 * "I/0 error" always occurs when trying to share a picture?
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Answer: Most likely the error is caused by following reason:
- wrong configuration of "httpserver" in the "client.xml" will result in I/0 error.

Other errors will probably occur due to one of the two reasons below:
- wrong setting in uploadURL will cause onHttpError.
- "crossdomain.xml" is missing in the root directory of the httpserver will result in onSecurityError.

And very important, please be sure you've already upgraded your chat server to the latest v6.4,
because image transfer module is developed based on 6.4.
6.4 needs to be re-installed on 6.4 demo, and then update xml files,
not by simply replacing jar file key.

FAQ2 * Why we need to bother to configure httpserver?
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Answer: httpserver is useful in two ways:
1: As the server to connect via proxy.
2: As the server of the image-transfer function.

FAQ3 * How to configure "http-server" in "fcserver.xml"?
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in the "fcserver.xml", the default code is:
<http-server ip="*" port="30205" enable="On" documentRoot="..\client" maxUPLoadSize="1024"></http-server>

The value of the "documentRoot" must exist before you can put it here,
otherwise the http-server can't be started to support image transfer function.

FAQ4 * How to configure "httpserver" in "client.xml"?
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in client.xml, the default code:
<httpServer host="*" port="35555" enable="false"/>
host means the address of the httpserver which connect to the chat server,
it should be identical with the IP address of the http-server in "fcserver.xml".
Then IP address or domain name? That depends,
if you need the function to connect chat server via proxy, then domain name, which directs to the IP address;
if only need impage-transfer function, then IP address would be fine, and corresponding domain name is okay too.

FAQ5 * Do I have to configure "http-server" in "fcserver.xml",
and "httpserver" in "client.xml" as long as
the downloadURL and uploadURL are not left blank?
------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer: Not really, only when you need to connect to the chat server via proxy.

FAQ6 * Where can I get the "crossdomain.xml" to put to the httpserver root directory?
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Answer: "crossdomain.xml" can be found in the client folder of the install package.



If further questions after reading the tutorial, please write to support@123flashchat.com and our engineer will offer help.

[radiofreetexas]

Where do we get the samples of the upload.php file that's mentioned in this post?

[david_jiang]

In fact,you could leave everything blank to make it work as long as your use port 35555 as your http port and this port has not been blocked by the firewall.If you have purchased our license,you may try to contact our support at support@123flashchat.com