Captions for Multimedia Box

[grandall]

I would love it if I could specify image captions for the multimedia box on the Thesis Options page.

I'm using the image rotator to display images from my work, and it would be great if I could have a short caption that is integrated with the frame and changes with the image to explain what each image is.

See http://grandall.org to see what I mean.

[kingdomgeek]

grandall: I see that you're already using the ALT tags for random images; you can make them your captions if you're willing to modify a core file.

Open lib/functions/multimedia_box_functions.php and find this:

    echo '<img ' . $images[$random_image]['class'] . 'src="' . $images[$random_image]['url'] . '" alt="' . $images[$random_image]['alt'] . '" />' . "\n";

In a new line after it, add this:

    echo '<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.786em;">' . $images[$random_image]['alt'] . '</p>' . "\n";

The included style is just a suggestion; feel free to adjust it to suit your needs.

[grandall]

That worked beautifully, thanks!

Of course, I'd still like to see it added as a feature so I don't have to tweak any core files.

[kingdomgeek]

grandall: That's entirely up to Chris, but I'm glad that the posted code works for you!

[metroknow]

So I can't believe that I don't know the answer to this, but how are you adding alt text to each image? I would normally insert it in the html when I embed an image in a page, but it seems like what you're saying is that you've saved each image with an embedded alt text attribute...Is that true? If so, how?

Thanks much - I know this is off-topic for Thesis, but I want to use this caption technique but can't figure out where to put the alt-text. . .

Thanks!

[cricket66]

Grandall, how did you incorporate Amazon store directly into your blog? Looks great!

[steph]

Could we go even further with this? The photos I've put in my rotator are from Flickr. I'd love to be able to display the photo in the rotator, and have a caption below it linking to the original Flickr photo page.

Ideas, anyone?

[sister]

I had it working in THesis 1.1 but now the captions are gone. What happened? I don't see where to add that code in the lib/functions/multimedia_box_functions.php. What up?

[sister]

Can you tell me the Thesis 1.2 solution for adding Captions to photos in the Rotator?

[kingdomgeek]

Editing core files is in no way encouraged at this point, though if you want to brave it, open up /lib/functions/multimedia_box_functions.php and find this:

PHP Code:

if ($image_alt_tags[$random_image])
        $images[$random_image]['alt'] = $image_alt_tags[$random_image]; 


Replace it with this:

PHP Code:

if ($image_alt_tags[$random_image]) {
        $images[$random_image]['alt'] = $image_alt_tags[$random_image];
        $caption = '<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.786em;">' . $images[$random_image]['alt'] . '</p>' . "\n";
    } 


Then this:

PHP Code:

echo $link_before . $img . $link_after; 


with this:

PHP Code:

echo $link_before . $img . $link_after . $caption;