Im thoroughly lost...

bsleeter · 2013-12-25 05:09:23

Well, I am not sure what to do at this point. I am new to Lightroom, so a lot of my frustration seems to come from that. But in terms of getting TTG Ce up and running, I am not sure where to go. I have done my best, several times, of working through the tutorials and documentation and each time I get a little further along, but at this point I think I either need to get some hands on help, or just default back to Wordpress for everything. Here is what I am trying to set up.

Wordpress to handle all aspects of my site except image galleries.
Use TTG CE to handle publishing galleries and then be able to sell images of those photos.

If I use Wordpress do I have to use the TTG Wordpress theme, or can I use a different Wordpress theme?

Does not sound to complicated but I am just not skilled enough to be able to get this set up. Can anybody either point me to a more streamlined version of the tutorial, or perhaps there is someone out there that wants to do the set up?

Feeling lost and discouraged here...

rod barbee · 2013-12-25 06:23:51

If I use Wordpress do I have to use the TTG Wordpress theme, or can I use a different Wordpress theme?

No, you can use any Wordpress theme you want. The Galleries are stand-alone and don't depend on any particular site construction. However, if you want the styling in the rest of your site to match that of the galleries, the easiest way to achieve that is with the TTG Theme for Wordpress plug-in.
If you're trying to follow Matt's Wordpress tutorial, you'll need Theme for Wordpress and the Auitoindex.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish? If you just need galleries, you can create those in Lightroom and upload them to the server. In Wordpress you'd just need to add a link to them.
If you also need a "landing page" where people can go to to find all your galleries and then click on a link to go to the gallery, then also getting TTG CE3 Autoindex will take care of that.

Though not a tutorial, this might help explain how TTG Galleries and Indexes work with each other:
http://www.barbeephoto.com/blog/the-bas … -plug-ins/

But if you could be clearer about what you're trying to accomplish, we can offer better advice.

bsleeter · 2013-12-25 07:10:20

Thanks Rod. And sorry in advance for my level of ignorance. Getting my head around these various concepts has been difficult.

I am designing this site from scratch. I am happy to use the TTG Wordpress theme. In fact, I settled on using the template "Paper" they provide. I would then like to be able to create various galleries using LR and let LR handle the updating and transfer of the images to my site. Additionally, I would like to have some of the blog features associated with Wordpress.

I purchased the Gallery and Wordpress package (no Pages). Once I get this up I will add the shopping cart option as well so customers can order prints.

Seems pretty straight forward?

I am following the Wordpress guide here: http://ce3wiki.theturninggate.net/doku. … _publisher

But I find myself getting lost between the web engine and the template creation. I currently have a template folder for "My Website" and it has three templates (CE3 Paper Autoindex, CE3 - Paper Gallery, and TTG Wordpress (which I hacked to provide the style associated with the paper template). The three all share the same styling now.

I was just able to export the Autoindex template to a web gallery which I uploaded via ftp. I then changed the PHP folder name as instructed. Now, if I make a change to my auto index styling, and update the template, will the changes be made to the exported web gallery that I exported previously? I have to keep making the same changes over and over because settings I make in LR do not seem to be saved?? This is one part I do not understand. How can I preserve the work I have done until now?

bsleeter · 2013-12-25 07:14:37

Given my three templates (Wordpress, Autoindex, and Gallery) should I do all my design using the Wordpress template first? Do I need to repeat all that styling for the other two templates?

bsleeter · 2013-12-25 08:13:57

Another quick update. I am making progress.

I know have my Wordpress site running with a Home and Gallery page. I was also able to create and publish a gallery. The index shows perfectly as do the thumbnails for each of the photos in the gallery. However, when clicking on an image it will not open and show the larger version.

Now I really see the POWER of these tools!

http://satelliteearthart.com

rod barbee · 2013-12-25 08:17:30

You can start your design in any of the engines and then just share the settings between User Templates you can create. Looks like you've already seen how to do that.

Or you can just use the Paper template for Gallery and Autoindex as well.

I would then like to be able to create various galleries using LR and let LR handle the updating and transfer of the images to my site.

this is exactly what the Publisher was created for. Otherwise you can simply export and upload your galleries via FTP (don't use Lightroom's Upload feature, it can be buggy).

But I find myself getting lost between the web engine and the template creation.

Are you referring to this part about creating Autoindex and Gallery templates?
If so, the term "Templates" gets used in two ways. First, User Templates, and the Themed Templates that Matt has provided, are templates for the web engine itself. They are saved settings that will give you a different look with each template.
On the other hand, Gallery and Autoindex Templates in the context of TTG Publisher are actual exported galleries or autoindexes that act as an online template for Albums and Album Sets created in Publisher.
It can get kind of confusing when referring to templates as it's all about the context. And if you're new to all this (not to mention Lightroom) it can be doubly confusing.
So just remember, if a tutorial is talking about Publisher templates, then that refers to a Gallery or Autoindex that has been Exported out of the Web Module.

Templates in the Template Browser can be used to design your galleries and indexes (or Wordpress Themes) in Lightroom

Now, if I make a change to my auto index styling, and update the template, will the changes be made to the exported web gallery that I exported previously?

yes, just upload it again as you did in the first place.

I have to keep making the same changes over and over because settings I make in LR do not seem to be saved?? This is one part I do not understand. How can I preserve the work I have done until now?

There are a couple of ways to save your settings. One is to create a User Template in the Template Browser.
The other is to save whatever collection you're using in the Web Module as Web Gallery.
In the upper right hand corner of the Lightroom preview area you'll see a button titled "Create Saved Web Gallery"

The catch with doing this is that Lightroom will remember your last settings, which can be great. But if you accidentally do something you didn't want to do and then go to another collection, you last settings will be saved. (if you do make a mistake you can use CTRL or CMD-Z to undo)

Community @ The Turning Gate

#1 2013-12-25 05:09:23

Im thoroughly lost...

#2 2013-12-25 06:23:51

Re: Im thoroughly lost...

#3 2013-12-25 07:10:20

Re: Im thoroughly lost...

#4 2013-12-25 07:14:37

Re: Im thoroughly lost...

#5 2013-12-25 08:13:57

Re: Im thoroughly lost...

#6 2013-12-25 08:17:30

Re: Im thoroughly lost...

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