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Is it possible combining Backlight with a Wordpress website?
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yes. You'll be able to use the Backlight core to create albums and albums sets with any existing site (assuming the server meets Backlight requirements)
But, at the moment there is no integration with WordPress. You can't use the WordPress nav menu with Backlight like you can with CE4 via phplugins. Yet.
But as stand-alone albums, yes, Backlight can fit right in.
(Matt has indicated that other Backlight modules are planned, including WordPress)
Last edited by rod barbee (2016-05-03 00:05:11)
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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no integration with WordPress
I'm not clear what this means, but it sounds like Backlight is not an option for me. I need to add my photo gallaries to my existing WordPress site. I did this using the PHP Plugins to add my site's navigation and custom CSS so the TTG's look matched.
How can stand-alone albums "fit right in" if I can't have my sites existing menus/navigation integrated?
Today I have my WordPress site include a menu for Photos. That page is generated by the TTG Plugins. I have TTG navigation and header disabled. The TTG Plugins simply generate the pages content, within a simple wrapper I created using the PHP Plugin.
Are you saying this isn't possible? Sounds like you're saying Blacklight creates it's own navigation menus, and going from my existing site to the Blacklight page would be like going to a different web site.
Any more details on how to integrate Backlight with an existing WordPress site?
--Jim
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Hi Jim,
For now, Backlight can be used alongside your WordPress site. We plan to release a Backlight-based WordPress theme later in the year.
Using PHPlugins, you can probably do things similar to what you've done with CE4, insofar as bringing the WordPress menu into Backlight, etc. I haven't spent a lot of time testing or developing for that yet, but it's something I'd like to support when we release our own theme, so we're moving in that direction.
PHPlugins can be used to replace header and footer content as well.
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For now I tend to postpone migration from CE4 until a Backlight-based WP-Theme will be available and then aproach a complete overhaul of my historically grown WP+CE4-Pages+CRG+Galleries+Autoindex Setup.
Will the Theme be out within the discount period or should I consider asking for an offer before?
I don't want to push You and have always appreciated that You make announcements responsibly.
Just don't want to miss the opportunity.
Yours kindly
Michael
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It should be released before Backlight discounts expire for CE4 users.
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Hi Matthew / Rod
Thanks for your prompt responses.
As it happens, I have actually just changed my website from HTML to Wordpress. I'm a novice when it comes to developing this so I wonder if you could help me set up backlight as a separate page where I can create a link from my current site to a dedicated directory in my website.
Here's what I'm looking to achieve.
I do a lot of headshots for a casting agency and have to upload all the images onto separate "password protected" galleries for clients to purchase only the images they like.
To upload them individually using CE3 (which is my current version) is time consuming
Please let me know if this is a simple process which I can do or if i require your assistance. If you have specific instructions i'm happy to give it a go. I don't want to try again as I did something wrong last week when I tried and crashed my website.
Thank you in advance!
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It should be easy, just refer to the installation documentation.
You’ll install the backlight/ folder in the root of your site and the galleries/ folder at the same server level. Backlight will control what goes into that galleries/ folder, the rest of your site remains as is.
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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As Rod says. This page explains how you might put Backlight and Wordpress together:
http://backlight.theturninggate.net/doc … ress_setup
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I'm a novice when it comes to developing this so I wonder if you could help me set up backlight as a separate page where I can create a link from my current site to a dedicated directory in my website.
Robert,
Yes, you can do all you ask about and more. I have Backlight and the Wordpress theme. The site's design is done in Backlight, and it will export the design for you to use in Wordpress.
Once you have the site designed, you'll only need to go to Wordpress to add a non-photo page, write blog posts, etc. You'll manage all your photos from LightRoom.
You're doing something similar to what I've done. I have all my publically published photos in a single location. I have a few private sections in their own directories, including one for client proofs. You have the option for making those password protected if you wish.
For client proofs I use the fantastic Client Response add-on. I also have a couple other private sections that are only available by invitation. There's the Cart add-on where you can setup images to sell.
There's the new Backlight web pages for administration, replacing the cumbersome method previously used within Lightroom's web module.
Once the site's design is complete, all of your photo management can be done within Lightroom. I have well over 100 galleries/directories, and each of them have 10-100 photos in them. All of that is being managed entirely within Lightroom by clicking and dragging images.
How easy or difficult all this is depends on your level of skill. If you wrote your current site in HTML, you should have enough knowledge to complete it. Getting a basic Wordpress site built is pretty straightforward. Designing your Backlight pages is even easier, especially if you know HTML and CSS.
I think the answer to how difficult this is really comes down to how well you understand web servers, browsers, and HTML. Understanding that will be a big help. Most of the grief comes as a result of venturing off the well-trodden path. If you're skilled enough you can do compelling and creative things.
There's plenty of people here to provide help, and I'll keep my eye out for your questions too.
I've nearly completed my own site which is very close to what you're asking for. I'd like to off load some of the great effort by the moderators. They've helped me over the years! I've been using TTG since the first release. I tend to dig deeper that most, and get into far corners I'm anxious to finish a few final pieces and show off my new site.
--Jim
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Hi Guys, I'm really sorry to be a pain again. I love all of the TTG products, I've been using them for a couple of years and just recently decided to purchase Backlight.
I just wish a system this difficult to integrate would come with remote support.
I've messed up my website again and had to start from scratch to bring trying to install Backlight.
I know you didn't cause this as your system works great when installed correctly but not all of us are programmers.
Is there a way someone could help me remotely with this. I've tried going by your instructions and have followed them step by step but it didnt' seem to work for me.
Rather than refer me back to your installation guide I would appreciate a more helpful resolution.
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Could you please clarify where you're having a problem with the setup? At one point are things falling down for you?
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Thanks for your fast responses.
Not being repetitive but as I attempted to install Backlight twice on my cPanel website I'm worried to try again.
I use JustHost.com for my web hosting
I use latest Lightroom version (legal)
I also have Cart Version: 2.1.2
I also have CRG but don't use anymore.
Thus far I've been ussing CE3 Gallery to publish my photos which I love but for bulk publishing I see Backlight seems to be the new way forward.
I'm more than happy to set up a temporary password for someone to get into my cPanel and set it up.
I'd also like clients to be able to purchase the images which I publish.
Thank you for your patients and help
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I'd recommend avoiding the cPanel. Instead, use an FTP client. If you've never done so before, we have a good primer to get you going:
http://backlight.theturninggate.net/doc … otocol_ftp
There are free FTP clients available, such as FileZilla. As you're self-managing your website, you really should have FTP under your belt. It's not terribly complicated; very similar to copying files and folders between locations on your desktop.
Beyond this, I'm still not clear on where you're getting hung up. Is the problem just that you've been unable to get Backlight uploaded properly, or are you having some difficulty in the setup?
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Hi Matthew,
I've installed Backlight which seems okay now but where do I get the wordpress Add from?
I've just realized why my website get's ruined by backlight, it's because your backlight system has a the index file which ovrerrides the existing PHP index file of my website. - Can the index file be renamed? I guess it's just for setting up backlight...
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The WordPress add-on is available in the store under Add-ons
http://theturninggate.net/product-colle … backlight/
You'll need to install WordPress on your site too.
http://backlight.theturninggate.net/doc … ress_setup
Have you purchased and installed the WordPress Add-on?
I've just realized why my website get's ruined by backlight, it's because your backlight system has a the index file which ovrerrides the existing PHP index file of my website. - Can the index file be renamed? I guess it's just for setting up backlight...
If you've already got a site running, then you don't need the index.php file that comes with the Pages add-on. (and you don't need Pages, for that matter)
If you're using Backlight just for managing your image galleries, all you need to upload it the backlight/ folder. And you'll need a folder at the same server level to hold your albums.
What kind of setup do you have? Can you post a link to your site?
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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HI Rod
I didn't have WordPres add-on but purchased it after Matthew pointed it out.
My website is www.robertmecajphotography.com
I'm now going to attempt to install wordpress add-on
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since you're site is WordPress-based, and assuming you want to keep it that way, just install the backlight/ and the galleries/ folders in the root of the site. You don't need the index.php or .htaccess files that are part of the Pages add-on (from what you wrote above I'm guessing you have the Pages add-on)
Log in to Backlight and go through the settings. When you get to the WordPress Settings section, the WordPress URL will be the root of your site: http://robertmecajphotography.com/, again assuming that you want your site run by WordPress and your albums managed by Backlight.
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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Hi Rod,
I was hoping I'd be able to publish albums to the same theme as the rest of my website.
It looks like wordpress-add on is to create new themes which does not appeal to me as I already have a theme I'm happy with and would like to keep it - again another expense I didn't need.
To be frank at this stage I i'm not to fussed about the appearance of the gallery. I just shot 50 clients headshots over the weekend and need these published within 1 week. I need them to be able to buy their images. what is the best way to get it working with my cart?
cart is located in my public_html
and so is backlight
Thank you in advance Rod
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Do you have the TTG Backlight Cart add-on? that's the only way to sell your images with the TTG Backlight albums.
Cart docs are here: http://backlight.theturninggate.net/docs/doku.php#cart
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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I already have TTG Cart which i use with TTG CE3 Gallery which as been working great
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That won't work with Backlight. You'll either need to use a CE3 Gallery or update to the Backlight version of Cart.
Rod
Just a user with way too much time on his hands.
www.rodbarbee.com
ttg-tips.com, Backlight 2/3 test site
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Hi Matthew,
I've installed Backlight which seems okay now but where do I get the wordpress Add from?
I've just realized why my website get's ruined by backlight, it's because your backlight system has a the index file which ovrerrides the existing PHP index file of my website. - Can the index file be renamed? I guess it's just for setting up backlight...
See this page of documentation for the Wordpress Add-on, explaining how to co-mingle Backlight with Wordpress:
http://backlight.theturninggate.net/doc … ress_setup
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It looks like wordpress-add on is to create new themes which does not appeal to me as I already have a theme I'm happy with and would like to keep it - again another expense I didn't need.
To be frank at this stage I i'm not to fussed about the appearance of the gallery. I just shot 50 clients headshots over the weekend and need these published within 1 week. I need them to be able to buy their images. what is the best way to get it working with my cart?
Robert, before proceeding further, please contact me via email regarding the Wordpress and Cart Add-ons. You can reach me using the Email link beneath my picture, if my address is not already in your contacts.
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