Images Not Showing Up

Vfxdude » BigFeature

Images Not Showing Up

(19 posts) (5 voices)

Started 2 years ago by petruh
Latest reply from raintree

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petruh
Member

I have isolated the issue and I believe the problem has to do with TimThumb. I have spent the past 4 days working on this theme and my progress is zero. There is no way to contact the author. Timthumb has been a topic on many themes problematic list.

First, why is the author using such a problematic plugin? The instructions on how to resolve the issue is not clear. I have tried the recommended timthumb troubleshooting list but still the issue remains. Author, please help! You are not easily contactable and I have wasted days.

Regards,
Peter

Posted 2 years ago #
marmot
Member

He gives answers to almost everyone on Themeforest (which is pretty nice as he has almost 800 customers). The few questions I had were usually dealt with in 24 hours.
How did you try to contact him ?

Can you be more specific and tell us how to reproduce your issue (to check if that's a theme and/or TimThumb bug or if it's only on your end) ?

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

Thanks for the reply marmot. I know the author is replying because I've read most of his replies to other customers. I'm simply frustrated because I can't seem to get my site to work as illustrated by the author's demo.

I have tried his website - there is no where to contact him. I have tried the themeforest.net and still I can't find his contact details. The most frustrating thing is that many customers seem to have the same problem I'm having. I wonder how many gave up in trying to get it to work. In most of the cases mentioned on themeforest.net the solution was taken offline, where the author asks the customer to email him via contact form. That is not very helpful for me. In addition, I can't find the contact form anywhere. If you know please let me know.

I think if I'm struggling with this for, now the 5th day. This is not as simple as it seems. The rating for this theme is definitely overrated on themeforest.net. It is a great looking theme that is why I don't want to give up but it is very frustrating. If it is this hard to implement it can't be a five star rating. There are many options on the net to change timthumb for other more reliable plugin to replace timthumb. I don't want to do it on my own and have to deal with upgrading issues later.

Anyway, I have posted my issues on themeforest.net (10hrs ago) and here. If you are correct I have another 14 hrs at the most to wait. The waiting for help is so frustrating. It is my fault I should have voiced my issues at the start. Now, having to wait for a response is hard. The author should address this in an upgrade if so many people are having the same issue.

Author, if you are there please help.

Regards,
Peter

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

I answer, but do not always reply right away, I'm very busy. The contact form is on my profile page on themeforest, but prefer if you post here or on themeforest. The advantage with the forum is that other users can answer too, like in this thread.

Timthumb is not a plugin, it is a php script. There are not so many alternatives, and most problems are user errors, not problems with the script. The images have to be wide enough, try with larger images, 1000px wide or something like that, then you know that timthumb must resize the image. A tip is to access the script directly to see if there is any problems. example: http://www.vfxdude.com/bigfeature/wp-content/themes/bigfeature/library/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/bigfeature/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/typography-design.jpg&w=528&zc=1

Then you can set the width manually to test the script.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

Admin, thank you so much for the reply. I'm sorry about the prior posts. I simply lost it (my mind). I see why now, I have so much trouble. I'm using wordpress mu - the content directory path is not the the same as what you have mentioned here. What do you suggest that I do?

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

It is possible to set the image path in Miscellaneous Settings (wordpress settings). There might be other issues with WPMU too. I have not tested it there...I might do it when I get time for it, but for now it's unsupported.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

It is good to know that I'm not going crazy. I appreciated the reply. It would really help a lot if you can look into it. I really do like your theme and I'm looking forward to using it.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

Admin, since you don't have time to look into it. I've found a post that has an outlined solution. http://www.binarymoon.co.uk/2009/10/timthumb-wordpress-mu/
My coding skill is not good enough to make use of it. However, it would be no problem for you at all. The author mentioned about creating a "function to grab the image path". The author suggested that the timthumb is not the issue but that the theme is not coded for WPMU. To make the adjustment - it is simply "to get the correct file path for the image."

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

yes, that would be a solution, but it works by setting the image path in Miscellaneous too? The theme is grabbing the attachment url from the wp API, so I kind of think it is strange wp is giving the wrong path. For now set the path in the settings, and then later I will look into WPMU compability issues.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

Sure! I will set the path in Miscellaneous. However, I must have looked a few times but can't seem to find the "Miscellaneous Settings (wordpress settings)". Can you let me know which area it is located in WPMU? Thank for all your time.

Posted 2 years ago #
landrews
Member

Just wanted to chime in here I had major issues with timthumb, eventually with vfx's help we determined it was a host issue (hostrocket in my case). After putting some pressure on the host and giving them the error reports they eventually fessed up that the issue was on their end and fixed it. VFX I don't know if you have but adding the instructions on how to access timthumb directly so you can get an error report would help.

FYI _ VFX helped me with this issue extensively even though it wasn't an issue with his code.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

Landrews, thanks for the message. I also hope that vfx will have the time and desire to work with me to make the theme work with WPMU. I'm sure there are lots of WPMU users out there who would love to use this theme.

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

Thanks for that Landrews.

I also helped a dude with a WPMU installation, the image problem was not the only issue, actually nothing worked as it should. I concluded that getting this theme to work on WPMU is a big job, and not worth it, since so few use it. I have never said anywhere that this theme works with wpmu, actually I have said that it does not, several times. Maybe this dude's wpmu installation was a server issue, and that it works better for others. If this image issue is the only problem then I can implement it, but not if there is 20 other requests after that to get it working on wpmu.

Posted 2 years ago #
petruh
Member

I'm sorry to hear that Admin. I wasn't aware that it was not compatible with wpmu until you mentioned here. I do understand your point of view - the payoff is just not worth it for you (too few users).

I'm sad regarding your decision because I have spent way too much time on this theme and in the end got nothing. I would much prefer to have the theme working on my site. However, with what you have said I will move on. I have contacted themeforum.net and requested a refund.

It is a good looking theme - good luck to you Admin.

Posted 2 years ago #
raintree
Member

hi - having a similar issue with images not showing. not using wpmu tho...

the image doesn't show, but the space for the image appears, and the link to the image works.

have ensured the image is bigger than 1000px...

must be timthumb - and it's mentioned above that it was an issue with the host. any further info on this that I can bring to my host (webcorelabs)?

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

what version of the theme are you using? The custom code for wpmu was added in the latest version (1.3.2).

Posted 2 years ago #
raintree
Member

Hello... Using 1.3.2, but I am not using wpmu.

Contacted my host service, and they are claiming it's an issue with the php code.
After viewing the errors, they say TimThumb is trying to make a directory with no name, chmod a file with no name, and touch a file with no name. There should be content in the parenthesis. So, it appears the values for cache_file and cache_dir are not being entered.

I suspect it's the settings on their servers, but at a bit of loss as to how to direct them further.

Anything you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Posted 2 years ago #
vfxdude
admin

check if the cache folder is created (in library/timthumb). if not create it and make it writable. Test timthumb by accessing it directly like this: http://www.vfxdude.com/bigfeature/wp-content/themes/bigfeature/library/timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/bigfeature/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/typography-design.jpg&w=528&zc=1

Posted 2 years ago #
raintree
Member

That was it. Awesome. Thank you very much for your help. It's a great theme and I'm glad I can use it now.

Posted 2 years ago #

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