Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

This is the place where we can all meet and speak about whatever is on the mind.
User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

New community members often ask how to include screenshots or other images in their posts. Hopefully the following tips will be helpful. :)

Embedding an image

1. Make sure that the image is saved in .jpg or .png format. Many image editing programmes including Paint which is installed by default as part of Microsoft Windows can be used to do this.

2. Upload the image (or images) to a file/image sharing service. There are many free ones available such as Dropbox, Flickr, Photobucket and Imgur. This Wikipedia page provides a list of the most popular ones.

3. Copy the hyperlink of the uploaded image. Typically, image sharing sites have a 'share' option which allows you to display and copy the image link. It may also be necessary to set the link as publically viewable.

4. Paste the copied link into your image post and it should automatically be converted into a clickable image link such as...

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/v197wb6q86kbg6 ... t.jpg?dl=0

5. If you wish to embed the image so that it is visible in your forum post without clicking a link, you must use "Img" tags. Highlight your pasted link and click the "Img" button above the message body window to enclose the link within "Img" tags as follows...

Code: Select all

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/s/v197wb6q86kbg69/My%20screenshot.jpg?dl=0[/img]
Tip for Dropbox users
Users of the Dropbox service will find that a 'shared' link ends with dl=0. In order to embed the image using "Img" tags, you must manually edit the 0 to a 1 that it reads dl=1. Alternatively, you can change the "www" part of the link to "dl".

Tip for OneDrive users
A similar technique can be used to edit Microsoft OneDrive public links so that they can be embedded using "Img" tags. Manually edit the pasted link so that instead of reading https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid, the first part reads https://onedrive.live.com/download?resid instead.

Thumbnail images
If you wish to link a thumbnail image to a larger version of the same image as below (or a file), you must save both the thumbnail and the main image and use the "Img" and "url" tags as follows...

Code: Select all

[url=https://dl.dropbox.com/s/v197wb6q86kbg69/My%20screenshot.jpg?dl=0][img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/nm9xrcqs1i7clfp/My%20thumbnail.jpg?dl=1[/img][/url]
Image



Embedding a Youtube video

Videos posted on the Youtube site can also be embedded in forum posts.

1. Copy the link to the video from the address bar of your web browser. Do not use the shortened "youtu.be" format of the link available by clicking the share icon.

2. Paste the link into your forum post. It should look something like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA

3. Copy and paste the link and when it's highlighted, click the "B" button above the message body window. Then edit the "bold tags" to convert them to "youtube tags" as follows...

Code: Select all

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA[/youtube]
Hope this is helpful, :wink:
Nick
A2A Simulations Inc.

User avatar
Oracle427
Chief Master Sergeant
Posts: 3916
Joined: 02 Sep 2013, 19:30
Location: 3N6
Contact:

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Oracle427 »

Make this a sticky!
Flight Simmer since 1983. PP ASEL IR Tailwheel
N28021 1979 Super Viking 17-30A

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Thanks Oracle and thanks for the pinning too guys. :) Here's a bit more info which may be of interest to those of us who have a Gmail account and wish to use the free Google Drive storage space (15 GB at time of posting) for posting images on the forum.

Tip for Google Drive users
By default, the embedding options in Google Drive don't allow an image to be displayed in a forum post using "Img" tags. However, as explained in this posting, a third party service has been created which allows us to do just that. Using the http://gdURL.com website, it's possible to create an embeddable permalink to images stored in your Google Drive account. This video below explains the few steps needed...




The basic embedded hyperlink format in this case would be as follows...

Code: Select all

[img]https://gdurl.com/f6O7[/img]
Here's an example of a (clickable) image hosted on Google Drive using this technique...

Image

One advantage of this service is that the permalink is independent of the location where you've stored the file. Therefore you can rename or rearrange folders and the link will still work.

Cheers,
Nick
A2A Simulations Inc.

RodSully
Airman First Class
Posts: 62
Joined: 29 Apr 2015, 15:40

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by RodSully »

This may be a "stupid" question, but that has never held me back! :shock: I have searched and not found out how to create the thumbnail image in dropbox so that it can be saved to the post/reply box here. Can you help?

Never mind. I got it. Thanks
A2A 172
A2A 180

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Hey Rod,

One thing to note is that Dropbox doesn't have a native thumbnail 'feature' in the way that specialised image hosting sites like Photobucket do. (I don't think it does anyway...) With sites like Photobucket, you can often choose a maximum dimension for embedded images to save bandwith. By default, the generated link typically takes you to a larger version of the image (and generally some ads) within the poster's 'album'.

The method of posting a thumbnail using Dropbox that I described above involves creating and saving another smaller copy of the image yourself. It's a bit fiddly and I wouldn't normally bother unless I had some reason to link massive full size images.

Cheers,
Nick
A2A Simulations Inc.

User avatar
Piper_EEWL
Chief Master Sergeant
Posts: 4544
Joined: 26 Nov 2014, 14:14
Location: Germany

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Piper_EEWL »

Nice description Nick. Haven't seen this before :roll: Good to know it's there in case someone asks how to...?

Thanks!
B377&COTS, J3 Cub, B-17G, Spitfire, P-40, P-51D, C172, C182, Pa28, Pa24, T-6 Texan, L-049&COTS, Bonanza V35B

User avatar
crazac
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 507
Joined: 02 Sep 2014, 12:05

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by crazac »

Yea Nick. Great post. The YouTube thing was giving me trouble in the beginning.

I use Google and I thought I'd add to your Google option. I hope you don't mind.
They used to let you share and it was easy, but, then they had to go and changed it. So, I said, challenge accepted! The deal is, you can still do it without the 3rd party option, however, it takes a little work. Similar to YouTube. I'll try to explain below.

1. Once your photos are in Google Drive: Right click one and select SHARE.
Image

2. The images have to be set to PUBLIC ON THE WEB.
a. Click ADVANCED down on the right.
Image

b. Under "Who has access" click CHANGE on the right
Image

c. Select PUBLIC ON THE WEB. then SAVE
Image

d. COPY the HIGHLIGHTED LINK and paste it somewhere. I usually put it in the post window temporarily. Reason being Google makes you copy the whole thing instead of only the part we need.
Image

3. THE FANCY PART
a. Use the forums "Img" insert button above the post window. As usual.
b. Then you need to paste the following link between the img tags.
https://googledrive.com/host/
c. ADD only PART of the Google image link, from step 2d, to the end of the above link. The underlined part exampled below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/[u]0B10 ... mwwQWtmbUE[/u]/view?usp=sharing
When done It should look like this
https://googledrive.com/host/0B10IIKlep ... mwwQWtmbUE
Image

4. That's it, YOU'RE DONE.
a. Sit back revel in the greatness you just posted
b. Appreciate all of the kind response you have created.
c. :D

Hope this helps someone.
Last edited by crazac on 17 Dec 2015, 10:46, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Thanks crazac - that's really helpful and I'd hoped that other forum members would chime in here with relevant tips and methods of posting stuff. :D I don't know why Google have to make life so difficult for us though when it comes to embedding images! :roll:

Cheers,
Nick
A2A Simulations Inc.

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Having recently switched to using Google Chrome for the bulk of my browsing (having been a die-hard IE user for ages) I've noticed that it completely blocks embedded Youtube videos from displaying. There's just a blank space where they would have appeared and a small 'shield' icon appears in the right hand side of the address bar. This is because the method for embedding the videos relies on stripping off the "s" from the URL protocol. The "s" stands for "secure" so Chrome detects this as a threat and blocks the linked content. :|

It's still possible to load the video by clicking on the shield icon and then clicking "load unsafe scripts". See here for more info.

Image

I'm not sure if there are any other methods for embedding Youtube content, but if anyone knows of a workaround it would be handy... :)

Cheers,
Nick
A2A Simulations Inc.

User avatar
crazac
Technical Sergeant
Posts: 507
Joined: 02 Sep 2014, 12:05

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by crazac »

I've been using Chrome on Mac for years and haven't noticed anything like this. Certainly not in this forum. Unless it's a WIN version issue, it could be the security level you have set. That 3 bar stack to the right of the star will open a fly out where you can select settings. Do you want to change settings or are you just looking for a different way to imbed videos?

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Thanks crazac - that's interesting because I'm using Chrome on both a Win7 PC and an OS X MacBook Pro with the same result: those http video links are blocked unless I tell the browser to "load unsafe scripts" each time. I've gone into the browser settings → advanced settings and tried unticking the "protect you and your device from dangerous sites" box with no change in this behaviour.

I wonder if this is related to the fact that I'm not using Adobe Flash Player for the Youtube content, but Chrome's inbuilt video player instead? (In other words, there's no Adobe software currently installed on my PC.) Incidentally, the Chrome app on my iPhone doesn't load the videos whilst Safari does and neither use Adobe Flash as it's not supported on IOS.

A way to embed videos which didn't rely on using 'unsecure' links would be great, but a quick web search didn't seem to show anything helpful. The key is probably in the browser or OS settings somewhere. :)

Cheers,
Nick

P.S. Which Chrome version are you using crazac? (Mine is v.47.0.2526.106.)
A2A Simulations Inc.

User avatar
Nick - A2A
A2A Captain
Posts: 13734
Joined: 06 Jun 2014, 13:06
Location: UK

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Nick - A2A »

Some further info that forum users may find helpful...

Blocked Youtube video content
A few community members have noted that embedded Youtube videos were not showing when they loaded posts including them. The issue seemed a bit sporadic and I noted it above in relation to the Chrome browser without really understanding the cause. However, it's pretty simple and not really browser specific.

If you open a post using a secure HTTPS connection, most browsers will block any embedded Youtube videos which must currently use an HTTP URL as noted in the first post in this thread.

The solution is to update any shortcuts/bookmarks to the forum so they use the 'official' address which uses the HTTP protocol:

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/index.php

Note that a Google search for the "A2A Simulations Community" will currently return the HTTPS connection instead. If you're browsing the forum and it appears a video link is blocked, check to see if the URL in the browser address bar starts with "https://" and if it does, try deleting the "s".

As a demonstation, this HTTP link will take you to a topic with several embedded Youtube videos which should all display correctly. However, this HTTPS link to the same thread will likely result in all the Youtube content being blocked depending on your browser settings. For more on this, see here.

Cheers,
Nick


Update: the information in this post is obsolete since the launch of A2A's new web store. Please just use the "https" format for YouTube video links from now on.
Last edited by Nick - A2A on 16 Jun 2018, 05:40, edited 1 time in total.
A2A Simulations Inc.

Tomas Linnet
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2286
Joined: 05 Nov 2013, 10:48
Location: Oksboel, Denmark

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Tomas Linnet »

I'm having some problems embedding pictures. did something change? I'm trying to use Dropbox
Kind Regards
Tomas

Sim: FSX SE
Accu-Sim aircraft in my hangar:
C172, C182, P51 Civ, P51 Mil, B17, Spitfire, P47, B377 COTS,
J3 Cub, T6, Connie, P-40, V35B
A2A Accu-Sim Avro Lancaster Loading:............0.000003% complete, please wait.

User avatar
Piper_EEWL
Chief Master Sergeant
Posts: 4544
Joined: 26 Nov 2014, 14:14
Location: Germany

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Piper_EEWL »

What is the exact problem you're having Tomas?
B377&COTS, J3 Cub, B-17G, Spitfire, P-40, P-51D, C172, C182, Pa28, Pa24, T-6 Texan, L-049&COTS, Bonanza V35B

Tomas Linnet
Senior Master Sergeant
Posts: 2286
Joined: 05 Nov 2013, 10:48
Location: Oksboel, Denmark

Re: Forum attachments: image and video posting tips

Post by Tomas Linnet »

I can't see my own pictures in this: http://www.a2asimulations.com/forum/vie ... 35#p436335

I did try to alter the address, adding the .dl in the link, using the image tag, but I still don't see the pictures. Is it my browser?? I've just edited my post, so please check to see if you can see them :)
Kind Regards
Tomas

Sim: FSX SE
Accu-Sim aircraft in my hangar:
C172, C182, P51 Civ, P51 Mil, B17, Spitfire, P47, B377 COTS,
J3 Cub, T6, Connie, P-40, V35B
A2A Accu-Sim Avro Lancaster Loading:............0.000003% complete, please wait.

new reply

Return to “Pilot's Lounge”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 34 guests