Image Slideshow: Preventing a page from jumping back to the top of the browser

[GeekyG]

Hello,

 

I am using a modified script of PHPSlideshow (http://www.zinkwazi.com/wp/scripts/)

 

My modified version:

http://www.multimedia-designs.com/V3/phpslideshow/test/projects/indie/indie_titan.php

 

I got the layout and script to work the way I wanted it to (so I thought) and now I have ran into a new problem. Because the image slideshow is not at the top of the page, you have to scroll down in order to view the slideshow.

 

The problem: every time an end-user clicks on an image, the page jumps back to the top of the browser. I think I know why it does, because the script is fetching the next image and reloading it, which brings the page back to the top.

 

Is there a solution? Or am I wasting time. Can I prevent the page from jumping back to the top each time an image is clicked on?

 

Thanks, I am definitely a PHP beginner, and all help is appreciated.

 

[thebadbad]

It jumps back because you simply load a new page. To overcome this, you can use javascript (AJAX) to load the pictures asynchronously, but then you have to use a completely different slideshow script (written in javascript). You should be able to find lots of examples on how to achieve this, though

[GeekyG]

That's what I was afraid of, after all that work!

 

I was looking for a server-side solution because of people who disable JavaScript.

 

I guess now it is a toss-up between Flash or an Ajax (JavaScript) slideshow.

 

Anyone have an opinion on this?

 

 

[rhodesa]

I'm a big fan of http://slideshowpro.net/

It's not free, but in my opinion, well worth the money

[GeekyG]

Thanks. I'll look into it. 

[thebadbad]

Well, I have an idea. You could keep your PHP, and use a HTML bookmark. Just put a name="something" in your anchor tag surrounding "start slideshow", and then put #something at the end of the links used to see the different images. It will then reload the page, and jump down to the "start slideshow" text.

 

<a href="/V3/phpslideshow/test/projects/indie/indie_titan.php?directory=.&auto=1&currentPic=1" name="something">start slideshow</a>

[GeekyG]

This is a pretty good idea. But the page would still be "jumping" all over the place; which to me, would look unprofessional.

[thebadbad]

Yeah, I see what you mean. I think I would go with the AJAX solution, since most people have javascript turned on. If you go for Flash, there's the free SimpleViewer, but I'm not sure if these kind of galleries (often fullscreen) would work as part of your portfolio.

[haku]

There is no PHP solution around the jumping other than the one thebadbad posted. It will jump around as you say, but will bring the user back to the position in question everytime.

 

The only way around this is to implement an AJAX solution as thebadbad mentioned. However, if you are going to implement an AJAX solution, you should use both. Set up the PHP solution, and then overlay the AJAX solution on top of this. This way, if your users have javascript turned off, it will still work for them, although it wont look as pretty as if they have javascript turned on.