Problems with Custom fields for files/images

[perplexed]

New to PW and finding it great to work with 🙂

I have followed Ryan's How to setup and use custom fields in file/image fields and added a custom alt text field for an image. I am able to add alt text when I click on the uploaded image to edit it. This reveals the custom alt text field which I have set to required. I've got 2 questions.

1. A user, when creating a new page, does not see the alt text field, so would not know to fill it. When they save the page they get 'missing required value' but still no sign of the field they are required to fill. We know that the alt field will be revealed by clicking on the image. The user will not know this. The alt field did not display at any stage of the upload process.

2. After clicking on the image to edit it, I would like to hide the Actions dropdown, including the Crop and Variations. I couldn't find how to do that.

I'm probly misunderstanding something...... Thank you

[virtualgadjo]

Hi @perplexed

6 hours ago, perplexed said:

1. A user, when creating a new page, does not see the alt text field, so would not know to fill it. When they save the page they get 'missing required value' but still no sign of the field they are required to fill. We know that the alt field will be revealed by clicking on the image. The user will not know this. The alt field did not display at any stage of the upload process.

actually,in may cases thet' where the field description is very usefull and more, you could use a nice red strong to remind your user they have to fill something special
thie module by @adrian will help you emphasise the part of the description you don't want your user to miss
https://processwire.com/modules/dynamic-description-notes/

6 hours ago, perplexed said:

2. After clicking on the image to edit it, I would like to hide the Actions dropdown, including the Crop and Variations. I couldn't find how to do that.

honestly, i don't know how far you are in your wensite dev but i would bet this is something you would regret as soon as you need one of the great image crop modules... (i can't think of one of the many xebsites i've made with pw that don't use at least one of them...) 🙂

have a nice day

[perplexed]

Thank you for writing, but your suggestion on point 1. doesn't touch the point I raised -

1. It's pointless to emphasise a field that is not visible. How can I make the custom alt text field visible?

2. OK, I'll take that approach.

[virtualgadjo]

Hi @perplexed

ah ok, i thought you were using special fields (tag/text and so on) for you rimage field, then i was thinking it would be easy just to put some strong and color in the description of the image field telling there are details you don't see but don't forget to edit those images and then fill those not visible fields
for eaxmple i do this kind of thing when i use @horst croppableimage3 module to remind my victims that when adding an image to this field, you don't see it working but it generates a cropped variation and you can modify the framing to your taste thus don't be mad if you don't lke the result 😄

have a nice day
 

[perplexed]

Er... on reflection I can get what I want by not using the 'custom fields for files/images' feature.

I've added a normal field 'alt_text'. I can make this both visible and required. Then include it in the template.

Thanks for the chance to think this through!

[virtualgadjo]

Hi again 🙂

well, honestly, why not but actually it's up to you in the tem)plate file to fill the alt attribute with the page (or article or whatever it is) title if the image description is left empty and that is exaclty a good example of where the field descrription can be used to emphasise the "do not not forget to fill the image description" explaining while, well of course execpt if you do not trust at all your users... i do'nt know how  nor by whom the website will be filled 🙂

have a nice day