Having a user login with different page per user - best way?

[Babbler]

Hello again.

Im hoping for some pointers with my qiq site...

I wish to have a user login page. Once the user logs in they are directed to a page specific to them where they can view thier own photos (photos I upload for them). It cant be viewed by anyone but them and me (as the administrator of course). Id like it to be formatted in the same way as the rest of my site (well, same backgrount and colors etc).

What is the best way to do this? I know qiq has "locked area lite" but that just allows all the users to access one site. Not a different page per user. Is there a better tool to hand - preferably free :)

There must be a template somwhere for doing this or an easy way?

Long term it will be turned into a show whereby the user can select the photos they want to buy and pay for them online so I have to keep that in mind.

Thanks - all help appreciated!

[silver]

something like http://coppermine-gallery.net/ might be worth a look, there are others similar as well

[Peter]

There are a number of ways this could be achieved however one of the easiest I can think of is as follows.

Consider giving each person their own directory on the server. You then upload their content to this directory and format these pages as you wish.

You can then simply password protect each directory from within your hosting control panel, allocating a user name and password for each directory unique to each user. You simply have to give each user the URL to their directory and they would only see the content once they have entered the correct user name and password.

Hope this helps. Good luck :)

[Babbler]

There are a number of ways this could be achieved however one of the easiest I can think of is as follows.

Consider giving each person their own directory on the server. You then upload their content to this directory and format these pages as you wish.

You can then simply password protect each directory from within your hosting control panel, allocating a user name and password for each directory unique to each user. You simply have to give each user the URL to their directory and they would only see the content once they have entered the correct user name and password.

Hope this helps. Good luck :)


Sounds good - however they would then be able to download the pics for free and I wish to sell them :)

Thanks for all the help so far. Much appreciated.

[Peter]

Sounds good - however they would then be able to download the pics for free and I wish to sell them :)

Thanks for all the help so far. Much appreciated.

Maybe put the images online in a small format, or put a watermark image accross them so they are worthless unless purchased in full?

[silver]

watermarking is really the only option you have to stop ppl downloading images and printing them,. it's a pain but is the only way I think

[Babbler]

Thank you - I may set up the secure folders as a temporary measure. Also looking at 3rd party shop providers as seem to be what some people use. Need to find an affordable one! :)

Thanks again... new to this websote game and may have more questions soon. Loving the qiq control panel at the moment!

[mikeW]

Have you thought about the possibility of using a mySQL database to hold either links to your photos or the photos themselves? That way you could have the database control who sees what using just a single web page in combination with a user name.

Of course, the above solution depends on your database and web page design skills.

[Babbler]

Thanks - Im new to the world of web programming so still learning. Probably be a giant leap to get the database up and running at the moment but Im reading up on it.

Think for the first year I will use a 3rd party supplier until I figure out how to do it myself. Most handle buying of the photos and taling payments etc which is what Im after. :)