Uploading jobs - package images option in tsIOS
Applies to: tsIOS
When uploading jobs to the Timestone Internet Ordering System (IOS), choices are available as to how to display the products on offer.
- Render (real time) - a process also referred to as 'live rendering'
- Use preview - pre-defined 'static' graphics are used to represent each package
- Use preview if defined - in order, will use either Package Templates, static graphics or live rendering
The preferred method is selected in the 'Package images' section of tsIOS as per the screen grab below
Figure 1: Selecting how to display packages
Render (real time)
Live rendering displays the selected subject image inside the packages thus providing a real time, live preview of the products. Furthermore if the package includes a composite product (from NeoComposite or CompositeBuilder) or a group product from (NeoGroup or GroupBuilder) the customer will see the actual rendered product belonging to the subject.
Note for composite and named groups the page must be first formed in NeoComposite or NeoGroup before uploading the job.
Figure 2: Real time rendering. The subject image is displayed inside the product
Live rendering and multi-product packages
As can be seen in the example above, simple live rendering displays each product in the package one after the other. For this reason, it works best with simple packages containing only one or two products. Once a package contains several products a better look is obtained with Package Templates and the 'Use previews if defined' option.
Use previews always
In tsAdmin the user may set a graphic for each package to be used as a preview of the package in IOS. The graphics are created by the user in Photoshop or similar.
Figure 3: Using graphics as previews
Setting the previews for a package
Previews are set for each package in the Timestone Administrator app (tsAdmin). Graphics should be in jpeg or png format.
- Launch tsAdmin
- Select the appropriate offer
- Select the Online tab
- Select the option 'Bitmap image'
- Browse and select the graphic file
It is important to note that the 'Use previews always' option will not upload images. The 'Use previews always' option is therefore primarily used for pre-ordering before photography.
Use preview if defined
Perhaps the most common option for displaying IOS packages is 'Use preview if defined'. Not only is this the option needed with Package Templates but it also offers the most flexibility as it can be used to display either Package Templates, static graphics or live rendering depending on which is available. In order of priority the 'Use preview if defined' option will use:
- Package templates
- Static graphics
- Live rendering
At this point it is highly recommended the user become familiar with the Package Templates
Package Templates
Figure 4: The same packages as in Figure 1 but with Package Templates and 'Use preview if defined' option.
Setting a package template for a package
Previews are set for each package in the Timestone Administrator app (tsAdmin). Graphics should be in jpeg or png format.
- Launch tsAdmin
- Select the appropriate offer
- Select the Online tab
- Select the option 'Preview template'
- Enter the name of the package template without extension eg GoldPKg
'Use previews where available' will upload and display subject images where available.
End of article