The Bulk Gallery Download Thread

Andy · October 1, 2010

This was our #6 top requested feature on our Feature Request System, Bulk Gallery Downloads.

Happy to say that with last night's release, it's done! Full help page here.

So How Does Bulk Gallery Downloading Work?

It's rather simple.... when logged in, go to your gallery and click the tools menu. There, click 'Download All' and you'll get a notice saying we're prepping the files and sending you an email. In a few minutes, check for that email. It'll look like this:

Simply click on the link and you'll be prompted by your browser to save the zip file to your computer. Once the download is complete, you can unzip and enjoy.

FAQs

Exactly what gets downloaded?
Your original jpg files that you uploaded to SmugMug. For videos that we've rendered, it's the largest size we've made for you, which will not be exactly the same as your original. Original videos and other SmugVault files are downloaded.

Whoa, I'm worried about security - who can do this?
Only you, when logged in. This feature is available for Basic, Power and Pro accounts. Go wild!

Wait a minute! I want my clients or visitors to be able to get a whole gallery!
No problem. Just forward them the email (or the link in the email). The link is active for two weeks.

Are you going to enable this for visitors, directly, without my internvention?
Who knows what the future will bring? But if we do, you'll know about it. It will respect your gallery settings, so if you have either right-click protection on, or Originals blocked, or both, the option won't be there for visitors.

What about videos, SmugVault files, collected photos - are they included?
Yup. For collected photos, they're only included if you own them.

What about monster large files that I have in my SmugVault?
They're delivered separately.

What about huuuuuuuuge galleries?
We'll break up giant galleries into multiple zip files, and we'll tell you this in your emails.

I have a custom domain, can I use it instead of SmugMug's URL in the email?
Yes. Simply replace http://www.smugmug.com/downloads/XXXXXXXXX with http://www.yourdomain.com/downloads/XXXXXXXX
We'll see about adding custom domain support directly into the emails in a future release.

EDIT: OCT 22, 2010: We added this! :thumb If you've a custom domain, your emails will use it now

What about my original filenames?
They are now included in the returned filename, along with some other #s.

I added files to my gallery and need a new zip made, but the old link is still active, what do I do? Simply write our Support Heroes and we'll expire that old link for you and you can request a new one from your gallery tools menu.

We hope you enjoy. Got questions? Ask 'em here :ear

denisegoldberg · October 1, 2010

Andy wrote: »

Whoa, I'm worried about security - who can do this?
Only you, when logged in.

In the thread Zenfolio introduces batch gallery downloading Malte asked if you would be enabling this for visitors. Your response was "It's possible in the future we may allow direct for visitors, but we want to see customer reaction to this."

I asked this question there and was directed to this thread:

Is it safe to assume that if you extend this bulk download to visitors that there will be a way for us to disable that? And that the option would be OFF by default?

I wasn't asking about the new currently implemented functionality.
I was asking about your statement that it's possible that you may allow direct downloading for visitors.

--- Denise

Andy · October 1, 2010

denisegoldberg wrote: »

In the thread Zenfolio introduces batch gallery downloading Malte asked if you would be enabling this for visitors. Your response was "It's possible in the future we may allow direct for visitors, but we want to see customer reaction to this."

I asked this question there and was directed to this thread:
Is it safe to assume that if you extend this bulk download to visitors that there will be a way for us to disable that? And that the option would be OFF by default?
I wasn't asking about the new currently implemented functionality.
I was asking about your statement that it's possible that you may allow direct downloading for visitors.

--- Denise

Denise, maybe I'm being daft - but does this item in the above FAQs not answer your question?

Andy wrote:

Are you going to enable this for visitors, directly, without my internvention?
Who knows what the future will bring? But if we do, you'll know about it. It will respect your gallery settings, so if you have either right-click protection on, or Originals blocked, or both, the option won't be there for visitors.

denisegoldberg · October 1, 2010

Andy wrote: »

Denise, maybe I'm being daft - but does this item in the above FAQs not answer your question?

Sorry, no, you're not daft. I somehow missed that. And yes, I did read the FAQs!
Clearly my brain isn't firing properly this morning.

--- Denise

pilotdave · October 1, 2010

Haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but I like it! Sounds like this'll be just what I need! Thanks!

Dave

jwilkinson · October 1, 2010

a few thoughts & questions:

- Is this currrent owner-bulk-download feature for all account types or only pros & power?

- I'd love it if we had a bulk download like this for visitors too, with appropriate controls on what is allowed to be downloaded.

It'd actually be great to have them be able to use the cart to pick what files they want (with option for whole gallery), then to download them all at once in whatever size they want (and are allowed).

... and to have this be clear and easy and not needing to be a sale.

I often post galleries for sharing with family, and invite them to download all they want, but it's normally a bit tedious doing each one individually if you want more than a few. They may not want the whole gallery though, so being able to pick & choose then download would be a terrific feature.

*AND* please have the features be on the basic accounts too, not just pro and/or power.

This is something that isn't just useful for sales, but for simple sharing with family & friends, so please don't limit it to power/pro

thanks,
jeff

Andy · October 1, 2010

jwilkinson wrote: »

a few thoughts & questions:

- Is this currrent owner-bulk-download feature for all account types or only pros & power?

- I'd love it if we had a bulk download like this for visitors too, with appropriate controls on what is allowed to be downloaded.

MY FAQ above says it's for all, so yes, Basic, Power, Pro

We hope to have it for visitors, too - see the item in the FAQ above, thanks!

spider-t · October 1, 2010

Just casting my vote here

Andy wrote: »

MY FAQ above says it's for all, so yes, Basic, Power, Pro

We hope to have it for visitors, too - see the item in the FAQ above, thanks!

If you need just one more opinion to sway the priority of this feature, count me in. If I could get a bulk download feature for my clients that have already purchased the photos as a function of the contract they have with me, I would drive down there and kiss you.

And NOT a complicated multi-step bulk download where they have to
- click on buy
- then select all photos
- then change the product to digital download
- then go to a shopping cart
- then hit a button that says download

My fantasy Bulk Download looks like a button that shows up on every page of my private gallery where I have enabled the Bulk Download Feature on. The button says something like "download all photos in this gallery". And if they click it they get a message somehow that says something like: "great! i'm on it, it'll take a while and i'll send you a link when it's ready"

Thank you Santa Claus,
Trish
(you guys are great)

Andy · October 1, 2010

spider-t wrote: »

Thank you Santa Claus,
Trish
(you guys are great)

Trish, long time no talk

Hey, would you mind dropping this request into our feedback system? http://feedback.smugmug.com thanks!

spider-t · October 2, 2010

Andy wrote: »

Trish, long time no talk Hey, would you mind dropping this request into our feedback system? http://feedback.smugmug.com thanks!

Done. Thanks for the link.

still here, still a fan,
Trish

David Evertsen · October 2, 2010

First off thanks to Smugmug for all the new fun stuff, It is really appreciated and works extremely well. I do have one thing I would like to see added to bulk gallery download. I tested it earlier today and was impressed with the ease of use. Can my original filenames stay with the images? That is something really important to me if I have to use this feature.

Thanks,

Andy · October 2, 2010

David Evertsen wrote: »

First off thanks to Smugmug for all the new fun stuff, It is really appreciated and works extremely well. I do have one thing I would like to see added to bulk gallery download. I tested it earlier today and was impressed with the ease of use. Can my original filenames stay with the images? That is something really important to me if I have to use this feature.

Thanks,

We hope to be able to add this. Stay tuned.

Poncho · October 2, 2010

Bulk Downloads - Customized Image Sizing
Hey guys... I am really excited about the new Bulk Downloads option. Is there any way to limit the image sizes that are zipped? Any size other/smaller than "Original"?

Thanks

Hunter

habanr · October 3, 2010

Bulk download is nice, but implementation isn't very good
It's nice that Smugmug has finally implemented bulk download, but nowadays implementation has one problem. Downloaded zip file(s) contains image files with your naming convention and not with original filenames. I don't understand why you cannot restore original file names because you have them in your system (you have feature "show original filenames"). Without original names "bulk download" feature isn't backup for me as I can't use the files in my cataloging system...

Andy · October 3, 2010

habanr wrote: »

It's nice that Smugmug has finally implemented bulk download, but nowadays implementation has one problem. Downloaded zip file(s) contains image files with your naming convention and not with original filenames. I don't understand why you cannot restore original file names because you have them in your system (you have feature "show original filenames"). Without original names "bulk download" feature isn't backup for me as I can't use the files in my cataloging system...

We like to release early and release often. I hope to have this part soon, stay tuned.

jwilkinson · October 3, 2010

I'd also hope it would have original filenames.

Does it include a file with any captions or keywords?

If not, that'd be a suggestion to add...
preferably in some format (XML?) that associates them with the site filenames/numbers and the original filenames.

thanks,
jeff

Andy · October 3, 2010

jwilkinson wrote: »

Does it include a file with any captions or keywords?

thanks,
jeff

If your photo has this data embedded in the metadata, yes, it'll come back to you when you download it

We hope to add original filenames as well.

Andy · October 22, 2010

David Evertsen wrote: »

Can my original filenames stay with the images? That is something really important to me if I have to use this feature.

Thanks,

Yes! Downloads now include your filename in the downloaded file.

Andy · October 22, 2010

Bump, we added in your original filenames to the downloaded files, and also made it so if you have a custom domain, the email links now use that custom domain.

gecko0 · October 22, 2010

I tested this on a new gallery (works fine), but now that I've uploaded hundreds more photos to it, I can't get the system to generate a new zip file. Does the old link have to expire before a new download request can be made? I need to send an updated link to a friend...it's a gallery of recovered images off of a corrupted SDHC card.

jfriend · October 22, 2010

gecko0 wrote: »

I tested this on a new gallery (works fine), but now that I've uploaded hundreds more photos to it, I can't get the system to generate a new zip file. Does the old link have to expire before a new download request can be made? I need to send an updated link to a friend...it's a gallery of recovered images off of a corrupted SDHC card.

I believe you have to either wait for the former link to expire or contact support and have them clear the old link before it will generate a new one.

It's too bad they don't at least check to see if the number of images in the gallery have changed when you request a new ZIP.

BradfordBenn · October 22, 2010

The new feature of being able to download galleries is great and is saving me tons of time. I put up a gallery of images; send the link to my company's PR firm. They browse the gallery and tell me what pictures they would like to use. I then collect the selected images into a collection gallery; select download gallery and send the PR firm the link from the email.

Before I would be at the office having to do owner save on each image, put them in a zip file, put it up on our ftp site, send them the link, remember to take the zip file down. Now all done by SmugMug.

Today to transmit to them 11 images took 15 minutes instead of the previous hour process.

Still would like to have the size of the zip file included... (http://uservoice.com/a/m81D2). I get around it by starting the download and writing down the size displayed.

Andy · October 22, 2010

gecko0 wrote: »

I tested this on a new gallery (works fine), but now that I've uploaded hundreds more photos to it, I can't get the system to generate a new zip file. Does the old link have to expire before a new download request can be made? I need to send an updated link to a friend...it's a gallery of recovered images off of a corrupted SDHC card.

Yes, it either has to expire or we can expire it for you. Simply write our Support Heroes and we'll be happy to help!

Andy · October 22, 2010

jfriend wrote: »

It's too bad they don't at least check to see if the number of images in the gallery have changed when you request a new ZIP.

Personally, I'm just thrilled to have a feature that so many have asked for be available and be used

If people need a new link and a new zip created, they just need to write us and we'll take care of expiring the old link in a jiffy.

jfriend · October 23, 2010

Andy wrote: »

Personally, I'm just thrilled to have a feature that so many have asked for be available and be used

If people need a new link and a new zip created, they just need to write us and we'll take care of expiring the old link in a jiffy.

I guess we have a difference in philosophy. I think when a feature is designed and implemented it should be designed to "just work" and not need help from support in order to carry out a very common activity. This lack of being able to get an updated ZIP without help from support is a design miss.

Andy · October 23, 2010

jfriend wrote: »

I guess we have a difference in philosophy. I think when a feature is designed and implemented it should be designed to "just work" and not need help from support in order to carry out a very common activity. This lack of being able to get an updated ZIP without help from support is a design miss.

It does just work

We release early and release often, John. We'd rather get a feature out that works perfectly for the far-and-away majority of times that people need to click that download button (like 99+++ %?) Waiting for a sorcerer to develop a user-clickable 'reset my download' part of the feature would have delayed this. It's not a design miss at all. Our customers are writing us in droves with how much they love this feature, so I'm glad we did this.

If our Support Heroes need to reset a few (I don't think we've done it but a couple times in many, many, may thousands of downloads) I'm okay with that

In the meantime, I've asked about a user (owner)-resettable option for the zip.

jfriend · October 23, 2010

Andy wrote: »

It does just work
We release early and release often, John. We'd rather get a feature out that works perfectly for the far-and-away majority of times that people need to click that download button (like 99+++ %?) Waiting for a sorcerer to develop a user-clickable 'reset my download' part of the feature would have delayed this. It's not a design miss at all. Our customers are writing us in droves with how much they love this feature, so I'm glad we did this.

If our Support Heroes need to reset a few (I don't think we've done it but a couple times in many, many, may thousands of downloads) I'm okay with that

In the meantime, I've asked about a user (owner)-resettable option for the zip.

No, it doesn't "just work". "Just work" would mean that a common usage scenario doesn't need to contact the help desk to get something to work. "Just work" means that when you ask to generate a ZIP and there already is a previous ZIP, the code does the right thing and makes a new ZIP if needed.

It could just make a new ZIP when needed. It could check to see if a new ZIP is actually needed. Either way, the user gets what they wanted without involving support. It's not like someone is leaning on the make a ZIP button and you have to protect against the same ZIP being made over and over again. No need to press reset, no need to contact the help desk. It just works.

I guess I have a different bar for how good something should be before it's released.

Allen · October 23, 2010

Why is it not just adding another zip with a new file name? Suppose you want
to send two people each a zip of their photos from the same gallery?

Andy · October 23, 2010

Allen wrote: »

Why is it not just adding another zip with a new file name? Suppose you want
to send two people each a zip of their photos from the same gallery?

You can send the same zip link to any number of people you like. Does that help?

Allen · October 23, 2010

Andy wrote: »

You can send the same zip link to any number of people you like. Does that help?

Two people want a different set of photos, not all of them. Suppose it is a
multiple family outing and each family only wants photos of their family.

Andy · October 23, 2010

jfriend wrote: »

No, it doesn't "just work". "Just work" would mean that a common usage scenario doesn't need to contact the help desk to get something to work. "Just work" means that when you ask to generate a ZIP and there already is a previous ZIP, the code does the right thing and makes a new ZIP if needed.

It could just make a new ZIP when needed. It could check to see if a new ZIP is actually needed. Either way, the user gets what they wanted without involving support. It's not like someone is leaning on the make a ZIP button and you have to protect against the same ZIP being made over and over again. No need to press reset, no need to contact the help desk. It just works.

I guess I have a different bar for how good something should be before it's released.

I'm sorry you're upset about this, and sorry you feel that way

Fact is, we're getting raves for it. And it's being used, a lot. I do thank you for your feedback, John.

We're going to continue to respond to customer requests and bring new features out.

The Bulk Gallery Download Thread

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