Unpublished 'Family' folder?

bartman01

I am trying to set up the following and can't figure out how to do it. I want a 'family' gallery that is unpublished but that all nested galleries are visible to anyone with the URL to the main 'family' gallery. That way I can give the URL for the main 'family' gallery out and anyone with that URL can see all galleries that are part of the 'family' events.

Right now when a person goes to the hidden 'family' gallery they can't see any of the galleries under it. I have to give out a separate URL to each of the galleries under the main 'family' gallery.

I can do this through an external web site if needed, but would like to do it directly in SmugMug if possible.

Allen

How are you exposing the rest of your galleries?
Are you using the default Smugmug category/gallery box?
A link to your site would help.

On my site I have the default category/gallery box hidden and use a navbar to browse
all my public categories/galleries. I use a passworded landing page/gallery to enter my
family area. That page and every family gallery uses the same PW so it only has to be
entered once. If you look at my site index page in the navbar you'll see what my family
landing page basically looks like.

mbonocore

Great tips Allen. Another option is to create an "Event". Sending out the link to your event would allow anyone with that link to see all of the galleries included in that event, whether they are public or unlisted. Some bonuses with using this approach is that you can also have a slideshow on the event page, which would allow you to show your favorite family images right there on the homepage. Also, your family members can select their favorites, which would then show to you, the event owner, in a specific gallery. You can learn more about events here.

http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/83125-market-events

Hope this helps!

Michael

Steve Cavigliano

Hi Bartman,
As Allen recommends, this is easily done using a category, and password protected galleries. Where all of the gallery passwords are the same. If you use unlisted galleries, they will always be invisible unless the links are provided. But if you must go the unlisted route. You should consider creating a Share Group

Again, a custom category (perhaps your surname?) and the same password for all galleries within, would be the easiest solution.

Cavig
:cavig

bartman01

Didn't think to include the link to my page because nothing there is 'public' yet: http://bartpfeffer.smugmug.com/

I have been using Gallery2/WordPress to maintain my family photos and the one issue I keep running in to is that if I password protect them it causes no end of confusion/problems/frustration from family members that can barely use a computer - much less keep track of a password. Anything more complicated than just following a permanent link will overwhelm them.

I'll look at the 'event' suggestion to see if that does what I need.

Fundamentally what I am trying to do is have two types photos hosted with SmugMug:
A public landing page.
A 'private' (hidden from general 'public' view but not password protected) area for family and friends for pictures of things like birthdays, weddings, get togethers, etc. Nothing here that is super sensitive or secret - just 'snapshot' type stuff that will not necessarily be of the same caliber as my 'public' albums.

I'm trying to leverage the features of SmugMug for family members (ordering prints, downloading different sizes, etc.) without overwhelming the technically challenged ones that just want to look at the pictures.

mbonocore

bartman01 wrote: »

Didn't think to include the link to my page because nothing there is 'public' yet: http://bartpfeffer.smugmug.com/

I have been using Gallery2/WordPress to maintain my family photos and the one issue I keep running in to is that if I password protect them it causes no end of confusion/problems/frustration from family members that can barely use a computer - much less keep track of a password. Anything more complicated than just following a permanent link will overwhelm them.

I'll look at the 'event' suggestion to see if that does what I need.

Fundamentally what I am trying to do is have two types photos hosted with SmugMug:
A public landing page.
A 'private' (hidden from general 'public' view but not password protected) area for family and friends for pictures of things like birthdays, weddings, get togethers, etc. Nothing here that is super sensitive or secret - just 'snapshot' type stuff that will not necessarily be of the same caliber as my 'public' albums.

I'm trying to leverage the features of SmugMug for family members (ordering prints, downloading different sizes, etc.) without overwhelming the technically challenged ones that just want to look at the pictures.

I really think Events is a great way for you to accomplish this. Please try it out and let me know how it works!

Michael

smurfy

Question: Events are only available with top tier accounts now; is that correct?

denisegoldberg

smurfy wrote: »

Question: Events are only available with top tier accounts now; is that correct?

Events are shown as a feature of a Business account on this help page - http://www.smugmug.com/photos/photo-sharing-features/.

--- Denise

mbonocore

smurfy wrote: »

Question: Events are only available with top tier accounts now; is that correct?

Correct, but this feature is available to the Free Trial accounts to test out.

Michael

jfriend

mbonocore wrote: »

I really think Events is a great way for you to accomplish this. Please try it out and let me know how it works!

Michael

Wouldn't a sharegroup with unlisted galleries work fine for this also? Sharegroups are like unlisted categories. You can specify any galleries you want in them, but the container only shows to those who have the URL.

mbonocore

jfriend wrote: »

Wouldn't a sharegroup with unlisted galleries work fine for this also? Sharegroups are like unlisted categories. You can specify any galleries you want in them, but the container only shows to those who have the URL.

Yes, that is one of the options. I like the event option only because I could add a slideshow of the best family photos


Michael Bonocore
www.mb-photography-sf.com
www.facebook.com/mbonocore
plus.mb-photography-sf.com

jfriend

mbonocore wrote: »

Yes, that is one of the options. I like the event option only because I could add a slideshow of the best family photos

I don't use events. They just seem to be half-baked to me. Just to get the features of events, I don't want to put my galleries in a different place in my hierarchy. Anyway, a sharegroup works like an unlisted category which I think is exactly what the OP wants. An event could probably also be used.

mbonocore

jfriend wrote: »

I don't use events. They just seem to be half-baked to me. Just to get the features of events, I don't want to put my galleries in a different place in my hierarchy. Anyway, a sharegroup works like an unlisted category which I think is exactly what the OP wants. An event could probably also be used.

True, but just to clarify, the galleries remain in the normal hierarchy, you just need to reference the event to display them. Whatever way you choose, we think you will find it is indeed possible. Hope we were of help!


Michael Bonocore
www.mb-photography-sf.com
www.facebook.com/mbonocore
plus.mb-photography-sf.com

bartman01

Right now I just have a 'power user' account so I think my only option is Sharegroups. Looking at the online help, it looks like this is exactly what I was looking for - just didn't know what SmugMug called it.

Thanks everyone.

blueharmony

I agree that it's a hassle. You may consider posting an enhancement request to http://feedback.smugmug.com/forums/17723-smugmug

SamirD

One other idea would be to simply use some css to hide the sub-category on your homepage. When someone knows the url to it, it will still show.

jfriend

SamirD wrote: »

One other idea would be to simply use some css to hide the sub-category on your homepage. When someone knows the url to it, it will still show.

There are lots of ways the "hide with CSS technique" doesn't stay hidden:

• Smugmug's mobile interface
• Smugmug's search
• Google search
• Smugmug keyword page
• Third party tools that browser a Smugmug site
• Mobile apps that use the Smugmug API

So, while this can work for casually hiding it on one page, it isn't very robust if you really don't want the public to know it's there.