A NEW TOOL: Picture Pointer

I've noticed that when it comes to describing where a certain thing-a-ma-jig is on a bike to a new bike owner, there's just no beating having a picture to guide them to it. The problem with this is that you have to know how to edit a picture, size it, add text, etc. In addition to that, you may have to mark up an existing picture just to show where that little do-dad is. Not wanting to destroy the original, you've now got two versions of that picture taking up server space.

So, here's where my handy-dandy invention comes in to save the day. I've come up with a way to take a picture... any picture as long as it's posted somewhere on the internest... and add a caption and pointing arrow to it. And it's all packaged in a nice-and-tidy hyperlink. Don't believe me? Click here for an example of what it can do!

Amazing, no? Here's a screen shot of the utility page followed by how it's done:


Screen shot of configuration utility.

1. Go here for the configuration utility. This page is what we'll use to create our URL.
2. Enter the location of where the picture is stored on the internet.
3. Press the 'Update Image' button to load the desired image.
4. Enter a picture caption for the image you'll be creating.
5. Click on the image where you want the point of the arrow positioned.
6. Once you are satisfied with how it looks, click the 'Create URL' button.

At this time, the finished URL is ready for use.

7. Click on the 'Copy to Clipboard' button to copy the URL to your system's clipboard.

You can also test the newly-minted URL by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of the page.

That's it. All you need to do is paste the URL into your post and you have a quick an easy way of telling someone where to go... Err, well, you know what I mean :wink:.

Here are a couple examples to try out: Oil Fill Cap Location and Oil Fill Window Location.

That's about it. Have fun with it and by all means, if you think of an improvement, holler it out.

(Image Pointer Concept Copyright © 2007, D-n-A Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.)

 

it's nice. I can't get the arrow location to change though. It stays at 0 and 0 and clicking on the updated image doesn't work.

If you could allow one to draw a circle that would be good too.

 

I'm at work right now, so I won't be able to respond until after I get home. The circle idea might be doable, too. Keep those ideas coming.

 

Okay, I'm finally home.

PghXJ, I need to know if you followed the link in the step-by-step instructions or not. I've had several people test it and it's worked for everyone so far. The link to the configuration utility is here. Also, you need to have JavaScript turned on for it to work correctly.

 

ok works fine if I used Internet Explorer. For some reason it doesn't work in my usual browser, firefox.

I like the idea. Now just add some choices (arrow, circle, box, etc.)

 

I've fixed the problem with the fields going blank after you click the 'Create URL' button. Now... Let's see if different pointer types can be done easily.