However yesterday I discovered Mark Huot’s File Upload Extension. The extension makes managing files much easier, giving users a simple ‘browse’ button for searching their hard drive, and even manages resizing and cropping site wide (without users ever having to face questions like “would you like to resize your image,” or “would you like to delete the original?”

I did, however, have to customize the extension slightly due to the fact that images with a .jpg file extension were pixelating. After a quick search of the forums I discovered that if I replaced the following code (in the extension file, under the heading ‘Write File’):

if(@imagegif($dst_img, $dst) !== false) {}
else if(@imagejpeg($dst_img, $dst) !== false) {}
else if(@imagepng($dst_img, $dst) !== false) {}

With:
if(@imagejpeg($dst_img, $dst, 90) !== false) {}
else if(@imagegif($dst_img, $dst) !== false) {}
else if(@imagepng($dst_img, $dst) !== false) {}

I could avoid this pixelation and display better quality images.

Update:
I’ve been using this extension on a Windows 2003 server and had some difficulties with the extension accepting the server paths. This post helped me resolve the issue.

The most tricky part of this process is that Paypal do not allow funds to be withdrawn into a South African bank account.  There are so many wonderful, simple, ecommerce solutions that make use of Paypal, and as a result save the merchant a lot of money.

So what are the alternatives?

Right now I’m looking at the following options:

• Use Shopify and find a payment processor which works well (and is low in cost) in South Africa.
• Use Magento and their VCS payment module.

Please do let me know if you have any ideas!