Attachments Used as Textures

[emm386]

Can attachments to messages be used as textures?

[JeffM]

the answer is no.

1) copyright. 2) the fourms arn't used for image hosting, 3.0 will only accept images from images.bzflag.org. so even if it works now, it won't in the future.

Use the image submission system http://images.bzflag.org/submitimages/ to submit images for hosting.

[F687/s]

> 3.0 will only accept images from images.bzflag.org. so even if it works now, it won't in the future.

Umm, would that be done through the "local denial" access procedures implemented in 2.0, or would that be a core thing that could not be overridden without hacking the client?

Just curious

[JeffM]

it will be a change to the default access file.

[Teppic]

it will be a change to the default access file.

So, to get textures from 'other' hosts you will have to alter it, just as you do now?

Just out of interest, why is it so restricted by default, are there some crafted png's around that cause buffer overflows?

[JeffM]

teppic, yes.

there are a number of reasosn.

1) we have an image submitter now, so we want that to be the default way.
2) since tim gives out so many *.bzflag.org domains for servers, it's very hard to ensure that the default filter doesn't show things that are not violations of copyright or inappropriate for all ages (it's a butt protecting thing ).

basically the original filter was not thought out very will, and we didn't have an image hosting solution. So for 3.0 we are refactoring it to fix some weak areas. The idea is to do some scans of maps on the list server and see how many maps will have image problems and work with the server owners to get those moved into the image submitter.

[Spazzy McGee]

I assume it's so they can keep a tighter control over what public servers display to default clients.

Will it be possible to do a bulk transfer of images from other *.bzflag.org domains at the time of the 'switchover'? It's going to be annoying when suddenly loads of our images don't download.

I must say, it does seem to me like a step in the wrong direction, but it is of course the decision of those in charge.

[JeffM]

Spazzy McGee
yes we can help anyone move files over in batches ( it's just a file copy ). There is no need to wait till later. images.bzflag.org will work with the current default filter, so if you have images you want to move then you can do so at any time.

it is also only a change to the default setup (just like how we pick what default list server the client looks at). just like now any user can allow any server to show images in there client, that is not changing.

[Teppic]

Considering that the changes, to the now DownloadAccess.txt, are somewhat more pervasive, is there a plan to add an 'Allow 3rd party texture hosts' checkbox to the client config?

[Spazzy McGee]

Considering that the changes, to the now DownloadAccess.txt, are somewhat more pervasive, is there a plan to add an 'Allow 3rd party texture hosts' checkbox to the client config?

This is an idea I like - to have it in the options menu, perhaps in the cache settings. I'm sure we all know how some users can be ... uh... confused when it comes to editing something as 'complicated' as the downloadaccess file, instead have an in-client option that's easy for people to switch on or off. Could also be useful for people testing new maps with images uploaded to imageshack or whatever.

[JeffM]

yeah it's been talked about. we just need to make sure that it can be secured by parents.

[Teppic]

we just need to make sure that it can be secured by parents.

It's nice to know that the dev team take this kind of thing so seriously, keep up the good work!!