Once you have reached the main window, the next step is to choose the image files you wish to upload, and assign the respective orders to them. You must have chosen at least one image before the ordering interface, on the right, will work. Once this is done, though, you have flexibility. You can choose all of your images before making any orders, or make the orders as you go. It is also possible to assign a single set of instructions to all images.

Selecting and ordering
Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a group of images that have been chosen for uploading, with the bottommost one selected. Use the cursor or the up/down arrow keys to change the selection. The appropriate thumbnail image is displayed. Any order entries that you make will be applied to the highlighted image. The image names that are in red have had no orders assigned to them yet; when an order is made, they turn blue. In order for uploading to be enabled, no image name can remain red, meaning that it must either have an order entry made, or be removed from the order.

Image Selection Buttons:

  • Select Image gives you a standard dialog for selecting an image. You can also do this through the File/Select File menu (or its keyboard shortcut), or by dragging the file icon into the list box.

  • Select Folder allows you to choose an entire folder of images, where appropriate. Again, this functionality is also available through the File menu, keyboard, or 'drag-and-drop.'

  • Remove All will completely clear your order. It could just as easily have been called "Start Over."

  • Remove Selected will clear the highlighted image file from the list, and also delete its thumbnail image and any order entries.

    • Note: Words like 'remove' and 'delete' can be frightening. FTPhoto only 'opens' your image files, as required, for the purpose of generating thumbnail images, after which the files are immediately closed. Your files are never modified in any way, let alone deleted. The only data saved and deleted are references to the files.

    "Express Service:" If FTPhoto is not already running, you can actually drag an image file, or folder of images, onto the FTPhoto program icon, or its alias/shortcut. This will launch FTPhoto, and the main window will appear with your image(s) already listed.

    Ordering Controls

    These are on the lower-right side of the window, under the 'Order' tab.

  • Quantity must be entered before any of the other controls (aside from 'Summary & Special Instructions) are enabled.

  • Select Service Desired: is a menu from which you select the type of service to be applied to the selected image file. Depending on the nature of the service, other contextual menus and buttons may appear. In the illustration, a print is being ordered, so controls have appeared for ordering size, paper surface, color correction and mounting.

  • Order for this Image applies the entry to the highlighted image file, appending it to whatever entries already exist for that image.

  • Order for All Images applies the entry to every image file in the order--again, appending it to all existing entries.

  • Clear Orders For This Image removes all order entries for the selected image, but, unlike 'Remove Selected', does not remove the image from the list.

    • The above procedures can be repeated indefinitely, to add orders to a single image. Then, in turn, the other images should be selected to repeat the process.

  • Edit Order/Add Instructions is always enabled whenever an image is selected in the list. This is dealt with in the next section.