Where is the thumbnail generator and how can I use it?

Answer by: Stuart Pierce, Knowledge Base Support

You can use the Thumbnail Generator tool found on the Aplus.Net Control Panel to automatically create small, easily-downloaded images for your website.

Thumbnails are smaller versions of images used on web pages to reduce download times. They often contain a hyperlink to a full-size version of the image.

Here’s how to access the Thumbnail Generator tool:

1. Start by logging into the Aplus.Net Control Panel at http://cp.aplus.net using your Registration Number and Customer Password.
2. Select Web Hosting from the top navigation bar.
3. Next, select Hosted Domains and click on Manage Hosted Domains.
4. Now, click on the hosted domain that you’d like to manage.
5. Click on the Design tab.
6. Click the Thumbnail Generator icon.

You can create thumbnails for all images in a specific directory, or you can create a thumbnail for a particular image.

NOTE: The directory thumbnail generator can only process directories that contain 50 images or less.

CREATE THUMBNAILS FOR AN ENTIRE DIRECTORY:

1. Select the directory that contains the image you’d like to create a thumbnail for using the Choose Image directory drop-down menu. Please allow 30 seconds for the server to process the contents of that directory.
2. Next, specify the length (in pixels) of the longest side of the thumbnails in the Size of the longer side text field.  A thumbnail cannot be longer than 200 pixels.
3. Click the Generate button to create the thumbnails. A new directory /thumbs will be created inside your main web directory to store the thumbnails.

CREATE THUMBNAILS FOR SINGLE IMAGES:

1. Select the directory that contains the image you’d like to create a thumbnail for using the Choose Image directory drop-down menu. Please allow 30 seconds for the server to process the contents of that directory.
2. Now use the Choose Image drop-down menu to select the image that you want to create a thumbnail for. 
3. Click the Load Image button.
4. Next, specify the length (in pixels) of the longest side of the thumbnail in the Size of the longer side text field. A thumbnail can’t be longer than 200 pixels.
5. Click the Generate button to create a thumbnail image. You will see the new thumbnail above the button.
6. Click Save to store the thumbnail in the same directory you selected in Step 1. Click Discard to cancel the creation of the thumbnail.

NOTE: When you generate the thumbnail, it creates a file with a ’_tn' extension. (i.e. 'mypic.jpg' will become 'mypic_tn.jpg'). Any previously generated files with duplicate names will be overwritten.