Image Upload Issues

 

If you are using Internet Explorer and are having problems with installing the quick uploader or the uploading of images fails after the uploader has been installed, or if your uploads are taking a long time to finish, then please refer to the following links for assistance:

  • Java and ActiveX Software
  • Increasing Upload Speeds with the quick uploader - Java edition
  • ActiveX issues
  • Corporate Firewalls
  • Personal Firewalls
  • Mac OSX 10.3 and Java
  • Mac OSX 10.5 and Firefox 3

 

If the quick uploader won't allow you to upload a photo, or the photo doesn't appear on the quick uploader, then you might have to make sure the file type is supported by our services.

For more information, see:

  • Supported file types
  • Conversion to .jpg

 


Java and ActiveX Software

Java

You will need to have the latest Java program installed on your computer before you can run the quick uploader - Java edition to upload your images. Please visit www.java.com to download the latest java program. We recommend uninstalling all previous Java versions before downloading the latest. We have found that Mac OS 10.3 cannot update to the current version of Java because of the way Java works with the operating system.

ActiveX

In order to use the quick uploader IE edition, you will need to have the preferences for IE set to either enable the downloading and installing of ActiveX controls or set to prompt you when a website attempts to install an ActiveX control. If you have your IE preferences for ActiveX set to disabled, then the quick uploader - IE edition will not load.

If you are experiencing problems while installing or working with either the Java or IE edition of the quick uploader, please try the steps below.

Step 1:Browse to Security Settings tab

Open the 'Tools' menu in Microsoft Internet Explorer, and select 'Internet Options' from the dropdown menu. Please note: the steps below pertain to Internet Explorer 7. If you are using a different version of the browser, or if you are using a different browser such as Mozilla Firefox, then the images and steps below might be different. Note: The quick uploader - IE edition will only work with the IE browser.

Step 2: Select Security Tab

Select the 'Security' tab to reveal the security level currently in use for your browser. In most Internet Explorer configurations, Security should be set to 'Medium'. In some cases the configuration could be set to 'Custom'.

Click the 'Default level' button to set your security settings to medium. If you want to customize your settings, then proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Customizing your ActiveX Settings

Click the 'Custom level' button to access additional security settings.

Step 4: Choose your desired ActiveX Settings

There are multiple options to choose from. As a general rule, you should set signed ActiveX controls to enable or prompt.

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Increasing Upload Speeds with the Quick Uploader - Java Edition

Note: the following steps pertain to Windows users.

Before modifying any Java settings, you will have to open the 'Java Control Panel' window.

  1. Close all Internet browser windows.
  2. Click the 'start' menu button that is usually located in the lower left corner of your screen.
  3. On the right hand side of the 'start' menu, locate and left click 'Control Panel' once.

  4. NOTE: When the 'Control Panel' window opens, make sure you are in 'Classic View' mode. If you are in 'Category View', click 'Switch to Classic View' on the left.

  5. Locate and double click the 'Java' icon in the 'Control Panel' window.

You should now see the 'Java Control Panel' window with several tabs along the top.

  1. Click the 'Java' tab once. You should see two sections: Java Applet Runtime Settings on the top, and Java Application Runtime Settings on the bottom.
  2. In the 'Java Applet Runtime Settings' section on the top, click the 'View…' button to open the 'Java Runtime Settings' box.
  3. There might be multiple versions of Java listed once the 'Java Runtime Settings' box appears. Click the empty white box on the bottom line under the heading 'Java Runtime Parameters' and enter:

    -Xmx128M (case sensitive and including the hyphen).

  4. Click the 'OK' button on the 'Java Runtime Settings' box and then click the 'Apply' button on the 'Java Control Panel' window.

Open a new Internet Browser window, return to the Costco Photo Center and try your upload again.

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Corporate Firewalls

If you are on a Corporate Network or are behind a Corporate Firewall, then you may be restricted by your corporation from using applications that utilize ActiveX controls. A Network or Corporate Firewall controls or limits resources and data accessed by its users, and it also protects the network’s private data and resources from unsanctioned outside access. A corporate firewall is often installed in a specially designated computer separate from the rest of the network so that no incoming request can access private network resources.

Only your Network Administrator can control configuration changes to the corporate firewall. If Easy Uploader fails to connect and upload images in this environment, your Network Administrator will need to assist you.

The browser-based Standard Uploader method will still work.

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Personal Firewalls

If you experience problems with installing or using the quick uploader, then you may need to disable Banner/skyscraper ads in your personal firewall program. To disable Banner/skyscraper ads follow the steps below. Note: the steps below might not reflect the steps necessary to adjust your personal firewall since there are a variety of personal firewalls available.

  1. Open your Personal Firewall program and select 'Privacy'. In the 'Ad Blocking' area, click the 'Custom' button.
  2. Click the checkbox beside Banner/Skyscraper Ads.
  3. Click the 'Ok' button, and refresh the Easy Uploader installation page or exit your browser, open a new browser window and try accessing the Easy Uploader again.

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Mac OSX 10.3 and Java

We have found that Macs running OSX 10.3 don't work with our Java Uploader because the uploader requires at least Java 5 to function optimally. Unfortunately, Mac OSX 10.3 does not support Java 5 or higher.

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Mac OSX 10.5 and Firefox 3

The Java Uploader might not load properly in a Firefox 3 browser if you are using Mac OSX 10.5. To fix this, please follow the steps below:

  1. Open finder and click Applications.
  2. Click Utilities and click Java.
  3. Open Java Preferences.
  4. In the Java Preferences window that opens, make sure the General tab is selected.
  5. Click the radio button beside J2SE 5.0 and click the 'save' button.
  6. Restart Firefox 3 and return to the Costco Photo Center. The Java Uploader should load properly now.

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Supported File Types

While it is possible to upload .bmp and .tiff files, we have found that the .jpg file type works best.

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Converting Other File Types To .jpg (JPEG)

If your photo isn’t showing up in the quick uploader, you may have to convert your photo to the .jpg file format. The steps involved will be different depending on which of the many image editing programs you have on your computer. The basic steps involved require you to open the program you use to edit your images. A quick way to do this is to locate the photo on your computer that you would like to convert to .jpg and right click it. From the drop down menu, click 'open with' to select an editing program. Select your program from the list provided. When the image opens, click the file menu of your program and select 'Save as…' From the 'Save' window that opens, you will notice that at the bottom you can select a file type. Choose .jpg (JPEG). It might show up as .jpeg depending on your program. Click the 'Save' button and you should be able to upload your file to our website. Try using the uploader again.

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