How to find Product Images depending on the Alt tag?

Question

I have been able to set the Alt tag when uploading an image to a product, via an html form.

images = params[:images] || nil

if images
 images.each do |image|
      a = ShopifyAPI::Image.new
      a.prefix_options = {:product_id => params[:product_id]}
      a.metafields = [{:key => 'alt', :value => 'Cake', :value_type => "string", :namespace =>  "tags"}]
      a.attachment = Base64.encode64(image.read)
      a.filename = image.original_filename
      a.save
 end
else
.
.
.

But when it comes to retrieving the images for a product, where alt='Cake', I cannot seem to figure it out. I have tried searching the Metafields via the ShopifyAPI console, with no joy.

---

Would be nice if it were this easy...

a = ShopifyAPI::Image.where(alt: 'Cake', product_id: 245512249)

or better...

a = ShopifyAPI::Product.find(245512249)
b = a.images.select { |image| image.alt == 'Cake' }

or...

a = ShopifyAPI::Product.find(245512249)
a.images.each do |image|
  b << image if image.alt == 'Cake'
end

Answer 1

There is no way of recalling Product Images depending on the Alt tag; the ShopifyAPI does not allow for it.

---

Saying that though, here is a trade secret...

Just tag on the value of the Alt tag to the filename of the image.

images = params[:images] || nil

if images
 images.each do |image|
      a = ShopifyAPI::Image.new
      a.prefix_options = {:product_id => params[:product_id]}
      a.metafields = [{:key => 'alt', :value => 'Cake', :value_type => "string", :namespace =>  "tags"}]
      a.attachment = Base64.encode64(image.read)
      a.filename = 'Cake_'+image.original_filename
      a.save
 end
else
.
.
.

That way, you can filter the Product Images via the string value 'Cake_' on the ':src' attribute.

@product = ShopifyAPI::Product.find(params[:id])

@product.images.each do |image|
  if image.attributes[:src].include?('Cake_')
    .
    .
    .
  end
end

Hope that helps!