in xcgal 2.04 I want to batch upload but when I clcik on batch upload in the admin area or user area I get a page that says:

"This function allows you to add a batch of picture that your have uploaded on your server by FTP.

Select the directory where you have uploaded your pictures"

there is nowhere to select the batch directory or have I misunderstood something

The directory select can select the (sub)directories created by FTP. The root directory, where it starts from is found in the preferences (album directory and user pictures directory) and is by default albums and userpics.
So you have /modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/. In this directory you create the directory for the users by adding 10000 by their User ID. Eg. the admin uid=1 gets 10001 as directory.
Create it with FTP. In this directory you can create and organise your picture directories as you like with FTP and upload pictures into it.
Check that the directories are writable, but if albums and albums/userpics are, then the created subdirectories should get these attributes automatic.
You will then find the created directories in the overview from XcGal.

yes but nothing comes up the lines of words

are you saying I have to create a directory first in a particular place or is something else going wrong

Quote:Yes.

...and make sure the read/write properties are set properly. You may need to adjust modules/xcgal/albums/ and modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/ (the default directories) to 777