Realmac Software

Hi,

I’ve seen a few posts around with others wanting to use flash with their RapidWeaver sites.  I’ve been spending some time trying to get a flash header working and flash content.  First few tries required a lot of hacking about but I think I have it streamlined and would like to share.  Is there any interest?

I created a screencast and have some sample files I will post on my site shortly.  Need to record the audio for the tutorial, plus I want to see who might be interested.

If you would like to see a sample visit:

For Flash Header:  http://www.leftfootmedia.com

For Flash Content: http://www.terraprime.tv  (click on the FlashContent link). 

You can try out Flash Test also but I’m having issues - won’t work with Firefox.  In Flash Test, I’m trying to get a flash file to work in one of the Extra Content areas that can be found in some newer themes.

So let me know if you are interested and I should be able to post the screen cast and support files, including a snippet for the flash, some time tomorrow.

John…

Sounds like it will be a good screen cast to view… :D

Ok, lets see how this works out.  You will need to download this file:  http://media.libsyn.com/media/jnj/Flash_RW_Style.zip  Inside that zip are 3 files you will need.

1.  AC_RunActiveContent.js
2.  flashcontainer1.rwsnippet
3.  myFlashfile.swf

Once you’ve downloaded them, add the snippet to RapidWeaver.  Then head on over to watch the screencast at: http://media.libsyn.com/media/jnj/Flash_RW_ScreenCast.mp4

Let me know how it all worked out, or didn’t work. 

John…

[edit] fiixed typo of .swg to .swf.

Let me tell you, I am finding most things to be over my head, but your screencast just made sense! Thank you.
Now, if only I knew how to make a flash movie….

Cheers!

in2insight - 27 December 2008 01:53 AM

Let me tell you, I am finding most things to be over my head, but your screencast just made sense! Thank you.
Now, if only I knew how to make a flash movie….

Cheers!

Thanks.  Hopefully you had a chance to test it out and it worked.  I will be working on the slightly more complicated screencast to show how to use a flash file in place of the typical image header.

I have a few tools at my disposal that I can create movie/animation files with - Lightwave, Motion, and After Effects.  Once the *.mov file is created I used VisualHub to convert it to a *.swf (flash) file.  I know AE can export direct to *.swf, but in my tests so far, it creates a too large file and browsers choke on it.

Hopefully you have a copy of VisualHub as they no longer produce it.  There are a couple of open source projects that are taking over I believe, but I have not tried them yet.

Anyone else have a chance to try it out?

John…

Hi,

it’s interesting to see another tutorial on integrating flash…the more the merrier i think!

Have you by any chance created your flash in the header section screencast?  That’s the one i’m most interested in for the time being.

I tried another snippet method etc and it seemed to have worked (worked locally and live in RW) but once uploaded to my host, the flash doesnt play.  i created a thread about it :  http://www.realmacsoftware.com/forums/index.php/forums/viewthread/11166/

Thanks

James

James W - 12 January 2009 08:38 PM

Hi,

it’s interesting to see another tutorial on integrating flash…the more the merrier i think!

Have you by any chance created your flash in the header section screencast?  That’s the one i’m most interested in for the time being.

I tried another snippet method etc and it seemed to have worked (worked locally and live in RW) but once uploaded to my host, the flash doesnt play.  i created a thread about it :  http://www.realmacsoftware.com/forums/index.php/forums/viewthread/11166/

Thanks

James

Glad you liked the tutorial.  I hadn’t done the second screencast for two reasons:
1.  I started a new job and am traveling - I prefer to record at my house using my better gear.
2.  I wanted to see if anyone was interested.  I saw a lot of folks read this thread, but only a few left comments.

Guess I assumed there wasn’t an interest.  I’ll put it on my task list to do this weekend when I’m back at my house.  I’ll also take a look at your link above here in a minute.

Thanks again,

John…

Hi , thanks for the reply.

I just fixed my flash header issue by using flash cs3 to create the banner instead of keynote.

You probably dont need to do a screencast for the above stuff we mentioned before, because I found one here:
http://www.v2cstudios.com/en/screencasts.html

The flash header tutorial is quite simple and if you use flash cs3, like I did in the end, instead of keynote to create the banner, the code used works a treat and is very short.

Kind Regards

James

p.s. though if you have another method for it then i’m sure a more up-to-date screencast would be only beneficial for those looking.

edit: out of interest - does anyone know how to set it so the flash banner or object (within main content) start after the rest of the page has loaded?

James W - 13 January 2009 12:31 AM

Hi , thanks for the reply.

I just fixed my flash header issue by using flash cs3 to create the banner instead of keynote.

You probably dont need to do a screencast for the above stuff we mentioned before, because I found one here:
http://www.v2cstudios.com/en/screencasts.html

The flash header tutorial is quite simple and if you use flash cs3, like I did in the end, instead of keynote to create the banner, the code used works a treat and is very short.

Kind Regards

James

p.s. though if you have another method for it then i’m sure a more up-to-date screencast would be only beneficial for those looking.

edit: out of interest - does anyone know how to set it so the flash banner or object (within main content) start after the rest of the page has loaded?

Per your question about the flash file starting after the page has loaded, you might want to look at Preloaders.  I’m still toying with them and plan to incorporate in a future tutorial/screencast.  But first will come the one involving adding a flash header - I will be using the Gotem theme.

J.

John

Thank for doing the screen cast, very useful as I try to get to grips with things.

I for one would be very interested in either a screencast or just text instructions on how to insert flash into a header. Appreciate that if you have just started a new job time will be tight, so even a list of raw instructions would be useful to give the rest of us some pointers.

Thanks

Mark

Hi again,

my interest for a flash header tutorial has grown again! 

Using my previous method i have come in to some problems with viewing the flash in Internet Explorer and various other little problems that weren’t apparent at first.

Therefore if you do get a moment to do a screencast on it then it would be greatly appreciated. (Assuming of course that your method works in IE?)

Kind Regards

James

I wanted to let you know that your tutorial was great - and it worked perfectly. You can check out the results at http://www.clearpointstudios.com. Also, I used it a second time in the Process page. Thank you for your help! I had some trouble resizing the .swf. Which numbers in the code pertain the size of the .swf file? It is different than yours.

Your site looks great, the flash complements the content without overdoing it - BTW which theme are you using?

I’m still working on the best way of getting flash in the header, I’ve still go a couple of wrinkles to iron out, I’ve got a test page at:

http://www.essant.net

If I can sort out the problem of the text I’m putting in the custom header field of the page inspector showing at the very top of the back ground I’ll be there….

Regards

Mark

essant - 26 January 2009 05:16 PM

Your site looks great, the flash complements the content without overdoing it - BTW which theme are you using?

I’m still working on the best way of getting flash in the header, I’ve still go a couple of wrinkles to iron out, I’ve got a test page at:

http://www.essant.net

If I can sort out the problem of the text I’m putting in the custom header field of the page inspector showing at the very top of the back ground I’ll be there….

Regards

Mark

I look forward to being able to modify the header. The theme that I used was from Elixir Graphics and it is called Float (http://www.elixirgraphics.com/themes/float/index.html). It has lots of options. I like their work. I’m working on another site now that will also incorporate Flash into the body. It modifies their Candy theme. I’ll post it when it’s done.

Regards,

Adam

Hi John

That’s a great lesson…...but it I can’t get it to play.

Must I have a flash player or software installed?

Thanks

oscar

quizzy - 29 January 2009 05:21 PM

Hi John

That’s a great lesson…...but it I can’t get it to play.

Must I have a flash player or software installed?

Thanks

oscar

Hi Oscar,

You will need to have the latest version of Flash Player installed on your computer. You can download it for free at http://www.adobe.com. Most likely, however, you already have Flash player on your hard drive - so, there may be something wrong with the code. I just followed the instructions step by step. I had another Flash file - but I renamed it to the same name as was in the tutorial. It works just fine.

Adam