Flash frustrations

[mvaughn]

I designed a page that contains a flash video (header.swt) and it works like a champ as an .htm file.

HOWEVER...

I renamed it from index.htm to index.a5w and added it to my project expecting the best. Far from it.

For reasons unknown, Alpha Five magically converted this:

</DIV></DIV>
<DIV id="media">
<DIV class="textwidget">
<div id="flashContent">
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="500" height="206" id="images/header" align="middle">
<param name="movie" value="images/header.swf" />
<param name="quality" value="high" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" />
<param name="play" value="true" />
<param name="loop" value="true" />
<param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
<param name="scale" value="showall" />
<param name="menu" value="true" />
<param name="devicefont" value="false" />
<param name="salign" value="" />
<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" />
</object>
</div>
</DIV>
</DIV>


TO THIS:

<div id="media">
<div class="textwidget">
<div id="flashContent">
<object id=images/header classid=clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000
data="data:application/x-oleobject;base64,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"
width=500 align=middle height=206></object>

OF COURSE IT DOESNT WORK... WTF?

I'm better off keeping it as an HTM file. This sucks.

[mvaughn]

Re: Flash frustrations

Ok, so I renamed it index.htm and added it to my project and Alpha does the same exact thing. In addition, it magically converted:

"if you're seeking the security of a..."

TO THIS:

If you&#x00e2;&#x20ac;&#x2122;re seeking the security of a...

WHICH SHOWS UP AS THIS:

If you�€™re seeking the security of a...

WTF? I spend more time fixing problems than developing. I would have given up on this platform but my client insists on it.

[agillbb]

Re: Flash frustrations

To my knowledge, A5 doesn't parse or disturb any html code snippets in an .a5w page that are outside of the a5 tags.
I am not sure what you are doing, but the behavior you mentioned "should" not happen if you are using standard techniques.
Could there be something you are doing that triggers A5 to parse your file in some way?

[mvaughn]

Re: Flash frustrations

I rename it to a5w and then publish it to the local webroot. That's it.

[agillbb]

Re: Flash frustrations

So if you edit the .a5w file and paste your original text into the .a5w file and save it, does it work now?

[mvaughn]

Re: Flash frustrations

In theory it should work, but the point is that I shouldn't have to do any post publication editing just to get simple flash to work.

[agillbb]

Re: Flash frustrations

No, I meant in your source file, then try republishing it. But what you are saying is that by publishing the file, its contents are being changed, right?
Sounds like either you have some sort of security setting in place that is over my head, or maybe you could have copy and pasted the source into the WYSIWYG editor instead of via source?
I tried it on mine and published and it was identical to the source.

[Clipper87]

Re: Flash frustrations

I use Flash without problems (Piecemaker slider), here's the code I have on my index.a5w page in the head section outside of <%a5 tags:

<script type="text/javascript">
var flashvars = {};
flashvars.cssSource = "Piecemaker/piecemaker.css";
flashvars.xmlSource = "Piecemaker/piecemaker-FR.xml";
var params = {};
params.play = "true";
params.menu = "false";
params.scale = "showall";
params.wmode = "transparent";
params.allowfullscreen = "true";
params.allowscriptaccess = "always";
params.allownetworking = "all";
swfobject.embedSWF('Piecemaker/piecemaker.swf', 'piecemaker', '940', '300', '10', null, flashvars, params, null);
</script>

You should be more specific in describing what you do & certainly refrain from accusing "the platform". I take it you're relative new to alpha ?

[Steve Workings]

Re: Flash frustrations

I use FusionCharts a lot, which produce output as Flash (with fallback to javascript when needed). They always have, and continue today, to work just fine with A5. Remember - in the end you're producing standard HTML pages.

[mvaughn]

Re: Flash frustrations

That's all well and good, and I'm happy for your success. But my version of A5v11 molests script code as evidenced in the following before and after index pages. Here are the steps I used to produce this problem:

1. From A5/Web Control Panel, I clicked on the HTML link in the left sidebar and chose "+ADD"
2. I added my htm file from my Frontpage folder
3. Once imported, I right clicked index.htm and renamed it index.a5w
4. File is now screwed up

I am using all default settings with NO security.

Tell me what I am doing wrong.

Before and After:
index.rar

[Clipper87]

Re: Flash frustrations

What you don't say is how you notice that the file is screwed up: I think you just double-click it ? And I also think in you Alpha5 preferences you did not set a preference for the html editor to open in the source view ?

Dot his: View Settings / preferences / HTML editor / Default tab and set it to SOURCE

Then repeat your sequence & your page should not be altered.

[mvaughn]

Re: Flash frustrations

CLIPPER87, YOU ARE A GENIUS :)

I took your advice and lo and behold my source was saved!
Must be that evil wysiwyg that screws it up.

This thread was a good one and hope it helps others who may experience the ravages of wysiwyg

Consider this case as CLOSED :)

[agillbb]

Re: Flash frustrations

Note that this likely WISIWYG mistake by yourself was mentioned about 5 posts ago...