Thread: .swf not showing when published

Hello,

I just joined Vodahost and am using Bluevoda to piece together my site. Firstly I am just getting to grips with the program. I am also using flash to create content and generate swf files.

I have made a simple 2 page site

:http://208.43.222.136/~qnivxfum/index.html which will be www.stuartdeakinberry.com when it's fully activated in the next 72 hours.

I have added a .swf file which is around 32KBs onto the the page entitled work. When previewing this plays fine no problems, but when published I have a white box appear and no video. As a test I added a lightbox on the same page just to check that flash was working in general and it does. I also tried re publishing the actual fla flash file in an earlier version of flash 8 action script 2.0 - no luck.

Also note that I uploaded the player controls and the html file generated.

I have scoured the forums before posting but can't find an answer. Help is appreciated, as my site will be flash heavy.

When you made the swf file is it just a swf file or does it run from a xml file with a folder of images or movie files. if so then you would have to upload the xml and any other files that was produced keeping the same structure on the server.

Originally Posted by Alien Dude

When you made the swf file is it just a swf file or does it run from a xml file with a folder of images or movie files. if so then you would have to upload the xml and any other files that was produced keeping the same structure on the server.

Hi,

My workflow is this.

I converted my original .mov file to an .f4v in Adobe Encoder.

I then import this .f4v file into a new .fla document. This was then published which creates a .swf file of the video, a html file and also a .swf file of the player controls.

I can then import the .swf into bluevoda and it play fine locally on a preview. I can publish but the file remains blank in the browser. I am assuming the file is looking for a certain path/folder structure on the server which it can't find? Help appreciated

cheers

bluesman

You need to ftp the swf file to your account folder.

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

You need to ftp the swf file to your account folder.

Karen

That's what I've done, when I publish with my account settings or upload using filezilla - all the files are uploaded to my account. But the file doesn't play - my test page is here the flash gallery is fine, but in the bottom right there is a white box which should be .swf file playing


http://208.43.222.136/~qnivxfum/Textures_Gallery.html

Right click on your element, select properties and change the LOCATION or the PATH where the file resides. If you use just the NAME, it must be located in the same folder where the page is so that it can LOAD it.

If your site isnt domain populated yet.. this may be the problem as you are using a temporary url

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

Right click on your element, select properties and change the LOCATION or the PATH where the file resides. If you use just the NAME, it must be located in the same folder where the page is so that it can LOAD it.

If your site isnt domain populated yet.. this may be the problem as you are using a temporary url

Karen

OK I shall try this i=shortly when I can get to my PC with all my data on it.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

If your site isnt domain populated yet.. this may be the problem as you are using a temporary url

Karen

This is what I was thinking, as I've tried everything else. How doI know when my domain is live - will I get a conformation email or is it a case of keep trying?

just type in your domain name and see what happens...also make sure you have pointed it to your hosting servers.. currently its not.

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

just type in your domain name and see what happens...also make sure you have pointed it to your hosting servers.. currently its not.

Karen

what do you mean? I have missed a tutorial somewhere?

Thanks

Login to VBS or wherever you purchased your domain and change the domain name servers to your vodahost ones.. currently they are pointed at vodahost default ones and it needs to be changed to the two in your welcome email.

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

Login to VBS or wherever you purchased your domain and change the domain name servers to your vodahost ones.. currently they are pointed at vodahost default ones and it needs to be changed to the two in your welcome email.

Karen

Done - Thank you. Still can't get the swf working though. Howdo Ifindit's actual file path on the server?

go to control panel, file manager, public_html

It should be in there if its the main domain.

Karen

Ok so the flash swf file I add to mypage resides in a local folder here:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\stuartdeakinberry.c o.uk\Video\Props\Arch.swf

which is what shows in the right click flash properties dialogue box.

on the server the very same file sits in the public_html folder after I publish the site.

Do I need to change the path in the flash properties (right click menu)? If so what should it be?

(Maybe there should be some documentation written about this in a tutorial which would be handy as the tutorial on flash currently doesn't cover this.)

thanks

The path should reflect your .com/nameof.swf

Your software provider for the swf should provide you that info

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

The path should reflect your .com/nameof.swf

Your software provider for the swf should provide you that info

Karen

I'm using Adobe flash cs4 and making the files myself.

So I put http://www.stuartdeakinberry.com/Arch.swf - however it sill doesn't play when you go to the page. It just remains blank?

are there other files that go with it? Generated by your flash creater? You have to generate it as a self contained file.. or upload all the xml files that go with it and the images. Check your adobe help files for publishing to a website

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

are there other files that go with it? Generated by your flash creater? You have to generate it as a self contained file.. or upload all the xml files that go with it and the images. Check your adobe help files for publishing to a website

Karen

When I publish directly in flash I can create among various image formats a .swf and a .html - can't see an option for xml.

The file generated as I mentioned earlier are Arch.swf, ClearOverPlayMute.swf (which is the player controls), and Arch.html. All of these are uploaded to the public_html server

Is it work trying to get a convertor to .swf format to convert my original .f4v/.av/.mov files and see what results I get then rather than publishing from flash. Is there a free converor knocking about anywhere?

Where are the files saved on your computer? You will need to publish them in a similar manner.. again cs4 should give you an outline for this for publishing to a website and what you need to do and which files it needs. Its almost there.. you have the screen.. its just not loading the content..so its not finding the rest of the files.

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

Where are the files saved on your computer? You will need to publish them in a similar manner.. again cs4 should give you an outline for this for publishing to a website and what you need to do and which files it needs. Its almost there.. you have the screen.. its just not loading the content..so its not finding the rest of the files.

Karen

All in this directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\stuartdeakinberry.c o.uk\Video\Props

and are as published by flash, which there documentation are what I need for the web.

Arch.swf
ClearOverPlayMute.swf (the player controls I used)
Arch.html

as well as the savedflash document Arch.fla

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/fl...sh_pt3_02.html

Karen

Originally Posted by Karen Mac

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/fl...sh_pt3_02.html

Karen

Yeah this is what I do. For some reason flash doesn't create a .js (javascript file) so I have tried importing the flash video into Dreamweaver which I am not so savvy with and is the whole reason I went for Bluevoda, to speed up things. Dreamweaver creates the script file etc but again when I upload nothing. Once again the files play fine locally. It's got to be the file structure on the server and where the .swf and it's dependants are located.

To be honest I think I'm gonna give up on this now unless there is a simple solution. I am a professional 3D Artist by trade so I am not un familiar with the art of the computer, however I do admit I am not a web designer and just wanted to throw a demo/tutorial site together in a short space of time, without going through a ton of actionscripting or re learning Dreamweaver and getting my college notes out. That way I could focus more time on the content which clearly isn't happening.

It shouldn't be so difficult to get the files to play on a published site. Especially when the tools are aimed at people who are not professional web devs. I'm kinda glad I only signed up for the monthly option. Sorry to rant - just extremely frustrated. Surely someones done it - This thread has had over 100 views - please a guide/tutorial would be great.

hello, i hve sent you a message regarding this situation. maybe i can help. thanks,

Originally Posted by mrmagoo144

hello, i hve sent you a message regarding this situation. maybe i can help. thanks,

Thanks I'll take a look soon

Originally Posted by mrmagoo144

hello, i hve sent you a message regarding this situation. maybe i can help. thanks,

Oh this is going to be so interesting, the fact that there is two swf files being called that are incorporating a javascript to pull the too together ie: movie swf + controls swf. it will never work while trying to insert into bv using the flash button as i said before there are other items to take into consideration. if by double clicking the html page on your desktop brings up the page and it plays. then your answer is in the code of the html page probably the javascript placed in the header.

OK got that and firmly understood - so what is the best way to move forward.

Is it don't have any player controls, somehow embed the control so everything is in 1 swf if so how?

What do you suggest?

Thanks for stepping in

Now it's hard to say as i don't know exactly how you built it. so will need a little info. i take it you have a master fla file. so when you open that in cs4 you have everything in there the show and the controls. or do have two one for each.
when you have it open in cs4 have you tested the movie by click ctrl + enter or control / test movie in the tool bar. this will genarate a swf file of what you have created and show you the result in a popup window of the size of the movie. if you did that did the controls and movie show and work.

Originally Posted by Alien Dude

Now it's hard to say as i don't know exactly how you built it. so will need a little info. i take it you have a master fla file. so when you open that in cs4 you have everything in there the show and the controls. or do have two one for each.
when you have it open in cs4 have you tested the movie by click ctrl + enter or control / test movie in the tool bar. this will genarate a swf file of what you have created and show you the result in a popup window of the size of the movie. if you did that did the controls and movie show and work.

Hi Sorry for the late reply been working!

*I render an image sequence from 3ds max or maya
*composite this together in After Effects to generate an .avi or .mov file
*this file is then imported into a new flash (.fla.) document
*When video is imported you get a series of options inc which player control I want, so I choose one ClearOverPlayMute
*So yes I have a master .fla file
*I hit control enter to preview a .swf which is fine with controls.
*When I publish properly from the file menu I generate a .html, a .swf of the movie and it also generates a .swf of the chosen player controls.
so in my files case it's:
Arch.swf
Arch.html
ClearOverPlayMute.swf

so I can use the import flash button in bluevoda and search for the file stored locally and all is fine, it plays with controls and so on.

Have to say I've inspected the Arch.swf and the Arch.html, The swf file is only showing one frame and the html is looking for a js file which is not where it says it is but one layer down on the root directory and not in the Scripts folder.
and without working on the master fla file it is not easy to see what is going on. though I must say I very rarely published the flash, as the test movie will produce the swf file I want to use and tends to combine any add ins together to make one swf file. even with my flash sites there is only one. though some I choose to use a xml files to find music files or images.

Originally Posted by Alien Dude

Have to say I've inspected the Arch.swf and the Arch.html, The swf file is only showing one frame and the html is looking for a js file which is not where it says it is but one layer down on the root directory and not in the Scripts folder.
and without working on the master fla file it is not easy to see what is going on. though I must say I very rarely published the flash, as the test movie will produce the swf file I want to use and tends to combine any add ins together to make one swf file. even with my flash sites there is only one. though some I choose to use a xml files to find music files or images.

Hi Mate,

Sorry for the late reply - just doing crazy hours at work currently and only just got home. I'll try the test movie option, to be honest I've used the publishing option.

Cheers

Stu