Developers Help

Authoring Flash Shockwave

General

What does Aftershock do ?

Aftershock generates the necessary code (as JavaScript) to play the shockwave movie. It does not compress the movie. Basically it sets all the necessary parameters, sets the movie size, checks for the Flash plugin (if the movie is to be played with it), enables Javascript/FSCommand, and so on. Aftershock appears to generate better code than NetObjects. From our experience NetObjects does not set the mime-type for the movie, making it impossible for the user to play the movie.

How to... ?

Create a Flash Shockwave movie

In Flash, select Export movie... under File menu option.

Choose Shockwave Flash (*.swf) for the file type

Play a Flash Shockwave movie as an an applet

In Aftershock, in the Scripting tab, check only the Flash Java Edition checkbox . Playing the swf as an applet requires the Flash Player Java classes. In the Java tab, make sure the Class File Location box contains the correct path to the relevant class files (Flash.cab, Flash.jar, Flash.zip). These class files must be uploaded to the correct location. Playing the movie as an applet does not need the Flash plugin.

Play a Flash Shockwave movie as an embedded object (with the Flash plugin)

In Aftershock, in the Scripting tab, check the Flash Plugin / ActiveX Control checkbox (Static or Animated Gif can also be checked). Uncheck the Flash Player Java Edition. Playing the swf as an embedded object requires the Flash plugin to be installed on the client machine, but does not need the Flash Player Java classes. The PLUGINSPAGE parameter (generated by Aftershock) provides the URL and information to download the plugin or Flash ActiveX Control to the browser. You cannot store this plugin or Flash ActiveX Control locally since doing so would break the copyright agreement. But you can substitute the URL specified in the PLUGINSPAGE parameter with your own to provide information to the users if you like. Then of course you would need to insert the link to the plugins page at the Macromedia website.

Trouble shooting

A fuzzy shockwave movie

If the movie does not play well enough, make sure the movie quality is set to high. (It is default to autohigh)

<param name=quality value=high>

The first frame of the movie is skipped

Make sure the parameter loop is set to false

<param name=loop value=false>