Opening Files/Apps

[sickmindz]

How can I open say, an excel file from a button within a flash projector. I'm working on a mac but the final product will be on an autorun cd for windows.

Is SWF Studio for PC only? Any other similar utilities?

TIA

[sickmindz]

--- bump ---

[sickmindz]

anybody?? somebody!! please!!

[minkey]

the only way i can think of is to host the excel file on a server and use getURL to retrieve, hopefully the users browser will have a plugin to view it

[sickmindz]

its for a cd not a web page so unfortunately that wont work. Thanks anyway!

[minkey]

ah! you should be able to use get url to launch a local file aswell

[minkey]

just tried it and it works fine...

stick this in a button

on (release) {
getURL ("book1.xls", "_blank");
}

make sure your swf is in the same folder as the xls... and away you go...

[sickmindz]

trouble is, I need them to be able to use the excel file and then print from it, I dont think any browser has a plug-in to allow this? I'm thinking maybe I need to drop the .swf into director and attempt to create the button there, though I've never used director.

cheers
*headache*!!

[sickmindz]

posted too soon, I'll go try it out

Thanks Minkey!!

[minkey]

depends on the system, but the browser should open the excel app and they should get full functionality... works on my mac and pc...

[sickmindz]

Hi,

yep its working although its a bit clunkey as it opens the browser first and as this CD will be on laptops not connected to the net, they're gonna try to dial up I think.

I think I may need to find another way but thanks, at least I can fall back on this if all else fails!!

[minkey]

havent got a laptop to hand...

but seeing as our file is local, the browser shouldn't connect to the internet, until it is asked to...

[sickmindz]

mmm research time then, I need to find someone with a pc who i can 'experiment on' - MWUHAHAHAHA!!

[minkey]

pc laptop? even better! the execution is a lot more seemless than on a mac

[sickmindz]

just tried that out on virtual pc and it seems ok, I didn't realise that on PC's you'd actually ba able to view and use the excel file in the browser, then you can just save to thedesktop and attach it to an email.. seems perfect! [client permitting!!]

[minkey]

cool! good luck!