trouble with launching external files from cd-rom

[doggbiterAP]

I'm exporting a projector to cd-rom using MX. I want to launch PDF's from the movie. I scripted my button:
on (release) {
fscommand ("exec", "test.pdf");
}
Placed it all in "fscommand" folder and it still doesn't work.
Anybody have any idea why? Is there a 'path' syntax required? eg. /fscommand/test.pdf?
Also, if the projector is on the root of the cd-rom, can it launch PDF's from within the FSCOMMAND folder without actually being in the FSCOMMAND folder itself? If so, what would the file path reference look like?
signed, confused.about.path.syntax.on.cd-rom.projects

Andrew

[Northcode]

EXEC is for executable files so it won't open a PDF file. You have to use getURL (which will open a browser on you) a BAT file, a free helper application or a third party projector tool.

I wrote a little document about using the Acrobat reader from a CD to open PDF files. You can find it at http://www.northcode.com/misc/AcroRead.zip

I created a free utility called INVOKE (www.northcode.com/misc/invoke.zip) that will let you open, print, ... any type of file. You can call this easily from Flash 5, but from Flash MX you'll have to use a BAT file (because of the restrictions on passing arguments to executable files).

As for third party tools, here's the current list of contenders:

SWF Studio http://www.northcode.com my baby
Jugglor http://www.***********.com
Flash 'N Pack http://www.flashnpack.com
Flash Studio http://www.multidmedia.com/
LPFlashEX http://www.logicplus.com.hk
mProjector http://www.binarynoise.com
FlashAnts http://www.flashants.com

If you try SWF Studio you can also open PDF (and other files) easily with the ShellOpen command like this fscommand("ShellOpen", "file.pdf");. If you need any help just give me a shout. You can find me here, in the SWF Studio support forums at http://www.northcode.com/forums or by sending email to support@northcode.com


[Edited by Northcode on 09-05-2002 at 11:24 PM]

[Gambini]

Hey Northcode, thanks for mentioning Flash Studio - I thought I'd return the favour because your own link isnlt working, man! You have a </b> which has found its way into the actual link - edit your post when you can.

The correct link is http://www.northcode.com

doggbiterAP, personaly, I think swf studio and Flash Studio (My Baby ) are the best 3rd party tools on the market. Flash Studio is completely free and you can download a copy from http://www.mutlidmedia.com and sample files and source code from http://www.multidmedia.com/fls/downloads

Check them both out and I hope they help!
[Edited by Gambini on 09-10-2002 at 06:23 AM]

[Northcode]

Damn! Thanks Gambini. I put the vbcode bold tag around the text for the url but I didn't use the vbcode url tag so it crossed the tags for me (grr). Time for FK to upgrade their copy of vBulletin, they're still using 1.1.3 and 3.0 is in beta now!

[FlashRover]

Hey Gambini,

This cracks me up but your link doesn't work either.

http://www.multidmedia.com/fls/downloads

not

http://www.multidmedia.com/fls/downloads.

no .

[Northcode]

That's vBulletin again!

If you put a "." or a "," after a URL it will be automatically sucked inside the url vbcode tags that vBulletin inserts.

This is a pain in the bum if you end a sentence with a URL. I usually try to use the special vbcode url tags so this doesn't happen.

The other way around it is to disable that first check box in the options just below where you type your replies. It's Automatically parse URLs and it's on by default, but then you HAVE to use the url tags if you want links.

[Justmade]

In MX, You can use getURL to load PDF / doc / xls into browser.

If you want it to load the documents into default application (e.g. acrobat reader for PDF), you need some external tools.

You can try FlashGeek for free solution :
http://www.flashgeek.com/tutorials/07_launchapp_01.htm
however, you need to hard code each filename and make 2 file per 1 file you will be opening.

You can also use LPFlashEx to open the file with different level of controls on the fly.

1. Normal open
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/SimpleSamples.zip (54KB)
Publish open-print-explore.fla to exe to test.
This only need standard edition and is free for self use and cost only US$20 to register

2. Window control [PRO]
You can control the newly opened window in many ways such as setting title, hiding border. You can even stick it into a part of your flash window to make it seems a component of your flash projector.
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/ExternalApp.zip (90KB)

3. OCX control [PRO] - PDF and Media file only
You can control pages nevigation, zooming, scrolling, printing of the PDF file directly from flash
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/PDFV2.zip (95KB)
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/MovieSamplesV2.zip (161KB)

If you need more info and had any question, please feel free to contract us

[DChihorn]

I downloaded your file and ran your file:

Open-Print-Explore.fla

It worked. It opened the sample text file

I want to be able to open an excel file. So, still using your sample file, I simply copied the .xls file into the same folder and re replaced the word "sample.txt" with "final.xls"

I then saved it, did a publish preview as a projector, clicked the button and nothing happened....

This is Flash MX, I do have excel installed on my machine.

Any help or suggestions you could lend would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Jason