Swf movie

**shadley** · 03-04-2003, 11:24 AM

Hi There

After u have used flash MX to convert your media file into a swf file. Will this movie now be streamed or will the person trying to view it have to download the entire file which is about 5mb.

Thanks
Shadley

**Dead Rabbit** · 03-04-2003, 06:18 PM

Hi Shadley, and Welcome to the Boards!

This is a SWiSH help forum, for users of SWiSH software. Click here for support with Flash MX.

But, to answer your question, a .swf movie will begin to play as it downloads, however if it does not download fast enough, the movie playback will not be smooth.

**shadley** · 03-04-2003, 06:29 PM

Thanks Dead Rabbit

Sorry bout that,

What I actually wanted to know was how do I if I can imbed a movie file which is in windows or real player format into my swish site.

Thanks for the speedy response

Shadley

**Dead Rabbit** · 03-04-2003, 07:02 PM

That's a different question, and now it all makes sense.

You cannot directly embed a mpg, mpeg, avi, mov or any other type of video file into the .swf format. You can, however use a 3rd party tool such as Swideo, Flix or Flash MX (I think MX will do video - not sure) to convert the file to a .swf movie.

Once converted, you can create a sprite in your movie and load the converted .swf into the sprite using Load Movie. Ex: If you create a sprite named "loadersprite", in the correct size and position as your video named "myvideo.swf", the action would be:

Code:

Tell Target "loadersprite"
->Load Movie "myvideo.swf" Into Level -1

Level -1 tells the movie to load into the sprite.

Hope this helps!

**UnCommonGrafx** · 03-11-2003, 12:22 AM

Howdy,
DR, is there an example of this technique you've been talking about?
Being new to Swish, I am ... not understanding the jargon.

"Loading a swf into a sprite" is the one that I don't get.

I want to embed video into a swf site and have purchased SWideo for this purpose: works fabulously. I've seen where it makes some really large files, and for CD that's ok for me. And I've even figured out how to get it small enough for the web.

But I just don't get the lingo. I am willing to provide a swf movie, or two, for an example someone would like to put together for me...

Too many sleepless nights... verbose I am...

**Dead Rabbit** · 03-11-2003, 12:45 AM

Hello Uncommon, and Welcome to the Boards!
(Please note that because of your nickname, I'm now craving Keebler cookies.)

The first question is, do you understand Sprites and Tell Target? Assuming you do, here's a short step-by-step on how to load a movie:

1. Create a rectangle the size of the movie you want to import. Position it where you want the movie to play, and convert it to sprite. Name the sprite "loadersprite". (It doesn't have to be named that, but follow this example for now)

2. Create a button - any button. Assign the action On (Press->Tell Target "loadersprite"->Load Movie "MyMovie.swf" into Level -1 This, of course, assumes the movie you want to play is called "MyMovie.swf" and is in the same directory as the main movie you are creating.

That's it.

Read the SWiSH Help files on Tell Target and Sprites for more info, and for tips on how to control the movie once you've got it loaded.

Just remember that Tell Target "tells" the "target" what to do. In this example, "loadersprite" is the target. Level -1 loads teh movie into a sprite, or in this example, into itself.

Hope this helps!

**UnCommonGrafx** · 03-11-2003, 12:52 AM

Ok, got that.
I don't get the levels and stuff so will write out my questions once they are clearer to me...

Keebler cookies... drool...

Oh, back on target...

Read the manual so I have a handle on those functions but how to use them is the difficult part for the non-imaginative. (My hand is raised as I sit in the back of the classroom.)

I'm not sure I get Sprites and their usefulness. I also would welcome any pontificating on the uses of tell target.

I've done these two pieces that I don't mind sharing:
http://uncommongrafx.com/Tutes/LW_AuraFilter.html
http://ccelaine.uncommongrafx.com
I have a handle on the program but want more, greedy little elf

that I am.
Thanks for the assist,

**Frets** · 03-11-2003, 01:10 AM

When a movie is streamed,,,,,,

The entire movie is cut up into little pieces
so it does not have to be fully loaded in one shot.

This is true regardless of streamed formats including
streamed swf, real, windows media or quictime.

However as it is cut up into frame pieces the pieces
Dont alway re assemble on the other end for a seamless
experience.
This is known as buffering,,,
Keeping the buffering to a minimum is handled by
how the movie is prepped before and during it's conversion
to swf format.
Reducing the frame rate, decreasing the color depth and
resizing the movies dimensions all will help to decrease
the download speed or kbps. Of course this also causes
some degradation in the streamed movies quality.

Swideo has export setting for custom frame rate
as well as color reduction/size reduction and kbps settings

As for sprites.

Sprites are mini movies
They have independent timelines. Movies can be
loaded into sprites so that it can be controlled by the parent
or root scene (stop, play, go to frame)
This is achieved via tell target.

In order for tell target to work you need to name
the sprite.

On event
Tell Target "MySprite"
go to frame x

You can as well tell a level to go to a specific frame
via tell target
On event
tell target "_level01/"
Go to frame x

In order for a tell target to work with a loaded movie
the loaded movie must be loaded.

Ergo If you load a streamed file with 1000 frames in it
and then tell that loaded movie to go to frame 1000
it won't happen because frame 1000 does not exist yet.
Frames exist as they load If they haven't loaded they
can not be called.

Frets

**Dead Rabbit** · 03-11-2003, 01:16 AM

Well, Sprites are pretty much a movie-within-a-movie. Think of it as a reuseable animation. Play it when you want, move it around while it's playing, use 'em for repeating animations (complex or simple) - all sort of uses for sprites.

Sprites have their own timeline that runs at the same speed as the main movie, but run independently of the main movie. Sprites can run while the main movie is stopped, and vice-versa.

Sprites also make useful containers for other sprites, loaded movies, or just to prevent you from assigning multiple commands to buttons over and over. Sprites can tell other sprites what to do, or tell the main movie what to do.

And, that's what Tell Target is all about. If you don't have any targets, you never need to tell them what to do.

Once you figure it all out - a whole new world opens up, and your movies become more complex, yet easier to work on.

**UnCommonGrafx** · 03-11-2003, 01:16 AM

Another Swish-friend,
Thanks Frets!
Gonna digest this in the am and attempt to use it as I envision.
There's a lot of hidden power in this simple stuff. I am amazed and in awe.

I need to go to bed as my elf magic needs recharging.

Take care,

**UnCommonGrafx** · 03-11-2003, 01:20 AM

Darn, you guys are prolific!

Thanks for that, DR.

You are absolutely right about the whole new world opening up -- it is right now.

Going off to bed to ruminate on this wealth of info.
Just... gotta... think... it through...

UnCommonly good,

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