mx 2004 ? is there a way to write data to a file

**doorman** · 09-24-2003, 03:53 PM

Hello.

I have been waiting for the mx 2004 and now it´s available. Unfortunately I´m using Flash solely for multimedia and so I really hoped that the new Flash MX 2004 would improve support for multimedia CD releases.

Wishlist..
( Right mouse button control )
( File IO )

Using the new mx 2004...

...is there a way to read and write to a file ?

Thanks.

**MikeDowney** · 09-24-2003, 03:59 PM

No. Flash runs in a security sandbox and does not have access to the local file system. You may want to check out Central (http://www.macromedia.com/software/central) as it supposedly has a few minor changes in the security model.

Alternatively, you can use Director (http://www.macromedia.com/software/director) which is *arguably* the best multimedia authoring environment for fixed media development. With Director you can do things like this.

Regards,
MD

**PAlexC** · 09-24-2003, 04:36 PM

Local SharedObjects are gone in MX2004?!

Geez, I hope not.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/fl...s/local_so.htm

*edit*

Wait, no they can't be gone in MX2004. Nevermind. No more panic. Just use the tute on local shared objects and you'll be fine.

**MikeDowney** · 09-24-2003, 04:50 PM

Well, OK, you're right. LSO's are *technically* writing to the HD. Though they still run w/in the sandbox. So if you're just looking to save text-based data (strings) to a user's machine, you can do so with local shared objects.

Thanks for bringing that up, it completely slipped my mind.

Here's a code example:

Code:

// Get the kookie
so = sharedobject.getlocal("kookie");

// Get the user of the kookie and go to the frame number saved for this user.
if (so.data.user != undefined) {
  this.user = so.data.user;
  this.gotoAndStop(so.data.frame);
}

The following code block is placed on each SWF frame.

Code:

// On each frame, call the rememberme function to save the frame number.
function rememberme() {
  so.data.frame=this._currentFrame;
  so.data.user="John";
}

**PAlexC** · 09-24-2003, 04:53 PM

Text? Dude, you can store custom-defined objects in there without any conversion. LSO's are great!

**MikeDowney** · 09-24-2003, 04:56 PM

Let me re-phrase:

You can store variables in an LSO. So yes, that would include any instantiated objects and their associated data.

LSOs are awesome. And if you have Flash Communication Server MX, you can store them on the server.

;-)

**doorman** · 09-24-2003, 05:06 PM

how can I save the text file (cookie) inside the same folder the swf file is located in. Unfortunately I will be running a projector.exe located on the local computer in a specific folder. Can I save the file in the same folder ?

thanks again for your quick reply.

**PAlexC** · 09-24-2003, 05:11 PM

LSO's will be created in the application data\macromedia\flash player\domain folder on the user's machine. (Under NT/2k/XP, this set of folders exists for each user. Flash uses the currently logged in user.)

For CD-Roms, the domain will be localhost. Flash movies may only read/write out of their own domains for security reasons.

However, within a domain, you can specify your own path if you don't want the files to be stored by swf name. (By default, flash makes a folder for each swf, based on the swf file name.)

code:



myso = SharedObject.getLocal("myfolder/mysofilename","/");

This would create/read from a folder under the domain (in the case of a cd-rom, the localhost folder) named #myfolder, within there, there would now be a mysofilename.sol file which is your shared object.

**FPChris** · 09-24-2003, 07:38 PM

Hey Mike...

Do you think MM will eventually add 'real' File IO
for Text and Binary file writing? I think is would
be unavoidable at some point in the future if they
continue to push Flash for application development.

There's the whole security issue but someother solution
really needs to present itself. Shared Objects won't
win over any seasoned application developers.

Chris

**MikeDowney** · 09-24-2003, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by FPChris
Hey Mike...

Do you think MM will eventually add 'real' File IO
for Text and Binary file writing? I think is would
be unavoidable at some point in the future if they
continue to push Flash for application development.

Yeah Chris, I agree with you. It seems inevitable that Macromedia will come up with some solution. However, as you can imagine, we are EXTREMELY cautious when it comes to security and the Flash Player. The second any conceivable security compromise is discovered the news spreads around the industry like wildfire. Fortunately our development teams have been publicly commended by the biggest Internet security agencies for how quickly they respond to security issues.

My best guess is that local file system access will depend on some creative thinking on ways to avoid security problems. The same problem is being addressed with several web technologies. For now, check out Director as it has a lot more access to the local file system than Flash. Shockwave doesn't, but Director projectors do. Maybe that will be the answer for Flash in the future - something more along the lines of Director.

I don't know, but I too will have to wait and see what our engineers come up with. For now, security is paramount, trust me. :-)

MD

**PAlexC** · 09-24-2003, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by FPChris
Hey Mike...

Do you think MM will eventually add 'real' File IO
for Text and Binary file writing? I think is would
be unavoidable at some point in the future if they
continue to push Flash for application development.

There's the whole security issue but someother solution
really needs to present itself. Shared Objects won't
win over any seasoned application developers.

Chris

It's called Director. The only reason Flash gets all of the attention is that the Shockwave player has more overhead, and is less ubiquitous. Shockwave files are usually larger as well, and Director has a bit of a steeper learning curve.

**FPChris** · 09-24-2003, 09:56 PM

Originally posted by MikeDowney
For now, check out Director as it has a lot more access to the local file system than Flash. Shockwave doesn't, but Director projectors do. Maybe that will be the answer for Flash in the future - something more along the lines of Director.

Yep. Director is our current method for crossplatform
with the getURL() to crosstalk with lingo.
On the PC only projects I coded fscommands in C++ and
embed the Flash as an ActiveX compoment.

Both work but would love Flash to do it natively.

From what you said it at least seems MM is aware of this
and hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Thanks,
Chris

**PAlexC** · 09-24-2003, 10:48 PM

I can see enhanced capabilities for Flash projectors similar to Director, or a special Director-based utility for making them, but the Flash OCX needs to stay light and secure, IMO, in order for it to stay popular.

Flash and Director were never supposed to compete, remember? Director is really the tool of choice for hardcore CD-ROMs...even though I haven't looked at it since v7

**FPChris** · 09-24-2003, 11:07 PM

I think we can see Flash gaining on Director in each version.
And we're all well aware of what Director can do.

My comments were that if MM is promoting Flash for application development with form based design and an IDE etc.
Then file IO then becomes unavoidable.

What developer wants to make applications that can't read and write data?

Chris

**MikeDowney** · 09-24-2003, 11:27 PM

Originally posted by FPChris
What developer wants to make applications that can't read and write data?

Well, though I agree that file I/O would be nice to have, we need to think about what Flash is really for. It's not for creating "Applications" it's for creating "Web Applications" or, more specifically, "Rich Internet Applications."

Reading and writing data with a web application is entirely different. Flash actually adds a new dimension to web applications with local shared objects - allowing you to store information on a web client's machine. More importantly, Flash integrates with application servers in many different ways.

I think the comment that Director is for standalone, multimedia, fixed-media applications is right on. Though I can't disagree that Flash and Director have grown more similar release by release, they're still very different. Flash is aimed at web applications and Director is aimed at fixed media development. Both are superior to each other at their respective roles.

MD

**doorman** · 09-25-2003, 03:52 AM

Thank you for your answers. I´m currently working at a multimedia company and we are producing educational multimedia cd's for schools.

Firstly I used Director to solve all projects. However because the people I am working with are graphic designers using Freehand to create all graphics for the projects I choose Flash. Firstly it´s much easier to import Freehand graphics into Flash, animation is fun and easy using separate timelines and everything looks smooth and great.

What makes Flash a better multimedia tool in my situation is because its easy to animate and create animation effects and co-workers are using solely Freehand.

I´ve tried to import Flash into Director. However its slow, doubles the work and it's clumsy.

Maybe Macromedia could create a Flash version where special multimedia actions will be available only if the movie is running from an Executive projector. Just a thought.

Thanks again

**FPChris** · 09-25-2003, 09:08 AM

Hey Mike. Since MM is splitting Flash up these days.
How about...

"Flash MX2004 Professional AppDev CDROM Version 1.0 CDMX" ?

Would make for a nice addition to the Flash family of products!

Chris

**PAlexC** · 09-25-2003, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by MikeDowney
Well, though I agree that file I/O would be nice to have, we need to think about what Flash is really for. It's not for creating "Applications" it's for creating "Web Applications" or, more specifically, "Rich Internet Applications."

Thank you!

Flash is a COMPONENT of the MX platform which is competing with Java and .NET folks. (IMO, quite successfully.) NOT C++. LSO's are far better than cookies, which is all you have if you're using anything else on the web.

Central is a GENIOUS component to this platform since it brings it, painlessly, to an Occasionally Connected Computing model. (Yes Mike, I'm gushing over it as an offline client for e-Learning to replace 187 MB run-time servers the client needs to install for their LMS. I just need an LMS vendor willing to give it a go.)

That being said, Director is for CD's and DVD's, and frankly, it's a very good tool for it. If you want to write real applications to run on a CD, it's never going to happen with a tool as easy to use as Flash, however, Director comes pretty close.

So again, Director just needs an update, or a Director-Lite that is designed around importing and using Flash assets for CD-ROMs and DVD's.

**DAY JA VEW** · 10-15-2003, 09:45 AM

Hi, i use flash for applications in some way:
FDIV is a online gallery
and FlaMP3 Is a mp3player, but with this it can be sooo much more (Using other technologies aswell as flash it could play everything! or the admin could browse select the chosen music and have the listner hear it on the admins site, and have a miniplaya in a title bar - u see!)
And so can anything else.
Like flash is sooo easy to use, you can create something fast and keep it looking good. But like i said flash has the potetional but its not getting used.
I recently looked at this http://www.multidmedia.com/ and this company is seeing the potetional of flash, i still havent tried there products but im sure that they are making flash for applications.
This once flash has these abllitys equiped inside it, it will be a remarkable step for flash. They will be replacing programming languages and many other things as the applications will be used for online purposes aswell.
Blah Blah Blah Blah

For the links for FlaMp3 and FDIV go here www.mf-index.tk

**Donelson** · 06-08-2006, 02:25 PM

I don't know if this will help, but.....

For CD-ROMs etc

I have created a very flexible FlashPlayerTrust config files installer at

http://www.armchair-travel.com/FlashTrustCD/

Freeware Beta - Source Code Included

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