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Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has a good suggestion for my current situation:
-I need to make a cd for clients to look at.
-I've already got some .pdf files of brochures
-I'd like to integrate some flash animations
I'd sorta like to stick with the .pdf format for the text and graphics, because it's an easily scalable format that users can print out and navigate intuitively. However, I don't think it's possible to embed .swf files in a .pdf (please correct me if I'm wrong here). If I can, then that would solve my problem, but if I can't, then I'm not really sure what to do.
Should I try something like linking to the .swf files from the .pdf or go pure .swf and attempt to emulate the look and feel of a .pdf within the flash environment.
Thanks for your time,
Thinxalot
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You can actually embed PDF inside swf Files using Flash 'N Pack check it out :
http://www.flashnpack.com
here is a small demo that shows .pdf file inside Flash Movie (.swf)
http://www.flashnpack.com/samples/do...p?file=pdf.exe
the source file for this demo is included with The FREE Trila Version of Flash 'N Pack.
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Thanks for the quick reply!
The demo appears to look good, except I find that it lacks the ability to be resized. I'm also finding problems with the actual interpretation of the .pdf it's showing (little squares appearing instead of letters occasionally).
This looks promising, and I would be interested in purchasing something like this if the bugs were worked out.
Thanks again,
Thinxalot
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You have serveral ways of dealing with PDF file with LPFlashEx
1. Just open it externally :
LP.exec("open",YourPDFFileName);
2. Load and Control it within flash :
see sample :
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/PDFV2.zip (100KB)
3. Load it externally using acrobat reader, and control the window of the acrobat reader. You can even stick the acrobat reader window without border to your flash window specific position and size and let it move / resize with your window.
See sample :
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/ExternalApp.zip (93KB)
4. You can launch the PDF file and hide your own flash widnow, waiting for the PDF file to be closed to auto popup your flash window again.
See above sample
note that the samples need to publsih to Project (exe) to test.
Using LPFlashEx, you are using you original Projector with added commands. You dont need to worry if your end user have flash installed or not becasue you dont need them. Some other tools use OCX to play your swf and you NEED to make sure your end user had flash installed and matching your flash version.
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Well actually there are no bugs, the demo you downloaded uses a small ActiveX Control to read the .pdf files the beauty of this ActiveX is that your users doesn't have to have Acrobat Reader to view the .pdf files because it doesn't rely on any external files... and it is intended to be used with small .pdf files... but if you are using big .pdf files with a lot of graphics and stuff then you should use the Acrobat reader ActiveX Control.. if you take this rout your .pdf files will appear exactly as they would in a regular browser... and such.... but it will require that your user to have Acrobat reader to view them, or you can use the Acrobat Reader from CD-Rom...
so here is a demo that will show .pdf files using Acrobat Readers own Control...
http://www.flashnpack.com/samples/do...le=Acrobat.exe
and here is the Source File:
http://www.flashnpack.com/samples/do...le=Acrobat.fnp
I hope this helps..
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Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. However, I think a safer approach would be to simply convert the pdf into a series of .png files, and use those in a .swf, along with giving the users the option to look at the original pdf (for printing purposes) by including that on the cd.
I tested both programs here, and (no offense) they seem to both need some additional development regarding design and gui elements. The innate pdf viewer included in both also have some shortcomings regarding fonts (not sure why, it's a pdf, so that shouldn't happen, right?) as well some viewing problems that look like proportional constraints aren't being maintained.
Please don't take this as a flame (It's no problem for me to stop posting on this thread.), but as a constructive critique.
Thanks again,
Thinxalot
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No problem. Actually I think we have to thanks for your comment. Comments make improvement.
We understand our sample is not well designed becasue we just want to show the functionality but dont have much time and lack the telent to decorate its appearance. I am good for programming but lack the design talent :P
For the quality of the document, both products are using Acrobat Reader OCX which is made by Adobe so both quality will be the same. Actually it is also the same as your viewing a PDF file in browser becasue all are using the same thing. This cant be improved by ourself.
However, if you have try using my other example
http://www.lpflashex.com/dl/ExternalApp.zip (93KB)
You will notice that it is completely different. It is becasue this example directly use the Acrobat Reader (the program that one double click PDF file to open) so the quality will be the same as you see normally with Acrobat reader. It is true that the sample had make it too samll when sticked in the Flash window beacuse it had to use the other space to demostrate the funtions. However, you can make it to your desire size and stick it to a specific part of your flash movie. However, you lost the control on page nevigation zooming or so which the OCX version offer.
If you think saving to PNG and import to flash is good for you, it is just fine. We just offer more choose and it is great you find your satifactory solution.
For the part you mention let user open the original PDF file, getURL will only open it will browser which will suffer the same quality you mentioned as it is using the OCX.
To open them using Acrobat Reader, you may use FlashGeek for free if you dont have much files.
http://www.flashgeek.com/tutorials/07_launchapp_01.htm
You may of casue still consider using LPFlashEx standard edition which has 40+ fucntions and free for self use for unlimited time (need renewal free licence) and cost only US$20 for register.
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Did you know that you can run your .pdf inside a web browser using Flash 'N Pack....
check out this example..
if your .pdf files run ok in the web browser then you can easily integrate the Web Browser inside your flash movie...
look at this demo:
Web PDF
and here is the source:
http://207.150.221.92/ws-flashnpa/sa...ile=webpdf.fnp
I hope this helps.
[Edited by Flash 'N Pack on 07-15-2002 at 05:38 PM]
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:) Good to hear that you welcome the critique. I'm going to think about the situation for a bit longer, but your price seems to be really tempting...
Thanks for the replies,
Thinxalot
