Detecting Flash Plugin Version in html page

[macmarts]

Hi and thanks for the help!

I recently upgraded my website to include a scrolling movie where I offer some free
desktop pictures. The scroller requires that I save my .swf as a flash 5 movie.

Here it is:

http://www.macpixels.com/work.html

(if you check it out, as a bonus you can download some desktop pictures if you wish to)

The previous version of the website required only version 4 of the plugin, in order
to make it accessible to a broader audience. It is currently online at the root of my
website:

http://www.macpixels.com

My question is:

is there a javascript that I can use to correctly send users to the appropriate page when they click
the "launch MacPixels.Com" link? I'd prefer having some automatic redirection happen when users click the link, instead of having to offer 2 choices on my page, one for flash 4 users and one for
flash 5 users.

Basically, I'd need a script doing the following:

<if user has flash plugin version4, go to "plugin4.html";
if user has flash plugin version5, go to "plugin5.html">

I remember seeing such a script somewhere, but I've been looking for it for 2 days all over the web
and can't find it.

Thanks for responding!

Martin
[Edited by macmarts on 05-16-2001 at 09:49 AM]

[jsponstijn]

Try this link:

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/.../wm_pluginbot/

Cheers,
Jeron. :-)

[macmarts]

hi jsponstijn!

thanks for your reply!

I downloaded the code and I'm trying to figure it out, but I see a couple of problems
with it, namely:

1- this code checks for all major plugin types (lots of extra code)
(this is a pretty minor problem though, I'm sure I could weed them out eventually)

2- the page where you can test the script, located at:

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/...nbot/demo.html

...returns a result stating that "You don't seem to have either Flash 3 or 4 installed"
...which is correct; I have version 5 installed, but... does this mean that the javascript
is unable to detect (or unaware of ) the flash 5 plugin?

3- I don't see any clear location in the code where I could input the actual html pages where
I want people to be redirected depending on their plugin version, named "plugin4.html" and "plugin5.html" in my previous example.

If there are other helpful javascripts out there, please pass on the links!

thanks again jsponstijn!

Martin
[Edited by macmarts on 05-16-2001 at 02:59 PM]

[Ilya]

Hi !

1. Try to never use flash-detectors on your pages.
2. If yo still want it, never use JS for it.
Sorry

[macmarts]

thanks for your input, Ilya!

...although your reply is quite distressing!!

=(!!

have you got any suggestions other than javascript?

maybe doing a redirect action directly into flash somehow?

thanks

Martin
[Edited by macmarts on 05-17-2001 at 12:59 AM]

[flipsideguy]

Originally posted by Ilya
Hi !

1. Try to never use flash-detectors on your pages.
2. If yo still want it, never use JS for it.
Sorry

I would really like to know why one shouldn't use JS flash detection.

[robsedgwick]

Hi

You could place a flash5 specific command within a small flash movie use for example the
_root.movielip path (specific to flash 5) so users with the flash 4 pluggin will not get this command they might get the next command which could be to go to another HTML page indicating they need the latest pluggin.

Doing this you are using flash itself to detect which version the user has simply because if they dont have 5 they would not get the command to say carry on and play the site.

you get the gist?


cheers

[Ilya]

Hi!

I think that i can talk about it. Because:
Since 1998 we (with my affiliates from Polar Lights) spend several thousand hours in testing different Flash detecting methods. And i can say that there is absolutely no hope to find certified detection way. Of course it is possible to use it on your personal page or on page made for fun. But using different "flash-detectors" on pages made for money is act on the verge of irresponsibility. Looking most popular current detection ways it will be observed that MM sdk is the worst (sorry for such violent language, but it is absolutely useless and stupid), webmonkey way is little better and moock fpi is the best JS way. But even moock script fails in too many browsers and under too many different conditions. I have my own page about detection, but i still don't recommend to use it, because that way fails too. So the best way is simple text page with link to MM site and small flash button that check $version variable and provide (or not) button with link to main page. And without any Geturl-s in keyframe actions and meta refresh.
Sorry, but it is time to look in the eyes of reality at last

[macmarts]

Well Ilya... you really are an authority on the matter...

I looked at your page and your "detection.swf" looked promising... so you're saying that
even that movie will not work 100% of the time with all browsers?
which situations/browser versions seem to fail? If it works with most recent versions
of IExplorer, that could be close enough... (a lot of stuff don't work in Netscape)

-for those who want to see Ilya's detection trick, it's here:

http://polar-lights.com/fla/detection.html

robsedgwick's idea seems very clever also...

there should be a reliable way to detect flash plugin versions!

Can you imagine the confusion to the average user when reaching
a page with this choice:

-click here if you have flash4 plugin installed
-click here if you have flash5 plugin installed

"what flash plugin? installed? installed where!?" etc...

Martin

[Screamsid]

I don't know if i have understood the question but why don't you use a behaviour control from Dreamweaver. I mean that is what i do. And works sweet as.

But i am probably talking complete ****e here.

[jsponstijn]

Hello, I think behaviour control isn't for checking for flash but for controlling flash or shockwave.
I don't have experience with dreamweaver but I think that behavior control from Dreamweaver isn't the solution to the question.

Cheers Jeron :-)

[Screamsid]

Yeah but you can also get it to detect what version of flash player is in the computer.

[macmarts]

Screamsid, please elaborate... this might be interesting...

can you provide a page with the dreamweaver code in it so I could take a look?

Ilya, have you taken a stab at this trick already?

Martin

[Ilya]

Hi !

I have looked at all Dreamweaver already And it is not better regular JS scripts. Someting about 86-88% of stability - not better. Sorry.

[macmarts]

well, I've gone ahead and created a test page with Ilsa's flash plugin detection code!

I created a separate thread for this, it is called:

"Let's Test Ilsa's Plugin Detection Code! (please help) "

so far, it's working in my home tests... anyone that is interested in this problem
should go to this thread and test the page I created...

please test!