Digital Workshop

I normally do NOT use Flash videos, but I'm being forced to with a new client who has many SWF files they want within an OPUS Pub.

I double-clicked a test SWF file from my Windows Explorer, and it works as a fairly large video (height and width). I created a Video Object in OPUS and used the Browser to select the SWF file. In my Preview test, the video is not as wide and only about 25% of its "normal" size (from my initial, out of OPUS test) regardless of how wide/tall I make the Video Object. I tried using Centered, and "Scale to Fit" with/without "Keep Aspect" -- without any difference. It is still not the right size and I can't adjust it like I can with WMV, AVI, MPEG files. Should I be using some other OPUS Object for a SWF file?

Another problem is it keeps looping even though I have it set for "Play Once." I have tried changing the Video type without any success. Can someone who has successfully used SWF files make suggestions as to how to "fix" these problems. There are as many as 200 SWF files I need to embed, so I don't want to have to convert all the files to some other format.

Instead of using a Video Object, I created a Browser Object for the space where I want the video (SWF). I 1) left the Default Internet address blank, 2) De-Selected "Automatically connect...", and 3) turned OFF the Outline Border and Status Bar under "Appearance." I found through initial tests that I also had to set the Browser as "Initially Hidden."

Using a Button Object with a Left Mouse Click, I had two Actions: 1) Show "Browser 1" and 2) Navigate Browser 1 where I selected Browser 1, and inserted the location of the SWF file in the "Navigate to the Internet Address."

OK, so now I've got it playing in approximately the size I want with a more "normal 4x3" aspect ratio, but it still loops over and over.

Still looking for EXPERT help. I'm wondering why OPUS even allows you to select SWF files for a Video Object if they don't work...

Fred,

Are you dissing my favourite format?

http://www.live.interaktiv.co.uk/index. ... Itemid=166

Yes, they work - really well, but like MPEG1 it depends on the encoder.

Can you send me an example and I'll check it?

Mack

I have the same problem. My swf flash video loops even when I tick 'play once'. Anybody got a solution? Thank you.

I gave up fighting with SWF. I use "AVS Video Converter" (http://www.avs4you.com) and convert files to MPEG. They always work then.

Apparently the world at large has this problem.

Out of curiosity (yeah, I may someday decide to use Flash video ), I did a bit of searching.

Ideas found...
- republish the flash with a stop() in the last frame
- people are experiencing problems with IE7 and not 6 or 8 (how related to the embedded MS Media Player /ocx ??)
- Flash movies' default is to loop (I guess that implies the authors/editors should toggle an option before publishing??)

If do Preview in Opus, and right-click on the video object, you can try manually unchecking the 'Loop' option (but what result???, and if it works... how to change settings programmatically??)

FWIW, I used...
Ask.com Advanced Search: http://www.ask.com/webadvanced
Words/phrase: swf flash loop "play once" last:year

I think I've found a workaround.

If you apply an action to a button to trigger it, you can enter the beginning and end times of the 'play video', so it will therefore only play once.