Kind of new to this flash development. I've got a homepage with a flash-file and have gotten it to work with this SWFObject-help. But I also want to make it possible for users who hasn't got flash installed to very easily be able to install this when visiting this homepage (although it's used almost everywhere these days, so I don't really see how this situation even could exist - but better safe than sorry! ;-D ).
In IE you get a window prompting you to install flash if you haven't it installed yet: "Internet Explorer - Security Warning Do you want to install this software? Name: Adobe Flash Player Publisher: Adobe Systems Incorporated" With choices to "Install" or "Don't Install" (Wanted to post an image of it, but I hope you know what window I'm thinking of.)
How do I do to invoke this when I'm using the SWFObject? It's so easily installed this way, in a few seconds the flash-file plays correctly. Atleast the user knows that there is more to the page than the static image he sees, if he choses to not install flash.
Can anyone explain this to me in a simple way - it would be great! :-D
The idea is that you tell the user they don't have flash (or the correct version) in your alternative content. Just supply a link or insert in the standard "get flah player" image which Adobe supplies with a link on it.
If the user had v6.0.65 or higher, you can also invoke the express insatll dialouge (an inline installer which means you don't have to leave the current webpage). See more here: http://blog.deconcept.com/swfobject/#expressinstall
Fi, I recently modified SWFObject to include this functionality for my company, I can tell you it isn't a simple "add this line" here operation. My reccomendation is to supply a link to your user that opens up a page with the following source.
Please be aware that this only works in Internet Explorer, Firefox does not support this. With Firefox, the user pretty much has to download the installer to his/her desktop or activate a plugin installation through Firefox itself.
i want to emphasize what jasconious mentioned: Firefox's install method is completely different from IE, so there's no way to build a universal 'click here to install Flash' system if the user doesn't already have an older version of Flash installed.
this is a good thing, considering all the malware out there these days...
Yes, and that is almost exactly why having the Flash Embed automatically trigger the install itself is not that good of an idea. Running ActiveX controls is a very risky operation, because that codebase could be anything, including a virus, so when you go to some random web site it is trying to install an ActiveX control, even if it claims to be Flash, it might be a little weird to the user. The only reason I did it is because a client demanded it :P
The object source I posted is a good option for IE users, that way they can install Flash without leaving your site. Though it is slightly buggy, that is to say it refreshes the page before you actually install the control, anyone know why?
Jasconius, Your idea is terrific. I also wanted the ActiveX auto-installer to kick open for IE users without Flash installed.
I actually put the object code inside div id="flashcontent". But when I did this, the AxtiveX installer was activated every time, even if Flash player was already installed.
and now it works great (this is Adobe's classid listed on their site). If Flash is not installed, the auto-installer kicks open. If Flash is installed, it is ignored and the Flash just plays.