How do you use Flash promotional videos?

Webmaster Discussion
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#1

I would like to try and use promotional Flash videos but it all seems to be very confusing, there are several formats and most of them use different type of code. On top of that, most if not all Flash code to use (HTML) is invalid and doesnt validate.

The only one I can find that seems to be valid XHTML is this:

<object type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” data=“http://www.gaydemon.com/flash.swf” height=“240” width=“320”>
<param name=“movie” value=“http://www.gaydemon.com/flash.swf” /></object>

It just seems more difficult than I would have thought. Specially with all the youtube videos etc, isnt it supposed to be easy to use Flash videos?

How are you supposed to use them, what formats etc… How do you use flash videos?

#2

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

[QUOTE=gaydemon;12982]I would like to try and use promotional Flash videos but it all seems to be very confusing, there are several formats and most of them use different type of code. On top of that, most if not all Flash code to use (HTML) is invalid and doesnt validate.

The only one I can find that seems to be valid XHTML is this:

<object type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” data=“http://www.gaydemon.com/flash.swf” height=“240” width=“320”>
<param name=“movie” value=“http://www.gaydemon.com/flash.swf” /></object>

It just seems more difficult than I would have thought. Specially with all the youtube videos etc, isnt it supposed to be easy to use Flash videos?

How are you supposed to use them, what formats etc… How do you use flash videos?[/QUOTE]

Bjorn,

Actually the easiest way to use embedded flash vids is using object embed code (just like you posted). Not sure probably some sponsors might have invalid codes, I’d suggest you contacting them directly and figuring out what exactly the issue is. It’s really easy to fix the code, so there should be little to no hassle.

As for the easiest way of mass importing the videos into your script I’d suggest reading the object embed codes from an xml feed. Saves much time.

#3

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

we’re creating the videos ourselves, and the code doesn’t seem to be working no matter which one we try.

bjorn, here’s a thought - could your blog software be affecting the embedded player code somehow?

#4

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

[QUOTE=basschick;13072]
bjorn, here’s a thought - could your blog software be affecting the embedded player code somehow?[/QUOTE]

Now that makes sense, if you’re using the vids on a blog operated by WP there might be code conflicts. I’ve faced it myself, however didn’t go into details as to what exactly causes the conflict. Just Googled the issue and found what code 100% works for people:

<object width=“425” height=“350”> <param name=“movie” value=“http://www.URL.com”></param> <embed src=“http://www.URL.com”
type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” width=“425” height=“350”></embed></object>

Make sure the code is wirtten in single line because WP will automatically insert new line tags.

#5

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

not using wordpress, but could be the same issue.

thank you very much - we’ll give it a try :slight_smile:

[quote=TopBucks Lilit;13080]Now that makes sense, if you’re using the vids on a blog operated by WP there might be code conflicts. I’ve faced it myself, however didn’t go into details as to what exactly causes the conflict. Just Googled the issue and found what code 100% works for people:

<object width=“425” height=“350”> <param name=“movie” value=“http://www.URL.com”></param> <embed src=“http://www.URL.com”
type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” width=“425” height=“350”></embed></object>

Make sure the code is wirtten in single line because WP will automatically insert new line tags.[/quote]

#6

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

[QUOTE=gaydemon;12982]I would like to try and use promotional Flash videos but it all seems to be very confusing, there are several formats and most of them use different type of code. On top of that, most if not all Flash code to use (HTML) is invalid and doesnt validate.

It just seems more difficult than I would have thought. Specially with all the youtube videos etc, isnt it supposed to be easy to use Flash videos?

How are you supposed to use them, what formats etc… How do you use flash videos?[/QUOTE]

I’ll tell you what I aspire to, but don’t have the clout to achieve (given that you have more clout you might be able to achieve it)… I’ve done this with corporate stuff, but getting what I need from sponsors in the adult industry is basically impossible (especially since I like to hotlink stuff off their servers)…

First, use SWFObject. For starters, it’s XHTML compliant, and second it works on the idea that you replace non-Flash content with Flash via Javascript. It also isn’t affected by the Eolas lawsuit that Microsoft lost that requires you to click twice to do anything with Flash in IE.

So the basic idea is you’d first have say a screenshot that a person with without Flash could click on to see/download a .wmv or .mpg. Then if the person has Flash (95% do), SWFObject will confirm they have an adequate version of Flash and replace the <div> with the non-Flash content with the Flash content. Not that you worry about it, but this helps make you ADA compliant. It also helps to give search engine spiders something they can understand.

So the next thing I’d do is use my own FLV player for a consistent user experience. If you want to get one off the shelf FlowPlayer is pretty good.

So SWFObject will load FlowPlayer and then FlowPlayer requires a playlist. That play list can be a single flv file, or it can be a screen capture image followed by one or more flvs (or mpgs, if the user has Flash v9,0,115 or greater). If you’re really anal you’ll modify SWFObject to have FlowPlayer play H.264 mpgs if the user has a version of Flash that supports it, otherwise flvs…

The best in terms of bandwidth is to load a jpg screen capture, and then when the user clicks is when the movie is loaded. This is critical if there are multiple movies on the page. On a page with a single movie you can tweak it to start pre-loading the video.

Of course, you’ll need to get flvs from your sponsors, or create them off the videos they provide you… You don’t want or need “embed codes” - you want the underlying Flash-compatible video files…

To me, that’s the optimal way to do it. I wish I were in a position to do things at that level, but it’s just not going to happen any time soon…

#7

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

I would make a 1 page tube of content you know converts and call it gay demon tube :slight_smile: Once you get the embed bugs sorted out :slight_smile:

#8

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

Thats interesting. THanks. Have to look at that. Movable Type can do the same, depending on your setting it converts linebreaks for example. Unfortunatley I dont think thats the problem.

From what ive seen the code that DOES work, doesnt validate as proper XHTML. While the code that does validate as proper html do not dispaly the video properly.

[quote=TopBucks Lilit;13080]Now that makes sense, if you’re using the vids on a blog operated by WP there might be code conflicts. I’ve faced it myself, however didn’t go into details as to what exactly causes the conflict. Just Googled the issue and found what code 100% works for people:

<object width=“425” height=“350”> <param name=“movie” value=“http://www.URL.com”></param> <embed src=“http://www.URL.com”
type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” width=“425” height=“350”></embed></object>

Make sure the code is wirtten in single line because WP will automatically insert new line tags.[/quote]

#9

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

arrggghhh…

Complicated, but yes. I think you are totally right. The problem is that most flash isnt XHTML compliant. And there simply isnt any easy or straight forward way to do it if you want it clean and tidy.

Ive got to read your post again and have a look at the links you gave. Sounds like your talking exactly about what my issue is though.

Thanks!

I just wish it was as easy as using a Youtube clip, with their small tidy code.

#10

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

I use a few tools for converting flash videos, one of them is FlashVideoMX (http://www.flash-video-mx.com/), this one creates an html template page for you after it converts the video which provides you with the embed code. Maybe that will help all those struggling with flash embed code.

#11

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

THANKS!

Will definitly try that out.

#12

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

that’s the program i used to create the flash vids i made and tried on gaydemon. you didn’t care for the code - as i recall, combined with your blog software, the videos didn’t work right in both browsers.

[quote=gaydemon;13145]THANKS!

Will definitly try that out.[/quote]

#13

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

I tested it now using SWFObject. That works perfectly!

A bit of extra code but at least it works, looks ok on both IE and Firefox plus it also validates as XHTML.

#14

Re: How do you use Flash promotional videos?

Glad I could point you in the right direction…