Does anyone know why Firefox will (sometimes) automatically switch to HTML5 content? I have two colleagues that have Windows 7 with Firefox 28 installed on their PCs. From the exact same link, they each open a Storyline course in Firefox. For one, it plays the flash version of the course (desired outcome). For the other, it plays the HTML5 version.
I assume there's an easy explanation for that - does anyone know?
If you rule out clicking the wrong file , I'd start by looking at the installed Flash version. It's the first conditional branch point. If the right Flash versions aren't detected, it'll kick over to HTML5.
LOL, thanks Steve. Yes, I can rule out clicking the wrong file. I actually had them share their screens and walk me through their process because I had the same line of thought!
I get the same behavior with Firefox, it always switches to HTML5 for some projects, on our PCs or on our client's machines (well, the ones that complained about the modules not working properly).
We have the same latest version of Flash installed on all browsers and yet it will display HTML5 version !
Recently firefox started blocking Flash by default, so you will want to review the solutions here and ensure you have the most recent version of Flash. Also make sure you're pointing to the story.html file in the published output so that Storyline will show them the correct version based on how they're accessing it.
Did you attempt the solution that Ashley shared above? Your content displaying in HTML5 in Firefox indicates that the course was not able to load in Flash as you can see here.
I can't think of a reason that Firefox would choose to display the HTML5 output over the Flash version unless that is what you were pointing to using the story_html5.html file vs. the story.html file. Could you share a link to the course so that we could test how it's working in our versions of Firefox as well? Have you also tried hosting the course on another web site or LMS?
I did further testing : it looks like the version of Firefox makes the difference.
I published a very simple, single slide, file.
I have the latest version (40) and it switches to HTML5.
I downloaded an old version (17) and it happily plays the SWF version.
Also, if I disable the HTML5 detection in the story.html file (var g_bHtml5Supported = false;), the Flash version plays perfectly on the latest Firefox.
I am using that same version of firefox and haven't run into issues with it automatically directing to the HTML5 version over the Flash version. As I mentioned, Firefox by default is blocking some Flash content as detailed here, so you'll want to look into that as well. If you have a link to the course I'm also happy to test in my version of Firefox to see how it behaves.
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If you rule out clicking the wrong file , I'd start by looking at the installed Flash version. It's the first conditional branch point. If the right Flash versions aren't detected, it'll kick over to HTML5.
http://whatismyflash.com
http://supportdetails.com
LOL, thanks Steve. Yes, I can rule out clicking the wrong file. I actually had them share their screens and walk me through their process because I had the same line of thought!
Thanks for the help!
I get the same behavior with Firefox, it always switches to HTML5 for some projects, on our PCs or on our client's machines (well, the ones that complained about the modules not working properly).
We have the same latest version of Flash installed on all browsers and yet it will display HTML5 version !
Hi Pierre,
Recently firefox started blocking Flash by default, so you will want to review the solutions here and ensure you have the most recent version of Flash. Also make sure you're pointing to the story.html file in the published output so that Storyline will show them the correct version based on how they're accessing it.
Hi Ashley,
Actually Flash is not blocked by Firefox because Flash sites, and some SL published output, work perfectly and the lastest Flash version is installed.
I do point the story.html file but, for some reason, it switches to HTML5 page (story_html5.html). This won't happen with IE or Chrome.
I thought this has to do with LMS but the behaviour is the same with a simple Web output.
Hi Pierre!
Did you attempt the solution that Ashley shared above? Your content displaying in HTML5 in Firefox indicates that the course was not able to load in Flash as you can see here.
Hi Leslie,
I could not attempt Ashley's solution because Firefox is not blocking Flash! It just chooses to display the HTML5 version.
I did a very simple test : I disabled HTML5 output and Flash version plays perfectly in Firefox.
So why is Firefox choosing HTML5 over Flash?
HI Pierre,
I can't think of a reason that Firefox would choose to display the HTML5 output over the Flash version unless that is what you were pointing to using the story_html5.html file vs. the story.html file. Could you share a link to the course so that we could test how it's working in our versions of Firefox as well? Have you also tried hosting the course on another web site or LMS?
I did further testing : it looks like the version of Firefox makes the difference.
I published a very simple, single slide, file.
I have the latest version (40) and it switches to HTML5.
I downloaded an old version (17) and it happily plays the SWF version.
Also, if I disable the HTML5 detection in the story.html file (var g_bHtml5Supported = false;), the Flash version plays perfectly on the latest Firefox.
Hi Pierre,
I am using that same version of firefox and haven't run into issues with it automatically directing to the HTML5 version over the Flash version. As I mentioned, Firefox by default is blocking some Flash content as detailed here, so you'll want to look into that as well. If you have a link to the course I'm also happy to test in my version of Firefox to see how it behaves.
Link sent through support. Thanks.
Thanks Pierre - I responded as a part of the case.
Thanks for your support Ahsley.
I found the solution : I had TWO versions of the Flash plugin in Firefox :
- an old, deactivated version 9
- an up to date version 18
The script in story.html checks for a Flash version equal or above 10, sees this version 9, so it switches to HTML5!
Thanks for the update Pierre and glad you were able to find a solution.
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