I read what you suggested: flash movie best practices. As I'd like to insert a SWF file that contains interactive elements, could you please tell me how to modify my SWF file so that it can be inserted into Storyline with all interactive elements and without having the error message that I showed above?
Hi HH! In the same document, there are tips and the following is how you would add your file:
If your SWF file contains interactive elements, use the Insert > Flash option instead. This method plays the SWF file independently of the slide, allowing your users to interact with it at their own pace.
Don’t use references to _root or _level0 If you use ActionScript 2.0 (not recommended—see above), note that references to _root and _level0 can cause issues with the Storyline player and should be avoided. For more information on how to avoid using _root and _level0 references, please visit Adobe’s Flash Support Center.
Perhaps some community members would be able to assist you as well.
The flash has been created externally several years ago, that's why we won't be able to ask them not to use "references to_root". There is no source file in the folder, so we can't modify it neither.
My solution to this problem is to use Sothink Quicker to edit out all interactive components and action script2 code from the source SWF, insert the swf into Storyline, then rebuild the interactivity using Storyline layers and buttons and variables.
Luckily, most of the 'interactivity' on the original swf's is simply buttons which open up other menu's/swfs so this technique will work for me. For any swf's with higher levels of interaction (i.e. not just buttons) then I intend getting a 'proper' animator to convert the AS2 (which uses the _root reference) to AS3, which will work in Storyline.
I have the source fla files, so I can send these off for editing using Flash. However, if you only have the swf file AS2 script can also be updated to AS3 in Sothink Quicker as well. To what degree of success I'm not sure.
I hope this helps, and please remember, I haven't actually done any of this editing yet as I am still trying to learn Sothink Quicker (using a book for adobe Flash 8 - close enough but pretty frustrating).
Thanks for sharing that idea here, and I haven't heard of SoThink before, so I'll be curious how this method works out for you. I'm not certain that HH is still subscribed to this thread, so you may wan to send a private message with the same information.
Thanks for sharing that idea here, and I haven't heard of SoThink before, so I'll be curious how this method works out for you. I'm not certain that HH is still subscribed to this thread, so you may wan to send a private message with the same information.
Thanks for sharing that idea here, and I haven't heard of SoThink before, so I'll be curious how this method works out for you. I'm not certain that HH is still subscribed to this thread, so you may wan to send a private message with the same information.
Thanks again!
Done.
Thank you Steve for sharing your solution and for sending me the private message!
Thanks for sharing that idea here, and I haven't heard of SoThink before, so I'll be curious how this method works out for you. I'm not certain that HH is still subscribed to this thread, so you may wan to send a private message with the same information.
Thanks again!
Done.
Thank you Steve for sharing your solution and for sending me the private message!
Thank you Ashley for your idea about the message!
Ashley,
Sothink worked fine pulling out AS2 'root' references and editing/deleting certain elements of the swf, but I had over 30 files to edit so ended up outsourcing the work to a graphic designer! Oh well...
20 Replies
Hi HH and welcome to E-Learning Heroes! We do not advise using references to _root and you can read more about that here.
Hi Leslie,
Thank you for your reply in August.
I read what you suggested: flash movie best practices. As I'd like to insert a SWF file that contains interactive elements, could you please tell me how to modify my SWF file so that it can be inserted into Storyline with all interactive elements and without having the error message that I showed above?
Thank you!
Oh, by the way, the player is Adobe Flash Player 10.0 r22.
Thank you in advance!
Hi HH! In the same document, there are tips and the following is how you would add your file:
Hi Leslie,
Thank you for your reply.
When I inserted the flash, I got the error message that I showed you on the 1F.
That's why I asked you for help. Would you have some advices?
Hi HH! I do not. As the article stated:
If you use ActionScript 2.0 (not recommended—see above), note that references to _root and _level0 can cause issues with the Storyline player and should be avoided. For more information on how to avoid using _root and _level0 references, please visit Adobe’s Flash Support Center.
Perhaps some community members would be able to assist you as well.
Hi Leslie,
The flash has been created externally several years ago, that's why we won't be able to ask them not to use "references to_root". There is no source file in the folder, so we can't modify it neither.
Thank you for your reply!
Ah, thanks for the update HH. I'm not sure if someone else has found a way around this that could possibly assist you.
Hi HH and Leslie.
My solution to this problem is to use Sothink Quicker to edit out all interactive components and action script2 code from the source SWF, insert the swf into Storyline, then rebuild the interactivity using Storyline layers and buttons and variables.
Luckily, most of the 'interactivity' on the original swf's is simply buttons which open up other menu's/swfs so this technique will work for me. For any swf's with higher levels of interaction (i.e. not just buttons) then I intend getting a 'proper' animator to convert the AS2 (which uses the _root reference) to AS3, which will work in Storyline.
I have the source fla files, so I can send these off for editing using Flash. However, if you only have the swf file AS2 script can also be updated to AS3 in Sothink Quicker as well. To what degree of success I'm not sure.
I hope this helps, and please remember, I haven't actually done any of this editing yet as I am still trying to learn Sothink Quicker (using a book for adobe Flash 8 - close enough but pretty frustrating).
The Sothink SWF Quicker website is here --> http://www.sothink.com/product/swfquicker/
It costs US$85, but there is a free trial you can try out first.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sharing that idea here, and I haven't heard of SoThink before, so I'll be curious how this method works out for you. I'm not certain that HH is still subscribed to this thread, so you may wan to send a private message with the same information.
Thanks again!
Done.
Thank you Steve for sharing your solution and for sending me the private message!
Thank you Ashley for your idea about the message!
Happy to help HH!
After reading this thread, I decided to try out some old flash files, done in flash MX.
http://www.tazra.com/elevator/
First one is instructional, the other is a game.
Seems to works on PC but speed is faster.
Unfortunately it does not on iOS or android tablets.
Any suggestions how to make these work on tablets?
Hi Philip,
I wasn't able to get to anything on the link you shared, but Flash (SWF) files aren't supported in Articulate Storyline's HTML5 output.
For full comparison of Storyline's Flash, HTML5, and Articulate Mobile Player output, click here.
Ashley,
Sothink worked fine pulling out AS2 'root' references and editing/deleting certain elements of the swf, but I had over 30 files to edit so ended up outsourcing the work to a graphic designer! Oh well...
Thanks for the update Steve and hopefully it'll help someone else who needs to edit the Flash files.
Ashley, thanks for feedback and link.
Its strange you cannot see it, as I can from my end. This is an interesting development.
Wondering what platform you were viewing it from.
I use Google Chrome and it has flash version 12. When I access the link I get a pop up blocker, and even if I allow it - nothing appears.
Thanks for that info, it might help me troubleshoot.
The pop up is due to selecting "launch player in new window", under the player properties.
Thanks again.
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