Links not working for one user, but working for another user

May 23, 2014

Dave Galvin
By Dave Galvin

Hi,

I have a strange issue with a very small three page SL project. Here is the set up:

  • The project has four external URL links and includes a very small (less than 4mb) .flv intro video, which plays automatically on the homepage.
  • The homepage has a layer added with a web object inserted, which plays a YouTube video via an iframe.
  • There are four navigation buttons on the right of the page, three point to external URL's, one is a link to an internal project contact us page. The contact us page has an external url link too.

Locally and on the web server I have hosted this on, everything works as it should. The problem occurs when I send these files to colleagues. I have sent them zip files via a Dropbox link and as an email attachment.

When they extract the files to their hard drives and their web server, they find that none of the external links work. They are active, but nothing happens when clicked on. The trigger for the layer works, the web object box appears, but the YouTube video doesn't work. The internal contact us page link works, but the other four URL links do nothing. I don't know if this makes any difference, my colleagues are in India and Dubai. I have another colleague in England, where I am based, and everything worked as it should when he unzipped the files.

I am at a loss as to what to suggest. They are using the same files as I am, but getting different results.

If anyone has any suggestions, they would be very welcome.

Regards

David

3 Replies
Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard
almost 10 years ago05/23/14 at 9:07 am (UTC)

Hi Dave,

So you've sent them the published output, which they test locally by extracting the files and by loading up to a web server (not the same one you use)? Are you able to share with them the link to your web server to see if that one plays as expected for them? Any idea what browser/flash version they're using? You may want to share the system requirements with them here.  

If you'd like, I'm also happy to give it a test on my end if you can share the .story file or the published output folder with us. 

Dave Galvin
almost 10 years ago05/23/14 at 2:24 pm (UTC)

Hi Ashley,

Thanks for replying.

That's right. I have sent them the published files, zipped up. They have tested them on their local machines and have uploaded to their server; on both occasions the links did not work for them. I have uploaded these same files to my web server, shared the link and that does work for them.

Regarding browsers, the company I contract for are still using IE8, which will not be changing any time soon. I tested this on the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome and it worked for me. Every test they did on each browser was unsuccessful.

I am unable to share the story files with you unfortunately, for confidentiality reasons.

Many thanks

Dave

Ashley Terwilliger-Pollard
almost 10 years ago05/27/14 at 8:32 am (UTC)

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the additional information. If the version you published and loaded to a server is working as expected (even in IE8?) then it sounds like something is occurring when they load the published files to a web server or somehow their server is blocking access to the links? Testing it locally is not recommended as you'll encounter security restrictions from the computer, web browser, Flash Player, and network that'll cause various features of your content to fail. 

The system requirements say that IE8 should be ok - but did you have them check which Flash version they're using? 

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