Flash :: Launching Applications

Launching Applications
How do i launch applications from flash. Like those CDs from Maximum PC or even for studio 8, the installers are launched from flash, i am sure. how do i do that? Also how do i open PDFs? HTML etc? So for example, i have a few installers, a VB app i created myself, a HTML or PDF documentation for my application. how do i "compile" them in Flash 8, so that the Flash projector will take care of launching the progs, instead of the user having to search thru folders

Launching Applications From A Projector
hi there

anyone know how i can launch adobe acrobat from a flash projector - have tried getURL(filename.pdf) which works fine on a pic but not on a mac (it actually opens it in explorer)

appreciate any help

cheers

steve

Launching External Applications
Sorry if this is a stupid n00bish question, but I want to attach an action to a button within a Flash Movie that will launch Wordpad. I tried getURL (path to exe) but I'm now getting Security Warnings popping up asking me if I want to save or run this file. I'm using XP Service Pack 2 which I know has a lot of additional security measures but the project I'm working on is for eLearning and warnings like this will scare the s*** out of people so is there anyway around this issue

Launching Applications Using FSCOMMAND?
Is it possible to use fscommand with exec to launch applications that are not in an fscommand folder, but somewhere else on your C drive - I am wanting to create a menu for launching Games that I have installed on the C drive. Is there a way to do this?
It was explained on a macromedia page for Flash MX, but they talked about having to use a folder called fscommand in the same place as your flash movie that launches it - how could you do this if the files needed for the game are kind of spread out in different folders at the original install?

Im not sure I understand all thats involved

If possible urgent reply, as a very tight deadline is involved!?

Launching Mutliple Applications
Hi all,

I've scanned the forums and googled till my eyes hurt and can't find a solution for this, so can anyone help...

I've built a flash/CF application that creates online courses and then can export the data into XML and relevant sub folders, along with a "run course.exe" so it can be run locally. I've a load of these courses written and exported - all in their own subdirectories under the main "training" directory - but now want to build a "launcher" in flash. In a nutshell, a load of buttons that will run the exe's that are in the subs.

I've used Fscommand("exec"... to try and launch the courses, but this has certain limitations namely that the "executable" needs to be in an fscommand folder...however, all my executables look in subdirs that have the same name, so they need to be in subs of their own...which fscommand doesn't like. So my dir structure at the moment is like this

c:Training
c:Trainingfscommand
c:Trainingfscommandcourse1 <--- exe in here
c:Trainingfscommandcourse1images
c:Trainingfscommandcourse1xml
c:Trainingfscommandcourse1video
c:Trainingfscommandcourse2 <--- exe in here
c:Trainingfscommandcourse2images
c:Trainingfscommandcourse2xml
c:Trainingfscommandcourse2video
...etc

To get around this, i've created batch files that effectively run the exe in the subs (course1, course2)...BUT that means I'm left with a Command window open until the user finishes with the course - very nasty!

So...is there an alternative to using fscommand in a local environment that will run from any location given? I'm using Flash 8.
I've looked at ExternalInterface, but can't get my head around it, and don't even know if it will do the job.

Many thanks
Phil

Launching External Applications From An Swf
I've got this little interactive portfolio I'm building in Flash 5. It's in Flash because I havn't had time to get familiar with Director.
Got a problem though...
I need to be able to click on a button and tell it to launch an exe. Is there any action script command that will allow me to do that? Is it something similar to "getURL"?
Anyone?... Please?

Launching Applications On Top Of Flash Window
I am creating an information cd about a company. I have a few buttons that open pdf's and a couple that launch 2 applications. Powerpoint viewer and a driver install.

When I click on the button to launch pptview.exe that works fine, the pop up security box comes up asking if I want to run that program. But say I clicked on one of the pdf buttons first that opens up a new window displayin the pdf. If the person does not close out that new window and clicks ont he pptview.exe button the box that pops up to ask if you want to run that program is now behind my flash projector. Is there a way to ensure that when I launch that pptview.exe it will always launch on top of everything so that it isn't hidden behind any window. This problem also happens with the button to launch the driver install.

I use Flash MX 2004
and the actionscript I am using on the pptview button is.

on (release) {
getURL("Slideshow/pptview.exe");
}

I have tried using the fscommand but failed to get it working. my projector file is in the root folder and from there I created a folder named "fscommand" and within that folder I placed pptview.exe and used the actionscript

on (release) {
fscommand("exec","pptview.exe");
}

the button doesn't do anything. My ideal solution would be have the powerpoint file open automatically in powerpoint viewer but I can not get that to work. I tried using ftoolapp.exe and that comes with example flash projects using the program to show what you can do and how to do it and those don't even work.

I am desperate and looking for any solution. Even just fixing the problem to ensure that launching applications will be on top of all windows will be acceptable. If anyone can help please respond.

Thank You.
shane

Launching Applications With Flash Projector MAC
I am having problems launching email from my Flash projector on a MAC. I can launch a pdf file with using Applescript, but I'm not sure how to do it for email. Any and all help would be appreciated.

overdraft -

Applications?
Once again, I apologize if this is in the wrong section of the forum...feel free to move me if so.

I was wondering if anyone knew how to, or if it is possible, to make an application in Flash. BY this I mean, can I have a button in my flash program, that can go to another directory on my computer and delete a file?

I know this is doable in other scripts such as VB and such, but because I love flash and the designs you can do with itm i wish to use flash if possible.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks - Secondcoming114

Sub-applications
Hello, I'm developing an application wich has several sub-applications. The
application is a chat and the subs are the rooms of the chat. My main.asc
script is stored in the root chat folder. How can I list the name of the
applications are into the chat?

rtmp:.......myFMSserver/chat -----> the root folder

*****several applications*****
rtmp:.......myFMSserver/chat/operator1
rtmp:.......myFMSserver/chat/operator2
rtmp:.......myFMSserver/chat/operator3
......

I want to see operator1, operator2, ..... since the root folder that
contains the script. I want to see it to show the operators are connected.
Thank you.

What Applications...?
What Applications do u use to make letters and well little image fly around also the camera move 3d alos the fonts are 3d..
So another word
I am trying to have this font (toronto) from on spot to another spot and camera will follow with it.. which program do i need to make fonts and images looks 3d...

and here chck out the images...
you will see three things..
One is T-REX
Second is CN Tower
THird is REX FIlm

with those i am trying to make it look 3d and don't tell me those big application like 3D Studio MAX i mean like those small ones with 3d looking... I guess i am trying to say GIF file...

Thank You for your time...

SWF 2 EXE Applications
What swf to exe apps do you recommend? mdm, one of kirupa's sponsors has one but it is $300!

thx

Doing Applications
i did an aplication with flash (.exe), to make an autoexecutable cd, but worthy this .exe has the typica menu of any .swf, does anybody know how to eliminate that menu?? thanks a lot

As To Execute Applications *.EXE ?
as to execute applications EXE into FLASH MX ???

Launch Applications
How I can to launch an application in flash MX when a button is pressed?

Thanks

Javier

Email Applications
hi. i need to make an email-able flash movie which can be seen in a person's email client. i have tried exporting it as a quicktime as i understand most email clients can't read swf files and it works fine in 'mail'. i was wondering if anyone knows if most email clients can read quicktimes in thier window or if this is unique to mail in mac osx.

thanks

Link To Applications
I'm creating an interactive desktop w/ flash and have buttons to link to folders/ cycle through wallpapers/ and what not. But am unable to make buttons link to start a program. I was able to do it w/ html linking to a shortcut (target). But w/ flash i cant figure how to make buttons target the shortcut.

http://sn4k3.nstemp.com/images/desktop_2a.jpg

For example to open folder C:
on (release) {
getURL("C:");
}

But to start a program needs to have a "target" set? How would I do that?

thx
5N4K3

Training Applications
I would like to see if anyone had any examples of an intranet training program done in flash. Ultimatley, I will be creating a CD-ROM to be used as a training guide for employees to use their companies intranet. Included in the CD-ROM will be MC's of the mouse cursor pointing and clicking over different areas of the site as well as a voice over.

Im just curious to see if anyone has done something similar so I can get an idea of what different sections would like and the overall function. Thanks alot for the help guys!

Flash Applications
hey, im about to design my portfolio page and i love flash, so i´d like to design it in full flash, but my boss said he would pay for my domain & hosting if I include some sections of a PC selling business, that has to be updated like 2 times a week, so it has to be easy to update, should i still work on flash... or just some flash elements like navigation, & banners in flash?

Creating Applications
I'm trying to create an application using MX, but I can't suss out how I can enable users to click a button so that a Save Dialog box opens up so that they can save wherever they want e.g. My Docs.

Anyone knows of a way?

Cheers,

Gab

Desktop Applications
Hey,

I would like to make desktop applications with invisible backgrounds. Like an interactive character that sits on the mac desktop or a news updater for like say a band that want's to let their fans know where they will be next without them having to go to the website.

What programs should I use. I want to make as much as possible in flash if that narrows it down.

Thanks.

Interact With Other Applications
Excuse me, i've a question here.
How can you open another application (.exe) from within the flash projector?

Applications That Create SWF's
Could someone please tell me what other applications create SWF files. I know of SWFnSlide, SWISH and FLASH.

Which one would you recommend?

What Live Web Help Applications Are There?
Can someone tell me what live help applications there are?

I've browsed through Adobe.com... and I would image their offerings are quite expensive?

What alternatives are there?

Thanks.

OM

Threaded Applications
Hi, Is anybody familiar with the term "threadded applications"? if so what is a brief description of it and can Flash send data to it, or can it capture info from flash, like if an object is clicked, send the info to a counter or varible in the threaded applications that is displayed?

thanks

Run In Default Applications
Hi Friends,
I have a Problem in Flash 8.0 that I don't konw how to run an external file in its default application . In tutorials Page of this site I watched about it regarding to Flash 4.0 and now a days it is too outdated and little hard to get and hard to work in it relating to advanced Flash versions. So If any one have idea about this please help me. [ default application means video file opens in the player in which it was associated, or a txt file opens in word pad, or a pdf doc opens in Acrobat reader etc.] . Send me the script of fla. :

Accessing Other Applications
Hi All,

Not sure if this is possible but I'm trying to work out if it is possible to access external applications from a Flash movie e.g. Windows Media Player. I'm using a webcam based interface within the Flash file which can sit on a window beneath the WMP and still be interacted with (which as you are aware is not possible with a keyboard or mouse because they always access the active window).

Might it be worth looking into XML? I'm not sure if this will help as it is a technology I am not familiar with. Ideally, I would like to simulate a keyboard press without pressing the key which will controll the WMP, e.g. waving your right hand will simulate Ctrl + F being pressed which will play the next track.

I hope this is possible and one of you guys can help with a solution.

All the best

Jim

Create Applications With AS3?
Ive been learning AS3 for a few now months and am enjoying it, im interested in how far you can push AS3 (and Flash) as ive seen complete forums and 3D games created using it.

My question is it possible to create applications with AS3/Flash? Other than the usual..for instance an office application? I know its probably not the norm but just wondered if AS3 is advanced enough to do these kind of things..

Ive been contemplating learning .Net or something similar but am unsure whether to be a bit different and put my time into AS3.

Business Applications
Does anybody know a cool site for looking at interactive or other useful stuff for business purposes, i.e. a 3-D graph that changes in response to user input?

I'm giving a presentation at work but I want to show the audience that flash can be used for practical business purposes as well as for making designers' sites look cool and creative.

TIA,
Amber

Ideas For Applications
does anyone have any ideas for rich internet applications?

Connecting To Applications On The 'Net
I've just been elected as the Flash Communication Server MX 'Expert' here at work. They've installed Flash Comm and we can browse to the sample applications. When we start one of these samples on the local machine, it connects and runs fine. When we try and hit them from outside our network, we can view the applications but they will not connect.

For clarifications sake, the Flash Comm MX installation came with a sample app called 'Panel Presentation' which has a chat and slide presentation that users login to, this isn't the only app we're having trouble with, just and example of what we mean by login.

Applications Won't Load Into FMS
So FMSadmin and everything seems to work fine, but when I try to load an application, even an empty directory, it never stays open. I get the following message in core log...

2007-09-16 16:41:23 14126 (e)2631007 Failed to create thread (TCAsyncIO::init). -
2007-09-16 16:41:23 14126 (e)2661007 Failed to create thread (TCServerConnector::startConnector). -
2007-09-16 16:41:23 14126 (e)2581279 Assert failed in /server/TCTinCanConnector.cpp line 96 -
2007-09-16 16:41:23 14126 (e)2571122 Server aborted. -

Anyone had this happen before?

Too Many Stream In My FMS Applications
Hi,
I have some doubts about the streaming in FMS.

When from my Flash Client i play a video on FMS with this API

stream.play("myvideo",-1,-1,true);

i see in the FMS console 2 stream open: one have the name
"*flv:myvideo", the other have a name like "AADASDA". When
i close the Client Stream object in the console i see only
the "*flv:myvideo" stream, the type of this stream is "Stored".

I need create a live stream from the client and use a method
in the server for play a video in this live stream. In my
server code i have two line like this:

stream.play("livestream", -1, -1, true);
conn.call("playRemoteStream", null, "livestream", "myvideo", 0);

in the server the playRemoteStream method is like this:

Client.prototype.playRemoteStream = function(clientStream, remoteStream, from)
{
trace("playRemoteStream: clientStream="+clientStream+", remoteStream="+remoteStream+", from="+from);

// retrive the reference to the clientStream open by the client
this.serverToClientStream = Stream.get(clientStream);

// play the remoteStream in the player stream
this.serverToClientStream.play(remoteStream, from, -1, true);
}

With this kind of application i see in the macromedia server 4 kind of stream created:
one is the "*flv:myvideo", one is "livestream", and other 2 stream have the name
like "ADADAWoQWW". When i disconnect my Flash player 3 streams remain in the server
one is the "flv:myvideo" one is the "livestream" and other one is the stream with
the name like "ADADAWoQWW".

I don't know i close from the server the live stream and ho close the "ADADAWoQWW" stream,
so when i try to perform a load test i have errors like:

(w)2611043Resource limit violation. Unable to create stream : test_2446.00083678961.-

Someone know i can close a stream from server ? and know if the "ADADAWoQWW" is a problem
of the macromedia server that dont' close the stream ?

Moreno

Flash Applications
I am looking to create a flash application that will act as a self contained software. It will need to run on a local machine rather than web based, and save all entries made to it.

Basically I am designing a check book in flash. My problems are this:

1. If I create a flash app and need to save, how can I save to a something on a local machine. Is this even possible. Since MySQL, etc are web based, are there other alternatives?

2. What is the best way to compile an application? I know there are softwares out there such as, mProjector . Are they needed? I know that you can export out flash as a projector file (.exe) but will this be enough?

Any guidance would be appreciated... Thanks.

Flash Applications
Hi,

I need to create an interactive language learning tool(application). That will run from a cd (this isn't going online). I want to use flash to create this but am unsure if this is the best way to go... Does anyone have any experience in creating these type of applications?

Should I be looking into Flex and AIR or anything else, maybe silverlight?

I'm looking for resources etc. if anyone knows of any... I've had a hard time finding anything.

Thanks!

Opening Applications
Hi,

1.I would like to know how i can open an application. I dont want an associated file which will open the parent / mother program [ say a .pdf file] instead, how can i open "Acrobat Reader" of the user's system.

2. How do i open .swf movies, without opening them inside the browser?

3. Is there a possibility of opening / loading files like .wmf , .ai & others like dynamic jpeg?

How Do I Launch Applications?
Hello, How do I launch an application via a button using Macromedia Flash MX?

Voting And Polling Applications
CAN SOmeone help me??? I want to use Flash to build an interactive realtime voting application. For example...we would have a Question...and users can come and vote....and the results would be displayed realtime............

Thanks...

reply or email me back at touchscreendeveloper@mediacheese.com

thanks...

Drag'n'Drop From Other Applications
I was wondering... Does anyone know if it's possible to drag things from other applications into Flash, and kinda "catch" it? Like, could I drag a link from the internet explorer bar, drop it into my Flash file, and extract the link into a variable in Flash? And if possible, can I do it with files too?

@ndre

Flash / Email Applications
Howdy,

I have two questions today (first one is either really simple or not available in FLASH)

1. Is it possible (using FLASH) to connect a web client
directly to an email address which opens their default
mail application, just like a email text link in HTML.

2. Everyone recieves emails with FLASH files embeded
some time in their life. How is this done?
Is it using HTML?

Any response would be much appreciated.

Opening Applications Using A Button
I need to use a button to open Windows Explorer - but how do I do it??

Opening External Applications
i'm sure you guys have answered this question before but...
i'm creating a Flash app that will be autostarted on a CDRom of games (solitare, etc). i want to be able to click on a button and start the game, but i haven't been able to find an ActionScript that does that.
i'm really new to all this, so please bear with me.

can anyone help???
thanks in advance,
miasma d'cur

Where's The Pop Up Menu On The Applications Widow
I am doing the make a kite web-site tutorial in flash 5; the problem is more that I don't know what the applications window is. Here is the portion of the tutorial that I’m having issue with.

Use the pop-up menu at the lower left of the application window to increase the Stage size to 800%.

Please try and answer in the simplest terms as possible, I am a new bee ^_^!

Financial Applications Using Flash
Is it possible to draw charts such as historical stock price chart using flash?

Flash Intergrating Into Applications
Hi guys, I have a question that I have not been able to find an answer to. I work for a software company and I'm wondering if we can intergrate flash objects into the actual software. We write 2 different apps, one in Microsoft Access and the other I believe is in visual basic (using .net architicture) I don't know if any of that makes sense because I'm not a programer. The initial goal is to use .swf files for icons instead of .ico. If we get good results we will be experimenting more and more. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Also we will be embedding the flash player into the program if we get it figured out.

Thanks in advance

Embedded Applications In Dreamweaver
I HAVE AN APPLICATION DEVELOPED IN SWISH 8 MB SIZE, IF I EMBED IT IN A HTML PAGE USING DREAMWEAVER AS A SHOCKWAVE FILE AND GO TO IT THE SHOCKWAVE IMAGE WILL BE THERE BUT IT WONT DISPLAY MY APPLICATION.

SAYING THIS, THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS IN INTERNET EXPLORER, BUT WORKS IN NETSCAPE BROWSERS.OTHER SWISH MOVIES 1-2 MB WORK BUT THE MORE HEAVY APPLICATIONS DONT.

ALSO I AM TRYING TO EMBED A DIRECTOR FILE, I AM CURRENTLY USING DIRECTOR MX HOW CAN I CONVERT MY FILE INTO A SHOCKWAVE FILE

I HAVE A DIR FILE AND PUBLISHED WHICH CREATED A DCR FILE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A COMPRESSED SHOCKWAVE INTO A HTML PAAGE IN DREAMEAVER , THE FILE SIZE FOR THE DIRECTOR APPLICATIONS RANGE FROM 30-60 MB , BUT WHEN ON THE NET IT'S JUST A BLANK SPACE

I NEED THESE APPLICATIONS BOTH IN SWISH AND DIRECOTR TO BE RUNNING WHAT CAN BE DONE

THANKS

Launching Applications

I need to know how to launch an application (.exe) file in Flash 5 for a CD. Please help me. Thanks,

I need to know how to launch an application (.exe) file in Flash 5 for a CD. Please help me.

Thanks,