Flash :: Launching External Applications From An Swf

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

Thanks,

Launching Applications
Can Flash MX launch an application off of a network drive? I am trying to make a company manual that is associated with a database. I would like the user to be able to lauch the database from within the Flash manual, and have it open in Access.

Any suggestions?

Launching Applications
Is there a way to launch other applications from inside a swf? Particularly, i'm looking to launch a powerpoint. I'm making a CD autorun menu using flash. Thanks!

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 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 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 -

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

Opening External Applications In Flash MX
OK. I have developed a cd rom which has a button that links to an external database .exe file.
The client wants it to work an OSX, Mac system 9 and Windows XP.
Everything works except system 9.
the script i am using is:

On(release){
FSCommand("exe", "search classic.exe");

It works fine on the OSX and XP systems but not on system 9.

Any hep would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

Launching External App
i need to be able to check if a user has a certain application installed and then launch it if they do , and direct them to a website if they do not..

im using Flash 8 and been outta the Flash game so long ive forgotten so much...

any ideas ??

[F8] Launching External Doc
I know how to luanch an external document from a Flash exe player, using the fscommand.

Is it possible to do the same, launching a powerpoint or excel file, from a swf?

Launching External Apps?
I have recently updated some flash 5 flas to MX and discovered that the MX projectors won't launch external apps
here's the script:

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

Worked fine in Flash5
Any pointers as to why this aint working in an MX projector?
It just quits, so it's doing that part.
The "tscc.exe" file is in the same directory as the projector.

Launching An External File
Okay guys,

I really need you on this one...

I need to launch and external .EXE file from a projector on a CD. How do I do that?

Thanks.

Launching External Stuff
Anybody know the script to launch an
avi or quicktime movie using flash...
ie: launching the application as well

Launching An External Application From MX
I have developed a CD-ROM application that auto-launches an exe file made in Flash MX. Within the application is a link to a PowerPoint slide show. When clicked, it opens PowerPoint in a web browser. I have PowerPoint Viewer on the CD and would like to program the button to run the slide show in the viewer. Is that possible? How would I go about doing that?

Thanks for the help!

[F8] Launching External Exe Files
Does anyone know if it's possible to create a custom UI in Flash and save it out as an exe file. This cutsom UI will have various icons and they will launch local programs on that computer. For example you could have an icon of a notepad. Click it and it launches notepad in windows. I need to create an interface for a commonly used programs list for a small company. They do not allow any icons on the desktop and do not want tons of programs in the start menu, but to link from the HD or from the server using this custom UI with company logo etc.

I also want to be able to take two text variables: Username, Location. Use them as parameters when executing a VBScript, which already works very well. One problem I read about was executing VBScript with ActionScript. It might be necessary to use JavaScript to interface the two.

Thanks,
Jeff
ImCoolToo@aol.com

Launching External File From Mac
Hi, I have a Flash application with a 'keyword' search facility. The search facility returns a list of links to external PDF files. Each PDF file has a series of keywords assigned to it in an external xml file. The search facility firstly checks the external xml file to work out which PDFs match the keyword. It then creates a hyperlink for each PDF using the asFunction command. The hyperlink tells the computer to run a .exe file which in turn opens the appropriate PDF.

All of this is working fine on a PC, however... I need to make it work on a Mac.

I have managed, in the same application, to launch PDFs from Flash using some apple script from a static file list, but I am lost looking at the ActionScript for the dynamically created search results list.

I think this is the bit of code I need to play with...

if (found != -1) {
AllKeywords.push("
"+"<A HREF="asfunction:launchAdobe,Chapter"+Chapter+".e xe">Chapter "+FullChapter+"</A>"+Words+" ("+Pages+")"+"
");

And I think that 'launchAdobe' is a function (correct term?) that has been set up by the original programmer. I think this is the code that does that...

function launchAdobe(pFileName)
{
fscommand("exec", pFileName);
}

I am completely lost trying to understand how to change the code to make it work on a mac. I suppose what I need to do is make the asFunction command 'pull in' the name of the applescript which launches the appropriate PDF, but I don't know how...

Can anybody help?!

Thanks

Launching An External .avi In A New Window
hi all,

I've been searching for a way to launch an external movie file (preferably a .avi) from a button inside of flash mx 2004. I am trying to get it so a new window (seperate from the .swf or .exe that the flash is in) pops up and plays the .avi in the user's default player, whatever that may be.

I have tried the fscommand, which works great for launching another .exe, but does nothing for other files. I have also tried getURL, but that just opens a new default browser window.

does anyone have any suggestions? any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

thanks so much,
emily

USER32.dll Bug While Launching An External Exe
Hi all,

we´ve built a flash app launched as a projector file from a cd. While using this app you can open a video, embedded in a director exe. On some systems after pressing the open button there appears a windows alert: "video.exe - Einstiegspunkt nicht gefunden
Der Prozedureinstellungspunkt "FlashWindowEx" konnte nicht in der Dynamic Link Library "USER32.dll" gefunden werden." (sorry, german I know...)

Has anybody an idea, why this appears and how could we fix it?

thanx,
Jan

Launching External PPS File From Button...
I know this has to be possible.

I have some buttons in my presentation that I'd like to launch .PPS shows from. (projector-type Powerpoint shows).

All it's gotta do is open the file in the root directory.

What's the script for this? How can I make this happen.

I definitely don't want to use getURL cause it opens the show in a browser window. I just need it to run the file.

Thanks so much!
Tone.

Launching External Apps And Detection Of
I need to detect if a user has a certain app, and if they do, to launch it through flash. Similar functionality as browser sniffer, but not web based. (CD ROM)

Launching External Programs Through MAC Projector...
Need a little assistance...I'm making an interactive menu for a CD that I want to make cross platform. I am able to create the PC .exe that will launch external programs using an executable MS-DOS .bat file just fine. Is there a way to do the same for auto-launching on the MAC by using the FSCommand line? Any suggestions???? And also, is there a way to make the Mac projector auto launch? Would that just work by selecting that file as an Auto Start file when I burn it? All responses...much appreciated.

Launching An External .exe File From A Projector
Hey guys.

I have a movie that when you click a button I need to launch an external .exe file. In Flash 5 I used the fscommand of "exec" and then the file name. It doesn't seem to work in MX. Any ideas? Thanks.

Launching External Apps From Flash
Loading external appx in Flash 5+
I am trying to figure out how to launch an external application from a flash movie.

I have tried the "exec" command in the action settings of a button with no luck. I think that I am just missing somthing simple.

In this (wrong) example, I am trying to launch windows notepad.exe:
-------------------------

on (release) {
fscommand ("exec", c:windowssystem32
otedpad.exe);
}
----------------------------

I know that this is not right (getting errors).

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I am needing to launch other applications from within a flash demo.

Thanks in advance.

dcolby

Launching An External QuickTime Movie?
Hello,
I'm pubishing a CD-Rom and I've been using GetURL to call to some external QuickTime movies. It works well on the Mac side, but on the Windows side, it's wanting to open the movies in Internet Explorer.
Is there a better command to call to a QuickTime movie, that would make it default to open in the QuickTime player?
Thank you!
Jason

Launching A Pop-up From An External Text File
I need to work out how to launch a pop-up browser window with customised features from a <a href=...> link within an external text file which is loaded in.

I've searched but not found anything more than i know.

I'm thinking as:function will be involved but i am short on time and need to know wether it can be done or not.
anyone who want to try and work it out now or has any ideas, i would be really grateful!

Thanks a lot.

Launching A Centered Pop Up From A Button In An External Swf
I used the kirupa tutorial on launching a centered pop up window, and the code works great when the buttons used to launch are on the main timeline. However I would like my buttons to be within a movie clip, which is located within an externally loaded swf. Is this possible? I can't get the code to work for that, specifically. Any help would be appreciated, here is the external swf on which I am working.

http://www.innelladesign.com/print.swf

Click on "other marketing collateral" to view the thumbnails. I would like the user to be able to click on the thumbnail and launch the centered pop up window.

Also you can see where the the above clip will be loaded when you go to
http://www.innelladesign.com/newsite.htm

Launching External PDF File W/ Flash Projector
Hello!

I'm creating a CD-Rom presentation and auto starting with a projector created in Flash 4.
The criteria is ( From a buttion link ) to launch a PDF file located on the same CD-Rom
without the intervention of a browser. The "Get URL" command works successfuly,
yet it doesn't work without the intervention of the browser poping up and then launching the file.

Is there a script available for launching external files

Smitty,

Launching External Files Like Excel, Pdf, MSWord
Hi, Need some help to launch multiple links from flash for some multimedia content. Any idea how do i do it with actionscript. I hope the script is not too complicated.

Million thanks to those who manage to solve my problem

My email, leepgiap@yahoo.com

Mark

MC Buttons Launching External SWFs W Transitions
Hello all,

Please bare with me... I can handle animation but am somehow ignorant about ActionScript as my knowledge of Flash goes back to the Tell target actions...

I've been playing around with 2 tutorials I've found on Kirupa (see links below) in order to build a text based navigation:

My first level is made of MC buttons. All working great when adding the script indicated in the first tutorial.

From there, I would like to be able to load external SWFs when clicking on one of those first level buttons and in order to do so I added the script from the second tutorial (Transitions Between External SWFs)

Doing so, I was told I could only add that script on button symbols which is unfortunately i not an option at this point.

My question -- how can I launch external SWFs that would allow transitions from those MC symbols?

The tutorials:

Complex Button RollOver/RollOut Effects
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx20...ton_effect.htm

Transitions Between External SWFs
http://www.kirupa.com/developer/mx2004/transitions.htm

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.