Flash Images (I know..I know...)

[bwshop]

...once again this question arises.

I want to use Flash for product images, to include a link to a pop-up window with 'enlarged' images for a closer look.

I've cracked the pop-up when using animated gif's, but Flash is much more 'pro-fessional' as some would say...

I've managed to get the flash image in using a new 'fragment layout', but it's struck me that it will be using the same flash image over and over, unless I create new fragments for each product (which seems a bit daft).

The next problem is the 'Link' option doesn't work with the flash image...

Any help would be appreciated as always...and up until now I've usually been ok with solving the problems, but this one has stumped me...

cheers,
Matt

[leehack]

Are you talking about when you have more than one product on a page, that the fragment at the top will be showing the same images?

Could you not create a flash file as a slideshow for all of the products on a page or alternatively have one product per section?

If i'm honest it sounds like you are trying to be too clever on something that doesn't need to be and accessibility may be an issue for some of your visitors. Take a look at Normans image add-on that can have a number of images and they change dependant on which one you hover over. Anything more than that and you are introducing a good old headache for yourself IMO and an admin nightmare.

[bwshop]

Each page has one 'item' on...

Because we have a retail shop alos, and NO ELECTRONIC STOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (it's a joke) the only way to avoid stock errors efficiently is to have one page to a product, and have each size of each colour as a seperate product.

I have been using animated gif's for a quick reference to each colour, but having used flash in the past, the 'movie' will be much smoother and easier on the eye.

Does that make more sense??

[TraceyG]

Hi,

I've managed to get the flash image in using a new 'fragment layout', but it's struck me that it will be using the same flash image over and over, unless I create new fragments for each product (which seems a bit daft).

You could create a variable for the flash image name and insert that into the flash code, ie:

<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=7,0,19,0" width="160" height="160">
    <param name="movie" value="<actinic:variable name="FlashImage" />" />
    <param name="quality" value="high" />
    <embed src="<actinic:variable name="FlashImage" />" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="160" height="160"></embed>
  </object>

You can then specify the flash file name at the fragment level.

The next problem is the 'Link' option doesn't work with the flash image...

I'm afraid that this is a problem with flash. Normal html code for links don't work with flash. The link has to be built into the flash file.

[bwshop]

Thanking you greatly! You're a star!!
Matt
BWShop.co.uk