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**leehack** · 04-Dec-2009, 07:23 AM

I think this request will be a step too far for you, the coding required will be substantial as would the instructions for you to do it. You'll need to adjust the list layout so that if you have added a flash file it can sit next to it (list layout needs to shrink, size currently set in site options), but things stay normal if you don't add one. You'll need to search the forum for tips on how to add flash, it's historically been a bit of a pig to do. You'll need a variable creating to hold the flash file name, so that it can be changed on a per page basis (if required). You'll need a blockif in place to change the width of the list layout if flash is in place (flash file != ""), this ensures it's always the right size whether flash is on page or not.

Quite a testing job for someone experienced in actinic, at your current skill level i'd say this is a bit beyond you. If the above makes sense and you can make some good progress on what's required, you might get a kind soul to guide you along the rest of the way, this will be a test though, far more than anything you've done so far.

PS - It's not a sensible title if you use something that nobody will ever search for. If you manage to get your extensive help in here, the information in this thread should be made easily available to everyone if anyone else ever wants to do this. Your role in that is to simply add a useful title that can be found via the search, 36 posts into your forum life, you should really be aware of this by now.

"Inserting flash alongside products or sections" is the kind of title you want to add for things like this.

**anne_marie** · 04-Dec-2009, 07:44 AM

Hi Lee, how about if I inserted a static image in the same place, rather than a SWF file? It could be a large gif instead...how would I go about doing this?
I would just like a large image to appear on the right hand side of the products

**leehack** · 04-Dec-2009, 09:19 AM

It would entail an almost identical process, just instead of adding flash code you'd add an img tag. Get to grips with the list layout, it's just a table in effect, if you can crack and understand that, it really will open your eyes. It's a clever part of actinic, but incredibly simple too, crack it and you have endless possibilities.

**Rich Brady** · 04-Dec-2009, 09:20 AM

Anne-Marie,

I have to agree with Lee, I feel you are trying to do too much too soon. You use DW and terms like depreciated tags, validators & SWF, which gives the impression you have a reasonable understanding of web design, yet you are asking simple questions like how to insert an image?

It doesn't matter that you are new to using Actinic, you should be able to see the tables within the page and make the changes accordingly. Have you been using firebug?

I like to think of myself as quite a helpful person, but you have been a member for less than a month and have started 10 separate threads. This suggests that you have not read the help files, users guides, knowledge base or forum enough, or even at all.

I know from one of your other threads that you are under pressure to meet a deadline, but you need to sit down with your boss and tell them that you need to be allocated more time to simply "play" with the software and how it works. It really is quite simple once it clicks. Currently you will end up with a cobbled together site that does nothing for your credentials as a designer.

Forgive me if I appear to be being blunt, but you cannot go on like this. You will only continue to stress your self out and/or discourage other users from opening future threads that you start.

**Chunkford** · 04-Dec-2009, 09:50 AM

Rather than looking at making it look shiny shiny, tidy it up at the edges and get the site out there.
Getting the traffic to the site, and convert it is much more important job than getting a huge flashy image on the pages surely?

**pinbrook** · 04-Dec-2009, 10:01 AM

good Grief.... looking at your desired outcome i am not going to say dont do it because you haven't got the skills yet, i am going to say dont do it because it will look butt ugly and if its swf with totally distract people from buying.

i echo others in saying keep it simple if you want to get it online anytime in the foreseeable future.

I oversea a website also based in scotland selling smoked produce - its sales in Nov/Dec equal the sum of what they do the rest of the year online... we have already run 95% of their email marketing campaign - we started in Sept.. You are simply too late for xmas.

ps dont be afraid to contact me if you still need some trouble free hosting. i promise it will go up the first time you try (we provide you with the network settings)

**anne_marie** · 04-Dec-2009, 06:33 PM

Thanks Jo

That is really very kind of you - I will be using Actinic again, so I will definitely use your services for hosting

I agree with you about the bells and whistles, if it were up to me, I wouldn't have had the shop designed the way it is, but unfortunately it was designed by a print designer about a month before I was given the project, so they are being very anal about how it should look, rather than caring about how the back-end or the cart functions

Thanks again to everyone who has helped, esp Steve who saved my bacon by offering to host the test site, you are all a good bunch

I'm sorry if I frustrated any of you, but I was basically told 'build a shop in a week, and you must use Actinic'!
I come from a Software Development/Applications background as well as having strong php/javascript/ajax/lamp experience, i'm not entirely clueless or stupid, as some poster have tried to make out (i'm looking at you Mr Facepalm

) so you can only imagine my frustration at what is supposedly to be a very simple piece of software for ecommerce, and the problems i've faced trying to get the site to look the way I have been told to. No doubt, i'll master it when I actually have the time to sit down and work through the guides, but it is very frustrating trying to learn while 'doing'.
Anyway, just going to tidy it up, and get it online this weekend...fortunately the company already have another website which sells some of their best sellers, so they haven't lost out on any business

I however have lost out on sleep & sanity lol!

**Sean Williams** · 05-Dec-2009, 04:06 PM

Hi Anne-Marie, while I don't know anything about how you came to be doing this job, my advice: if it's a client, bin them; if it's your boss, find another job as soon as you can.
No-one can work effectively under the conditions you describe and the stress will do you in!
Life's too short etc etc

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