Flash 5 & 6 Feature reveiled: Loading JPG'S

[flux]

As the Flash 6 player is downloadable from the Macromedia Site, somebody found out a new and very wanted future feature of Flash 6: loading .JPG's dynamically into a flash movie.

Now check this out (it already works in Flash 5, but you need to use the version 6 player.

create an empty movieclip and name it "blank". then add this code to the first frame of your movie:

_root.blank.loadMovie("test.jpg");

this will load a jpg (test.jpg, located in the same dir as the .swf) into the "blank" movieclip.

God I love this program

[flux]

http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/.../flashplayer6/

here you can get the public beta of the version 6 flash Player.

[creole]

If you can already do this in Flash 5 then why is this so cool? How did it used to work?

[glenn_a_m]

hi, (first post newbie coming through...)

1. why is this cool?

this is so very cool mainly because it is now possible to update images withing your swf without either editing the .fla source file, or, having to use a server side solution such as generator/swift generator.

previously the loadMovie command expected to find a .swf at the other end, if you wanted to just load an image, it had to be 'wrapped' in the swf format first (either manually or using a generator solution).

this will greatly improve the ease of producing updateable dynamic content.


2. How did it used to work? (and why can flash 5 do this already?)

well, it's really just the flash 6 player that will let you do it.

when you call 'loadMovie' you can specify any file you like, however, the player has always expected an swf to be returned (and will just empty the specified target (if any) if the response in not valid)

I guess (just an assumption) that if the new player finds jpg data is being returned, it's now quite happy to accept that too.

hmmm, I don't have the f6 player yet (too busy & don't want to encounter any beta version crashes at the moment) but it will be interesting to see how the player then deals with the returned jpg... can color transforms, etc. be applied directly, or does it (the jpg) need to be loaded into a movieClip, rather that replacing it ??

anyway, sounds like fun

glenn

[Rydeman]

Wheee!

Very nice!

[Chas]

Wicked news! thanks Flux

[jonnya]

Indeed...what a god send!! I posted the original message re: import, and have now come to a compromise to solve it. Whoop whoop...can't wait to see what other features the Macromedia boys have got in store for us!!

[creole]

Has anyone heard when Flash 6 might be released?

[Chas]

creole, no news from MM on a release date yet, according to Flashkit it should be about 12 months or so.

[Scud]

Originally posted by Chas
creole, no news from MM on a release date yet, according to Flashkit it should be about 12 months or so.

12 months? I do hope you meant 12 weeks... I don't want to wait that long.

[creole]

Originally posted by Scud
12 months? I do hope you meant 12 weeks... I don't want to wait that long.

I'll make sure to let Macromedia know of your impatience. After learning about your lack of desire to wait, I'm SURE they'll ramp up their schedule.

[creole]

oh yeah...forgot to add the smiley...

[flux]

Originally posted by creole
Has anyone heard when Flash 6 might be released?

march, or april of this year...

[jonnya]

12 months...bahh humbug!! Those Macromedia cherubs won't keep us waiting that long

I recon we will have it in our sweaty palms by summer (August)... thats just my speculation!!

Can't wait to see the new features... I read most of an article on Adobe Live Motion v2...seems like they have got their act together on the Actionscript, and have a kinda Photoshop 'Actions' thing going on! didn't check it out on v1, but might look at a preview version of 2, for interest value!!