User Guide

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CHAPTER 6
Flash Integration
Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 now provides support for Macromedia Flash XM 2004
elements as well as continuing support for the Flash Object API, which leverages the Flash
Generator Template file to create new Flash objects. This chapter describes ways of working with
Flash elements (SWC files), and also provides details for the creation of Flash objects (SWF files)
from Flash Generator templates (SWT files).
For information about simply adding Flash content to Dreamweaver objects or commands, see
Extending Dreamweaver.
How Flash elements work
Flash elements are packaged as SWC files. A SWC file is a compiled component movie clip that is
generated by Flash for use by Macromedia and third-party products. Dreamweaver can make
these components available to users through the Insert bar, Insert menu, or a toolbar. You create
Flash elements using the Flash authoring tool, but Dreamweaver can parse properties of a Flash
element and express them through the
param tag (a child of the object tag). Users can then
edit the
param tag attributes to change the properties of the element as it is published (for
more information about working with component properties in Dreamweaver, see
Using Dreamweaver).
Inserting Flash elements
Flash elements are installed through the Extension Manager. Dreamweaver adds Flash elements to
documents in the same manner as the objects that are available on the Insert bar or the Insert
menu (for details about working with Dreamweaver objects, see “Insert Bar Objects” in Extending
Dreamweaver). By clicking on objects on the Insert bar or selecting menu options from the Insert
menu, users can add strings of code to documents. Flash elements are available to users through
the Insert bar or the Insert menu (meaning you can add a valid Flash element file that is already
installed in the Configuration/Objects/FlashElements folder or one of its subfolders to the
Insert bar or Insert menu). Extension developers can use the JavaScript function
dom.insertFlashElement() in the object definition file to add available Flash elements to a
document. When the user selects the Flash element object, Dreamweaver unpacks the SWC file,
which contains Flash content (SWF file) and a file that details the parameters the user can edit.
Dreamweaver then inserts the SWF file into the user’s document.
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