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malfiscious
malfiscious
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How do I link external files (.pdf's) in the flash content please?  I'm creating a CD interface

Jul 19, 2010 7:41 AM

Hello

 

I'm new to Adobe CS software and would like some advice please.

 

My company uses a CD with a flash interface that opens via an .exe or .app file.  The original designer is on maternity leave at the moment but we need some content updates before she gets back and I’m deciding whether to redo the CD myself or to source a new designer.

 

So far I've been able to replicate most of the CD in Catalyst using the trial version but there is one thing stopping me from buying the software.  I can't find a way to link external files (specifically pdf's) via the flash content.  The CD is for instruction manuals so once the interface has been navigated the user needs to click on a button to open the desired pdf manual.

 

Is this possible in Catalyst or am I looking at the wrong software?

 

I can't write code and my experience is limited so I would appreciate help from someone who knows what they're talking about please and any software recommendation would also be great

 

If I need to outsource please tell me but bear in mind that I have been able to do all the design work and it's just linking the pdf's that I'm struggling with

 

Thanks in advance and for any help

2141 Views   7 Replies   Latest reply: Tanya Heins, Aug 25, 2010 7:09 AM
 
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  • Bear Travis
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    1. Bear Travis,
    Jul 19, 2010 9:52 AM   in reply to malfiscious
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    You can get very close in Flash Catalyst, but the final step requires tweaking in Flash Builder.

    To do this, add a button > on click > go to url interaction that points to your pdf's. Flash Catalyst currently prefixes all links with "http://", so you would need to save your FXP in Catalyst, open the FXP in builder, and remove the "http" so that you're just loading the local pdfs. If all of the pdfs are online, you can use the go to url interaction with the http address.

     

    -Bear

     
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  • malfiscious
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    2. malfiscious,
    Jul 20, 2010 2:29 AM   in reply to Bear Travis
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    Hi Bear,

     

    Thanks for your quick answer.

     

    Flash Catalyst currently prefixes all links with "http://", so you would need to save your FXP in Catalyst, open the FXP in builder, and remove the "http" so that you're just loading the local pdfs.

     

     

    I tried your suggestion but couldn't get it working so I'm probably doing something wrong since I'm not very familiar with Flash Builder.

     

    I created the button > on click > go to url interaction in Catalyst and saved the project (tried it using a PDF saved on our server and also my PC).

     

    I imported the FXP and opened to "project name / src / (default package) / main.mxml / button name"

     

    After deleting "http" I selected "export release build" and opened the new SWF and also tried the HTML; the new button just opened to my homepage instead of the PDF

     

    I also tried deleting "http:" and "http://" which deactivated the button completely (I expect some coders will laugh at that but I am a noob )

     

    Unfortunately linking to online files isn't an option for me so do you see what I'm doing wrong please?

     

    Thanks for your help

     
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  • II Tom UK II
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    3. II Tom UK II,
    Aug 11, 2010 8:32 AM   in reply to malfiscious
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    Just bumping this post. I'm struggling with this issue too and I have a deadline to meet in less than 2 weeks. Would be awesome if there was some small tutorial for how to do this.

     
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  • II Tom UK II
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    4. II Tom UK II,
    Aug 23, 2010 4:56 AM   in reply to II Tom UK II
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    Bumping this again. Please can someone help?!

     

    Can't find anything anywhere about doing this still.

     
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  • Tanya Heins
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    5. Tanya Heins,
    Aug 23, 2010 7:57 AM   in reply to II Tom UK II
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    Hi Tom,

     

    I have added a FAQ with example assets per Bears method above.

     

    http://forums.adobe.com/message/3076047

     

    Best,
    Tanya

     
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  • II Tom UK II
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    6. II Tom UK II,
    Aug 24, 2010 2:56 PM   in reply to Tanya Heins
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    Hi Tanya,

     

    Thanks for looking into this, i've spent countless days now trying out different ways to link to this but they normally always turn out to fail.

     

    I think the part that I wasn't bringing the PDF's into Flash builder was screwing up my links, I didn't know it was possible to place them into flash builder

     

    Great tutorial, However im not sure if the images are broken for everyone but they dont load on mine :S

     

    I'll give it a blast tomorrow! Really hope this works, as it's the first bit of decent info there is on this topic. Havn't been able to find anything anywhere!

     

    Thanks again Tanya,

     

    - Tom

     
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  • Tanya Heins
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    7. Tanya Heins,
    Aug 25, 2010 7:09 AM   in reply to malfiscious
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    Images are now working.

     
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