8 Replies Latest reply on May 3, 2012 7:57 AM by sinious

    Loading external XML no longer working

    Daftoons Level 1
    Daftoons May 1, 2012 4:36 PM

      Hi,

       

      I have a website that was created in an earlier version of Flash.  It loads external .txt files and formats them with CSS.  It uses AS2 and targets Flash Player 8.  It worked perfectly all the way through my upgrades to MX2004 and CS3.  I now have CS5.5 and had to update the site.  I haven't changed any of the Actionscript and the .txt and CSS files are in exactly the same format as before. Trouble is it just won't display properly.  Most of the CSS styled text is missing.

       

      I have tried targeting lots of different players, embedded characters and even tried saving it back to CS4 (as far as I can now go back).  Nothing seems to work.  It's definitely a CS4 - CS5.5 issue as I opened a backup version in my old CS3 and it displayed perfectly.  The same file in CS5.5 had the problems.

       

      I could always go back and rework the old CS3 file, but it I've already done the work in CS5.5.

       

      If you want to see what I'm talking about, the site is www.themetrotones.co.uk.  The news section of the home page is the culprit.  If you go to other pages (which haven't been near CS5.5) you'll see that all the CSS formatting is working.

       

      Any thoughts?

       

      Thanks.

       

      Paul

        • 1. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
          Daftoons Level 1
          Daftoons May 3, 2012 4:32 AM (in response to Daftoons)

          Hi,

           

          I have now had to rework the page using CS3.  Clearly there is a bug in CS5.5 as the CS3 version is loading and displaying perfectly (if you now visit the page you will see that each section of the "What's Happening" area has a headline and a date.  Also, the links are visible and active.  None of this was working in the CS5.5 version).

           

          Paul

          • 2. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
            sinious Most Valuable Participant
            sinious May 3, 2012 6:27 AM (in response to Daftoons)

            Over a very long time, specs change. AS2 is prehistoric. It will work as you expected regardless your version as long as you export for Flash 8.

             

            To later versions, on a 20mbit (2.5MB/s) line I can't seem to load your site in under 60 seconds and I'm in the USA. Already you REALLY need to consider making the site preload differently. The second I saw a preload bar continue to load past (a conservative) 15 seconds, I was pissed.  Honestly the preloader never finished. I'm left with papyrus and two silhouette guys looking gangsta.

             

            Are you requiring AS2 or willing to convert to AS3? I'm betting on needing AS2 personally. But we need an answer.

            1 person found this helpful
            • 3. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
              Daftoons Level 1
              Daftoons May 3, 2012 6:57 AM (in response to sinious)

              Thanks for your reply sinious.  Bizarrely the site didn't work even though I exported to Flash 8.  I'll look into it further as I can't keep having to go back to CS3.

               

              I'm surprised at how long the site took to open.  It's usually far quicker than that even when loaded for the very first time.  We actually had the site built by a third party specifically because I haven't got the time to do it myself (by day I am a Flash character animator).  It's been built very differently from how I would have done it, but as the majority of my work is largely timeline based (exported to video) and my AS knowledge at the time was very limited, I was happy to use the design put together by someone with far more AS experience than me.

               

              As for converting to AS3, I think that I'm more likely to look at HTML5 as I'm painfully aware of the people viewing on mobiles, tablets, etc. who can't view it.  Don't get me wrong, I love Flash and wish that I didn't have to think in those terms.  But as a music-based site, I suspect that many people visit it (or try to) on the move rather than at their desks.

               

              Paul

              • 4. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
                sinious Most Valuable Participant
                sinious May 3, 2012 7:10 AM (in response to Daftoons)

                You'll be pleased to know Flash CS6 exports to HTML5 Canvas.

                 

                If you need further help just private message me.

                1 person found this helpful
                • 5. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
                  Daftoons Level 1
                  Daftoons May 3, 2012 7:20 AM (in response to sinious)

                  That's fantastic news, not only for the band site, but also as I create lots of Flash eCards.  It'll be interesting to see if it will convert the interactivity too as I understand that the current converter (Wallaby) can convert the timeline but doesn't like Actionscript.

                   

                  Very exciting though.  Maybe I'll hang fire until it's out.

                   

                  Thanks.

                   

                  Paul

                  • 6. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
                    sinious Most Valuable Participant
                    sinious May 3, 2012 7:30 AM (in response to Daftoons)

                    Give the trial a chance.

                    • 7. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
                      Daftoons Level 1
                      Daftoons May 3, 2012 7:48 AM (in response to sinious)

                      I just viewed the specs.  It looks ideal.  It seems that the reports of Flash's approaching demise have been premature.  I knew they wouldn't let me down!

                       

                      Paul

                      • 8. Re: Loading external XML no longer working
                        sinious Most Valuable Participant
                        sinious May 3, 2012 7:57 AM (in response to Daftoons)

                        Flash has always been designed as an easy way to express your ideas visually. If thats SWF or HTML5 Canvas is irrelevant.