6 Replies Latest reply: Nov 19, 2006 4:20 PM by Newsgroup_User RSS

    Rationalise download speed of video in swf

    tonydickins Community Member
      Greetings

      I am trying to optimise download times for short videos. The following url is a Flash/Fireworks/Dreamweaver file called boating.swf which then loads a gallery.swf or videoswf which subsequently loads separate videos, final file boat.swf is ok
      It is the videos I have a problem with as they are very slow to download.
      I have been dismantling the files to find the problem and it seems that even if I strip the file to having no elements there still remains 480Kb on the first frame...

      What is that about.

      BTW I am running FlashMX (Icannot justify the cost of upgrading)

      Any explanations or help on optimising videos would help.

      Thank you.
        • 2. Re: Rationalise download speed of video in swf
          Newsgroup_User Community Member


          tonydickins wrote:
          > Greetings
          >
          > I am trying to optimise download times for short videos. The following url is
          > a Flash/Fireworks/Dreamweaver file called boating.swf which then loads a
          > gallery.swf or videoswf which subsequently loads separate videos, final file
          > boat.swf is ok
          > It is the videos I have a problem with as they are very slow to download.
          > I have been dismantling the files to find the problem and it seems that even
          > if I strip the file to having no elements there still remains 480Kb on the
          > first frame...
          >
          > What is that about.

          Sound like components or linkage items in the library. These load first before
          any other content causing delays and big chunks of data on first frame.
          You need to make preloader that load the external file, check its size and show
          some progress, otherwise you going to keep visitors waiting for the file
          to appear. Else, do not use linkage and components.


          --
          Best Regards

          Urami


          --


          <urami>
          If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
          </urami>
          • 3. Re: Rationalise download speed of video in swf
            tonydickins Community Member
            Thank you Urami,

            It had occurred to me that the problem was to do with the preloader. I don't know how to create one that loads an external file etc. Could you point me in the direction of a tutorial - I would appreciate that very much.

            Also do you know if there are other large elements in the fla library of the file (but not in the swf) does that have an effect on the swf file size?

            Regards, Tony Dickins
            • 4. Re: Rationalise download speed of video in swf
              Newsgroup_User Community Member

              Hi Tony

              > It had occurred to me that the problem was to do with the preloader. I don't
              > know how to create one that loads an external file etc. Could you point me in
              > the direction of a tutorial - I would appreciate that very much.

              Something like that ?
              http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/moviecliploader.htm

              > Also do you know if there are other large elements in the fla library of the
              > file (but not in the swf) does that have an effect on the swf file size?

              The most size consuming are images, sound and video. Many users import good quality
              image in to flash, scale it down to suit the layout concept, not knowing that these
              images even tho scaled down still remain original size. So, if you import any images,
              import them one to one and do not scale them in flash.
              --
              Best Regards

              Urami


              --


              <urami>
              If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
              </urami>
              • 5. Re: Rationalise download speed of video in swf
                tonydickins Community Member
                Hi Urami,

                Thank you for your help. I have looked at the tutorial for the actionscript preloader.

                Problem is (it appears) that it is for MX 2004. I only run MX. I would have upgraded if they had kept the scripting in two modes. I also make my swf files for Flash Player 6.

                I have found that software developers when introducing new versions change them to the extent of being too complicated.

                Years ago, I started with CorelDraw V1 and ubpgraded over time to V7. When Version 8 came out, it had changed to be so complex, with so many unlikely and rarely used functions that I reverted to V7 and have stayed with that.

                It seems Adobe (Macromedia) is the same (not all progress in life is good or for the best). Now I am retired and being a bit long in the tooth I cannot justify the high cost of upgrading (I ran a trial of MX 2004 and found -for me -that was just too complex).

                At a push, I will try and reduce my videos to very short clips and create my own pre-loader. The examples on Kirupa look intriguing and I will have a play with them.

                Kind regards and thanks

                Tony Dickins
                • 6. Re: Rationalise download speed of video in swf
                  Newsgroup_User Community Member


                  tonydickins wrote:
                  > Hi Urami,
                  >
                  > Thank you for your help. I have looked at the tutorial for the actionscript
                  > preloader.
                  >
                  > Problem is (it appears) that it is for MX 2004. I only run MX. I would have
                  > upgraded if they had kept the scripting in two modes. I also make my swf files
                  > for Flash Player 6.

                  Hi Tony

                  in such case, Bokel's tutorial should work for you:
                  http://www.bokelberg.de/actionscript/

                  Look for "Preloaders" section.





                  --
                  Best Regards

                  Urami


                  --


                  <urami>
                  If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
                  </urami>