2 Replies Latest reply: Oct 29, 2012 6:26 AM by Harald Heim RSS

    Using a Flash UI for an automation plugin

    Harald Heim

      Is it possible to use a Flash SWF file as the UI for an automation plugin? How can the SWF communicate with the automation plugin?

       

      I would be great to have such an example in the Photoshop SDK. This way developers could avoid having to write separate Windows and Mac UI code.

        • 1. Re: Using a Flash UI for an automation plugin
          Chris Cox Adobe Employee

          No, that is not possible to do directly.

           

          You can have a Flash Panel that drives automation or other plugins (as many plugin vendors already do).

          • 2. Re: Using a Flash UI for an automation plugin
            Harald Heim Community Member

            Actually I managed to do it under Windows with the help of the Flash Player ActiveX control. I am displaying a Flex Builder created SWF file in the modeless window of my automation plugin and the SWF calls C++ functions in the automation plugin through ExternalInterface.call.

             

            So now I can do automation plugin versions of my flash panel products, which also run in Photoshop Elements and pre-CS4 Photoshop. I do not need to recode the UI part and only have to translate the Javascript part to C++.

             

            Unfortunately this does not work under MacOSX as it does not support Microsoft's OLE technology. Does Adobe provide and instructions or sample codes on how to run the Flash Player in your own programs?