Journalists' Toolkit > Flash > About Loaded SWFs

About Loaded SWFs

The files in this group are intended to help you understand loading and unloading external SWFs into (and out of) one container SWF. In my book, this is covered in Appendix B.

The files can all be downloaded here. Open the container to see how the external files are loaded and unloaded. Open container.fla in the Flash application to see how it's done -- each button has a very simple script written on it (ActionScript 2.0).

There are 4 FLA files, compatible with Flash CS3 and later:

• container.fla
• fish.fla
• fishes.fla
• bowl.fla

There are 3 SWF files, compatible with Flash Player 8 and later:

• container.swf
• fish.swf
• fishes.swf
• bowl.swf

Finally, there is a set of three files that create the HTML page holding the container SWF:

• flashlayout.htm
• flashlayout.css
• flash_version_detect.js

The HTM file uses the JS file to detect your Web browser and its compatibility with the Flash Player. You'll also see a bunch of JavaScript in the middle of the body of the HTM page; this is what causes the SWF to appear there.

The HTM file uses the CSS file to center the SWF on the Web page.

Journalists' Toolkit > Flash > About Loaded SWFs