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lmoffitt1
Participating Frequently
January 29, 2016
Question

swf compatibility

  • January 29, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 1391 views

Hi.  Does anyone know of any issues, concerns, watchouts when it comes to making swf published projects available to a variety of user PC builds? In other words, how compatible is launching SWF files?

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    2 replies

    Erik Lord
    Erik Lord
    Inspiring
    February 1, 2016

    While Rod's reply is likely prudent, I don't know if I'd be quite so definitive.

    It takes a long time for stuff to get pulled out of most environments. I know a few places that are still on XP!

    Browser's are probably pushing obsolescence more than anyone...i.e. how Chrome dropped support for 'NPAPI' plugins...which is pushing Oracle to pretty much drop Java as a plugin...

    So, again, it's probably prudent to avoid SWF output as eventually Flash - as a SWF plugin - will fade away.

    But it won't happen overnight (or even this year, IMO).

    See here for a bit about Adobe's direction on Flash, the development tool:
    Welcome Adobe Animate CC, a new era for Flash Professional | Adobe Flash Professional Team Blog

    Otherwise, explore HTML output. Pretty much all browsers can handle HTML5 output, and little of Captivate 9's HTML5 output isn't supported - at least in my experience. There may be no good reason to output to SWF. Try HTML only and see if that works for your target audience/environment.

    Lilybiri
    Lilybiri
    Legend
    February 1, 2016

    Erik, Animate CC (replacing Flash) would produce HTML5 output and OAM output, right?

    Erik Lord
    Erik Lord
    Inspiring
    February 5, 2016

    Lieve, as I understand it, yes, Animate will publish HTML5 and OAM...AND still to SWF is so selected.

    in fact, from the post I pointed to,

    "Output capabilities: HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, Flash (SWF), AIR, video, and custom platforms (such as SVG) via extensions."

    also from that post, in case anyone isn't familiar with 'OAM':

    "Export your project as an .OAM file for easy importing to Adobe Muse, InDesign, DPS and Dreamweaver."

    Lilybiri
    Lilybiri
    Legend
    January 29, 2016

    What do you mean exactly? Normally all browsers on desktop/laptop (can) support Flash output. On the contrary, mobile devices will not play SWF-output.

    L
    lmoffitt1Author
    Participating Frequently
    January 29, 2016

    Looking to see how reliable that output would be. So the biggest wildcard so to speak would be Flash Player's being present on the learners' computers.

    RodWard
    Community Expert
    RodWardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2016

    It would appear you haven't been keeping abreast of the latest announcements by Adobe regarding the future of Flash.

    Since Adobe is now encouraging all developers to avoid using Flash for future projects it would seem prudent to avoid SWF as an e-learning output.  Otherwise your content could stop working in the near future when organisations abandon use of the Flash Player.

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