Migrating large all-ActionScript project to HTML5

[Francis5ECC]

Hi, as doomsday for Flash is coming at the end of 2020, I have been expecting Adobe to provide something of use to its longtime users that will allow some sort of export of AS3 projects to JavaScript/HTML5 Canvas, because otherwise Adobe is hanging its user base out to dry.

With just a few months left now with no word, I'm speaking up to ask.  I have a number of interactive educational animations in Flash, almost all done purely via AS3, that I need to get converted into some format that will run in 2021.  The AS3 code base for one of these is over 25,000 lines, so asking that I go in and recode this all by hand just doesn't seem reasonable.  They are educational apps, not for profit, so paying some firm to do the work doesn't make sense, either.

Am I supposed to let all of this just blow away like dust in the wind?  If so, Adobe has done a serious disservice to its user base and, in turn, the users of the materials produced by them.  If not, I'd very much like to know what can be done while there's still time to do something.

[kglad]

it wasn't adobe's decision to terminate browser support for flash.  

anyway, you can still use actionscript3 with mobile apps and projector files.  but if you want to display in a browser, that's a different story - but again, not adobe's fault.

[JoãoCésar]

Hi.

There are some technologies that may be able to bring back Flash content to the web or somehow extend the usage of Flash after 2020 through WebAssembly or by wrapping up a browser engine.

https://ruffle.rs (Flash Player emulator built in the Rust programming language)

https://services.harman.com/partners/adobe (HARMAN is the company behind AIR now and it seems to be commited to support Flash after 2020)

CheerpX is a commercial technology that also promises to allow Flash content in the web using WebAssembly:

https://www.leaningtech.com/pages/cheerpxflash.html

https://medium.com/leaningtech/announcing-cheerpx-for-flash-a-solution-to-extend-the-life-of-flash-a...

https://medium.com/leaningtech/running-flash-in-webassembly-using-cheerpx-an-update-d500b6fbc44e

If none of these work for you, I think that you should consider porting your Flash content to Haxe, which is a very powerful language and its world is now the home of many former ActionScript/Flash developers.

https://haxe.org

https://www.openfl.org (it uses the familiar Flash API)

https://haxeflixel.com

https://heaps.io (engine used by the Dead Cells game)

https://feathersui.com/learn/haxe-openfl/installation/ (Feathers is being ported/rewritten in Haxe)

I hope it helps.

Regards,

JC

[ClayUUID]

It's been known that Flash player in browsers is going away for at least five years now. It's a bit late to be suddenly worrying about transitioning a project of that magnitude.

[BioME]

I share Francis's frustration.  kglad is correct that it wasn't Adobe's decision to terminate browser support, but they are responsible for failing to develop an alternative.  For instance, when I tried HTML Canvas the results were completely unacceptable due to several problems such as low resolution.  As ClayUUID notes, we've known that browsers were discontinuing Flash support for years now, which is why I have been exploring strategies for converting my materials.  This included a fruitless collaboration with kglad 5 or 6 years ago.  I’ve also made several attempts to initiate a conversation on the community exchange, without success. 

Three years ago I and a collaborator at Shepherd University experimented with numerous conversion tools but we failed to find any that were acceptable.  They all either produced poor resolution, stripped out the ActionScript, or only converted the first scene, usually all of the above.  Therefore, I've been working with my Shepherd collaborator and folks at my school to develop our own process.  This entails using a video capture to convert swf videos into MP4s, and replacing the Action Script with HTML/CSS/JS.  I’ve composed a template so I don't have to rewrite the entire code for each file, but I do have to customize it for each.  I'm in the final stages and expect to release my animated lessons on a website this winter or spring.  I will share the process when it's complete, although it's specific to my files and will have to be modified for others.   Francis, I'm afraid it might not serve you needs.  My program is a series of animated lessons, that each progress from slide to slide.  I've programed some features into them such as a central menu, back and rate buttons, side lessons and question banks.  However Francis, it sounds like your files are much more advanced.   

I am encouraged to hear from JoaoCesar that new products have been released for HTML conversion and I will experiment with them, however based on my previous experience I'm not optimistic.  I'm also encouraged by the app that kglad mentioned, which could be a solution if it will allow Flash files to run on any device, and if it’s readily available to any user.  I do hope that a solution will become available because Flash is a powerful program and it would be great loss if it goes the way of the dodo.  What is needed is either need a reliable, facile process for converting anyone’s files into HTML, or files that will run independent of the Flash Player or a browser.  

[ClayUUID]

"For instance, when I tried HTML Canvas the results were completely unacceptable due to several problems such as low resolution."

What are you talking about? Animate's canvas can dynamically scale to any desired resolution.