How do you link to an external SWF and have it open as a popup?

Report · May 06, 2008

Hello,

I would like to insert a link to an external SWF file (same folder as .FM file) and have it launch the SWF file either in a Internet Explorer browser window or Flash Player window - from the published PDF.

I do NOT want to embed the SWF file onto the FrameMaker page or take up any amount of real estate in the FrameMaker file. I simply want a text hyperlink to a SWF file that will popup off the final product, which is a PDF.

Is this possible? If so then do I have to adjust any settings in FrameMaker 8 or Distiller to allow this to work?

The end product will be a CD/DVD with a PDF file and a graphics folder containing SWF files.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Jim

Report · May 06, 2008

Jim, could you also tell us the exact version of Distiller that you're using, what level of PDF you are creating (e.g. if there's some reason you need to restrict the PDF compatibility to a particular version) and also it'd be good to specify the point version of FM (the .pxxx from Help > About). Are there version complexities with SWF too? (I haven't a clue).

Report · May 06, 2008

FM8->PDF only supports SWF "in document" playback location (and the SWF is always embedded in the PDF). Distiller have no control over playback location.

You can add the SWF to the PDF in Acrobat, and control all of its properties.

Alternatively, with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers + Multimedia Assistant, you may insert a custom hypertext marker that controls all FM->PDF media properties.

See http://www.microtype.com/timesavers_Assistants.html#MultimediaAsst for more information and sample PDFs.

Shlomo Perets

MicroType, http://www.microtype.com * ToolbarPlus Express for FrameMaker
FrameMaker/Acrobat training & consulting * FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers/Assistants

Report · May 06, 2008

Hello again,

I am using FrameMaker 8 (Structured Mode but unstructured FrameMaker File)and Distiller 7.0. The PDF output was set to be compatible with Acrobat 5, so I have gone and changed that to the highest setting, which for me, is Acrobat 7. Also there is a check box on the Link tab in Distiller 7. Does that check box (for named destination) have to be checked off or not?

Currently, I am taking a generic chapter from the FrameMaker 8 sample folder, putting some text on the page, highlighting the text and then choosing Hypertext. From within the Hypertext popup window, there is a Command field with a drop down menu containing numerous options. Is there one command I should use over another?

My end product will contain a PDF with hyperlinks to either a popup HTML file or a popup SWF file. I have some Captivate 3 movies that have been saved to include the HTML container file too.

Overall, I prefer to control everything from FrameMaker 8 and do not want to have to add on to the PDF from within Acrobat 7 Professional.

All edits and enhancements made to the end product (the PDF) have to be done from within FrameMaker 8.

Also, I appreciate suggestions to third party tools, but I am not looking to purchase any add-ons to FrameMaker 8 at this time.

Thanks again for your replies.

Regards,

-J

Report · May 06, 2008

Another option is the generic "launch" action. Insert a hypertext marker such as:
message openfile xyz.swf

Acrobat displays a security-related question, and if the viewer confirms, the program associated with the file extension opens with the file loaded. The security message can be suppressed in the current Acrobat session.

Shlomo Perets

MicroType, http://www.microtype.com
Training, consulting & add-ons: FrameMaker, Structured FM and Acrobat

Report · May 06, 2008

Hello Shlomo,

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I just got my pdf to link to SWFs and MPGs, using the "Message Client" command.

What I like to know now, is if there is a way to embed (copy into document) some of my SWF and MPG files and store them on the Reference page. Then, I would like to call up the SWF or MPG through a hyperlink on the Body page. The SWF or MPG file would open up in a popup window.

Is this possible?

I do know that I can add graphics on the Reference page and then reference them in on the body page - through the Paragraph Designer Advanced tab under Frame Above Pgf/Below Pgf drop down menu options.

Can any of the Hypertext commands reference something stored on the Reference page?

Thanks again for any replies.

-J

Report · May 06, 2008

James,

This is all guessing, because I have not used SWFs and MPGs in FrameMaker; however, I do know that you can create a frame on a reference page and import a graphic into BY REFERENCE, and then use that frame in the frame above/below pgf as you describe in your post. When you create the PDF, the graphic of course becomes part of the PDF file.

I do not know how SWFs and MPGs are imported/linked within a Frame file. If they can be imported by reference into an anchored frame, then one can possibly do it in a frame on a reference page. Just guessing. I am also assuming that one cannot copy into document SWFs and MPGs because of their size; thus, one has to do it by reference.

This probably does not help, but just a thought,

Van

Report · May 07, 2008

Hello Van,

Thanks for the response. Yes, I am able to call up any type of boilerplate graphic from the reference page to the body page (within FrameMaker 8). In theory, I could embed a video clip or a SWF file on to the reference page to and reference it up. But, it would immediately take up real estate on the FrameMaker body page.

I am simply looking for a way (maybe with some type of script) to keep the SWFs and video clips on the reference page with a hypertext style link to the animation or video - coming from the body page. This would of course be preserved when the FrameMaker file/book is made into a PDF. The end result is that a user open up a SWF animation (popup) or video clip - to reinforce what they are trying to learn from the book (PDF) itself.

If any one has some ideas on how to make this approach work, please let me know. I should mention that I am looking for a free approach to this task.

Regards,

Jim

Report · May 07, 2008

Jim,

There's no way to make a simple hypertext link from a Body page to
contents on a Reference page - FM simply doesn't work that way.

If you don't want the swf to take up any real-estate on the FM Body
page, then you'll have to go the message openfile route.

Alternatively, you might want to reconsider your design to allow for a
link to another FM file (perhaps a conditional for an online PDF
version) that does actually contain the swf imported by reference.