Flash buttons
 

Hi guys,
I'm knocking up my first website using me ntl webspace and Dreamweaver MX. I've tried to put a flash button on but when I look at the site in IE the button is just a white block and IE says (1 item reamining) and never seems to load the whole page and the button. Anyone got any ideas. I'm sure the button (.swf file) is on the server and in the right place but the homepage just doesn't display it.
Cheers, Pete.

Re: Flash buttons
 

Whats the code say ? (location)

Cut paste here lets have a look


and have u def uploaded the swf file to the server?

check again

Also how big is the Flash file? are you using BB or Dial up?

I once had a so called "IT Manager" who insisted he did a graphic for his companies website introduction so much so I had to have a meet with him and the MD.. I kept saying that it had to be small bt did they listen?

You know the type, he had done it in 3d Studio max and it was 10MB big... all singing all dancing..

So I gave him a CD with a draft of the website with his "Video Clip" on the front end....... said it looked great but only one problem..

He had forgotten I had told him that 90% of his customers were still using 33K and it would have taken them a week to download it.

Re: Flash buttons
 

Ok its :-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.c...abc/index.html

Re: Flash buttons
 

can't see that image at :
homepage.ntlworld.com/ peter.conway21/rabc/Images/button1.swf
or
homepage.ntlworld.com/ peter.conway21/Images/button1.swf

?????

Re: Flash buttons
 

Well bugger me !. It was just in /rabc directory. It works now. You're a bloody genius and I'm a complete dimwit !. Cheers for the help.

Re: Flash buttons
 

Ive optimised that jpeg on the front page down to 87K from 180K if you want it?

It will load in hafl the time....

send me an email

Re: Flash buttons
 

lol, thats a bit strong.
I'm a learner too in website design but have been playing around with computers for 22 years so I know where to start looking when things dont work.
Good luck with the site.

Is that button supposed to link to things? It does nothing at the moment thats all.

Re: Flash buttons
 

or you could try this one:
http://s1lv3r.com/gfx/RABC_Crest_Cropped.jpg
( resized and resampled.. from 250k to 15k ;) )

Re: Flash buttons
 

The button isn't supposed to do anything yet.
How do I reduce the size of my jpeg files ?.

Re: Flash buttons
 

depends on your image editing software.. I used adobe photoshop to get what you see above. let me know what you use to edit your images and i'll talk you through it.

another thing to note is that in your page the image was defined at a set width and height.. whereas the file itself was way over that defined size. i changed it from over 1500 pixel width to 400 and as you can see it's still slightly larger than the defined size.

Re: Flash buttons
 

I'm using Paint Shop Pro v8. I downloaded the picture form my digital camera opened it in in PSP8 and renamed it to something like RABC_Crest_cropped.jpeg. I then resized it to fit in the size of the image placeholder on the webpage which I thought was about 400x230 pixels, then loaded it in. So not sure why you see it as much bigger than this. I'm at work now so can't actually have a look at it.
Also do you know what I could use for flash banners and text and the like.
Cheers.

Re: Flash buttons
 

when you say you re-sized it.. did you resize it in the image editor or in the html editor?
the file itself was physically 1500 pixels wide.. but in your browser the html code specifies that the displayed image is 400 pixels wide.

Using the html code to specify the image size doesn't actually change the file itself, the change is only cosmetic. That is why the page takes a long time to load.. because the client browser is downloading a 1500pixel image then saying.. ok i'll disply this image at 400 pixels.

That is also the reason that my optimised image looks clearer, because it isn't being dynamically resized, which pixelates (distorts) the image.

Just out of interest, do you really need to use flash? Surely you can achieve the desired effect with rollover images?

Re: Flash buttons
 

oh, one more.. please use a font other than comic sans, it's one of the heinous crimes in web-design.
try trebuchet ms or tahoma.. just a suggestion ;)

Re: Flash buttons
 

I created an Image placeholder in Dreamweaver that was 400x230 (or thereabouts ) then I resixed the image in PSP8 to be 400X230 and then loaded it in to the Dreamweaver image placeholder. I'm not clued up enough yet to start editing the html code. I'm using Broadband so the time it takes to load up isn't apparaent to me, but something I've obviously got to bear in mind for dial-up. The flash bit I just wanted to have the title as perhaps a 3D image rather than just plain text (the 'ROMILEY ARMS BOWLING CLUB' bit at the top).

Re: Flash buttons
 

i'll create a title for you, use it if you like it.. watch this space

Re: Flash buttons
 

ok.. i've fiddled a bit and messed up the formatting.. but i think you'll get the idea

http://s1lv3r.com/bowlingclub.html

Re: Flash buttons
 

Peter,

Sorry I didnt get back to you sooner my Spam filter sectioned your email

Anyway TKS to silver your on the right track... now...

Dont forget you can easy resize them in your paint shop package.

To answer you question about how to optimise your pitcures do this

When you are saving your image CHOOSE the SAVE AS option

in the panel an OPTIONS otr RUN OPTIMIZER button will appear

Press this button and change the compression until the image quality starts to look crap.

Some will compress right down as Siliver and I have shown .. some wont...

hope this helps



#TIP if you create an animation optimize the file before creating the animation..

Re: Flash buttons
 

Thanks Guys, this has been really helpful. Silver, what do I need to create the banner like you have. Is that the sort of thing I can do in PSP8 as it looks like the banner is my crest jpeg and one you've created with the picture and the text, next to each other which does look better than mine. Your both welcome down the Romiley Arms for a pint next time you're in Stockport !.

Re: Flash buttons
 

you can just use the one i've created by right clicking the picture and choosing "save picture as".. or if you prefer, I can email it all to you

Re: Flash buttons
 

<img src="http://www.Name of your websitewidth="100" height="110" alt="">

Re: Flash buttons
 

I use an application called Easy Thumbnails which is Freeware
http://www.fookes.com/ezthumbs/?Easy%20Thumbnails=2600

It's ace in my opinion...very easy to use...

Re: Flash buttons
 

I like to use the Save for Web function in Adobe Photoshop because you can see how long it should take to download on dial-up,128,600k etc and you get the choice of 3 optimization levels.

Incog. :ninja:

Re: Flash buttons
 

Thanks for all this - I think I'm getting there now !!.