negush blog

Flash, ActionScript and stuff…

Archive for February, 2010

February-9-10

ExternalInterface.call not working with IE

posted by admin

While working on a few PhotoSnack albums a few days ago, I’ve tested some features with several browsers but noticed that with Internet Explorer the albums were not working as supposed to. Specifically, the ExternalInterface.call() function wasn’t calling the target JavaScript functions at all.

After testing the JavaScript and ActionScript functions separately, it seemed they all worked without any problems. Anyway, the JavaScript functions were being called with no problems on all the other browsers I tested, except on Internet Explorer. After searching the problem on the Internet I came upon a comment on the ActionScript 3 documention posted on Adobe’s livedocs for the ExternalInterface class (thanks gerdy).

It looks like for the ExternalInterface.call() function to work in IE, the embedded Flash object MUST have the id attribute specified. Otherwise you won’t be able to display not even a JavaScript alert message from Flash. As soon as the id attribute was set for the flash objects in PhotoSnack, the albums worked just fine with Internet Explorer too.

So, as a best practice, I recommend always setting the id attribute of your Flash objects embedded in HTML pages.

February-1-10

Google, can you hear us ?

posted by admin

We’ve just launched a petition on Facebook: we would really like for Google to allow ActionScript 3 .swf files for AdWords. If we scream loud enough, maybe Google will hear us. So please, those of you who have a Facebook account, sign our petition. If Google will allow AS3 .swf file for its AdWords system, we will all benefit.

Thanks to all of you.