X-Cart forums

[jpreskitt]

Originally Posted by balinor

Just use extra fields and add the flash code to the extra field for each product.

What are the limitations of the Extras feild?
Looks like it might not support many lines of code.
Or can it?

John

Linux

[balinor]

I think it is 250 characters by default, but you can edit that directly in the DB via PHPMyAdmin

[Donster]

Thanks for steering me in the right direction balinor - a great help. My goal is an auto start, looping product video created from an avi file and compressed for the web into a flv or swf. Here are a few things that I learned over about six hours (I am a flash newbie).

It seems the the embed method (if not all methods) of presenting video has lots of issues for browser compatability and I have confirmed that by testing with different browsers. That aside, this is a couple of examples of what has worked for me, just pasting into the new product field:

<embed src="http://www.yourstore.com/video/player.swf" width="320" height="240"
bgcolor="#FFFFFF" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"
flashvars="file=http://www.yourstore.com/video/yourvideo.flv&autostart=true" />

The above worked for the JW FLV Player (referenced as player.swf), which apparently has a limitation of no loop for a single video (as opposed to a playlist). I got a headache trying to locate a cheap player that I could easily configure. I thought there were more available. So I came up with the below that does not require a FLV player because it uses a swf file (created from Flash 8 Pro, Sorensen Squeeze, and others)

To embed a swf file and use the "preferred" object method I had success with this.
This auto started, did no loop, so I used Squeeze to create loop effect within the swf, and it works that way. Change size as needed:


<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" ╩ data="http://www.yourstore.com/video/yourvideo.swf" width="600" height="240"> <p>Alternative content</p> </object>
</object>

You can add parameters, paths and adjustments to this for your own preferences.

If anyone has an urgent need to see what I have done I can post it temporarily on my unrelated site that is live. I can tuck it into a infrequently visited product "corner". Hope to have a new site up soon with lots of examples.

If there are any flash experts out there I have a question about file sizes. Sorensen Squeeze (VERY feature rich) allows me to batch process avi files to swf, create watermarks, and easily set a looping video. Only catch is the file size is greater than when I use Flash 8 Pro (Not as feature rich), even when I match the parameters of compression. Why?

[jpreskitt]

Donster,
What is your site? I'd like to see your vid once you have it up.
Or some example of what you did.
John

[Donster]

I will leave this up for most of the day for you. My customers will think I am wacked if they see this here. See the video to the right of the product photo.

http://www.edfredstore.com/product.php?productid=16139&cat=259&page=1

While you on on the Edfred site, buy something! : )

[jpreskitt]

Balinor,
Thanks for the suggestion about throwing code in extra feilds. Is it a matter of loacting the cordinates of this feature? To look into moving it to another area of the page?
Or is it possible to shimmy code into a product option (non associated with variants)?
Much apprciated,
John
Linux

[Donster]

This code works for me with Opera and Firefox, but not IE 6.

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" ╩ data="http://www.yourstore.com/video/yourvideo.swf" width="600" height="240"> <p>Alternative content</p> </object>
</object>

Any suggestions anyone?