This tutorial describes a method of using JavaScript within your Flash movie
without using any external JavaScript in the html your movie is embedded
in. For the example we are going to be creating pop-up windows. This
tutorial starts off with the basic method involved then goes into some more
advanced effects. And finally finishes off by describing how to
dynamically update the movie located in your pop-up with JavaScript from your
parent movie.
Overview
This becomes a powerful method because it enables you to include JavaScript
in any Flash movie regardless of where it is located. For example with
this tutorial you can open up a new window (with specific dimensions, location,
and browser features) from a banner ad or from your Flash footer for various
message boards, regardless of what JavaScript is located in the document in
which it is embedded. Traditionally you would have to include predefined JavaScript
in the html document that the movie is embedded in. After we go over the
basic technique we will be going into various effects using JavaScript such as
shaking the pop-Up window, moving the pop-up once loaded, opening and closing
the pop-up at specific delay times, scrolling to a specific location in your
pop-up, etc etc. Then goes on to explain how to control that pop-up from
the parent movie timeline - using this you can for example shake a pop-up window
you previously opened at a specific time or event in your Flash
movie. Some features will not be available to all browsers as
well as when you are opening a pop-up window not located on the same server as
the parent movie. The example for this tutorial provides you with a JavaScript
code generator that you can use to create all the effects we will be covering
plus more. Every single JavaScript property, method, and function related
to pop-up windows was attempted to be included for use in the Auto-Code
Generator - for this reason some will not be available to all browsers (most
will though). You can use/review the auto-code generator at this link http://www.flash-db.com/PopUp In the end of this document I provided a brief overview of how to use the
Auto-Code Generator, but it should be fairly self explanatory.
Jeffrey Hill is a freelance web developer from Boulder, Colorado. He specializes in creating and developing dynamic database driven Flash content and applications. Specialty's include SQL, PHP, Perl, and XML.
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JavaScript Pop-up windows (no external scripts) in Flash - a definitive guide
