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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the
minimum system requirements for an swfXXL-file?
This depends on the swf's dimensions and the amount of animation
/ graphics detail (i.e. amount of vector shapes, transparencies, gradients
etc.). For example, a 133 MHz PC might be sufficient for viewing
a 320x240 sized game in full screen mode, while the same game with a size of 640x480 pixels
might demand 350MHz or more.
Do I need
a certain graphic board?
No.
What operating
systems are supported by swfXXL? Windows 98™, Windows ME™,
Windows 2000™ and Windows XP.™
Is swfXXL
available for Mac?
Not at the moment.
Can I load
external swfs into an swfXXL projector?
The problem is
simple: You have your swfXXL exe-file on a CD, you want to load some
external swfs containing large data like video footage - but how can
you get the path to that special directory on that special drive without
knowing your user's PC?
Our solution is as simple as well:
swfXXL now automatically generates the "basepath.txt" file,
that lies right next to the main projector in the temporary directory.
Now simply read the basepath variable from that file:
(Flash 4:)
Load Variables ("basepath.txt", 0)
(Flash 5 or higher:)
loadVariablesNum
("basepath.txt", 0);
Now you know
the variable "basepath". It may contain a string like "d:\" if the swfXXL-file
lies on a CD. Or maybe "c:\windows\desktop" if it lies on yourdesktop,
or wherever - swfXXL finds that path on it's own.
Now, if you want to load an external swf, e.g. "video.swf" from a folder
"data" on a CD, simply combine the paths:
(Flash 4:)
Load Movie (/:basepath &
"data\video.swf", 1);
(Flash 5 or higher:)
loadMovieNum (_root.basepath
+ "data\video.swf", 1);
Whoop - there it
is!
I tried to
start an swfXXL file, but I received the message "unable to switch
to fullscreen mode"...
The minimum system requirement when running an swfXXl file is a graphic
board which is able to display the selected resolution with at least
16bit color depth. Otherwise, the swfXXL projector will refuse running.
Does the sharedObjects
function work, e.g. for saving Highscores?
Yes, but you have
to add a "/" as a path name, so the player can find the cookie
later on. Just like this:
sharedobject.getLocal("FlashCookie" , "/")
And, of course, better use a quite unique name for the cookie, so it
won't be overwritten by other applications. ("FlashCookie" might be
too un-unique ;o)
I created
an swf file with lots of large animations and now it still runs slow
though using swfXXL?!
You have to check if your PC is able to playback your swf properly
when running with its original player window. If you encounter poor
performance even in the original window, your PC might not be able to
playback the swf properly at all. In this case, reduce the amount of
vector details, gradients, transparencies or too large, transparent
bitmap graphics.
Does swfXXL
need any special hardware?
swfXXL uses DirectDraw™ to enlarge the swf-viewing size,
but does not change the ways flash-graphics are being rendered. So,
swfXXL files are compatible to all kinds of PCs or laptops.
Does swfXXL
support ActionScripting and Interaction? Yes, fully. Feel free
to create action games or highly interactive user interfaces - swfXXL
will not interfere with any flashplayer functions.
I created
some swfXXL projects with another resolution than 640x480. But somehow
the mouse cursor position seems to be different from the actual mouse
coordinates inside the flashmovie.
This is a known Windows™
problem with some DirectX™ drivers. We can't do anything about it, but you
can let swfXXL (or better: Flash itself) switch off the cursor
and use the "dragmovieclip"-function provided by flash to
generate your own mouse cursor.
Somehow the
mouse cursor seems to flicker when moving over the flashmovie.
This is also a problem
with some DirectX™ drivers appearing at lower resolutions. When dealing
with lower resolutions, better hide the mouse cursor from within Flash
and use a dragged movieclip instead.
What about
the Windows™-Keys?
In order to secure safe execution of your full screen application,
swfXXL can kill this system key function. So you have to include a "quit"
function inside your flashmovie, otherwise the user will have to use
Alt+F4 way to exit your program (of course, swfXXL won't kill this function).
Under Windows98,
Windows Keys are always disabled.
Does swfXXL
support opening executable files though using Flash MX?
Yes. Don't worry about the sandbox system. swfXXL will automatically
simulate the fscommand directory.
What happens
if I open a URL / webbrowser while running fullscreen mode?
Better
don't do that. But if you must open a URL, add the fscommand "quit",
so swfXXL can shut down, bring you back to the normal windows desktop
and then open your browser.
Without an immediate exiting, quite confusing effects might appear.
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