swf files coming up blank

That sometimes happens if flash can't find the file it is supposed to be playing, so it leaves a blank placeholder.

You might also want to try different methods in SWF Tools - try direct embedding, then go back to a javascript method. I don't know why but sometimes that helps!

If this doesn't work then view the source code for the page and copy and paste the relevant flash part here and I'll have a look to see if that sheds any light. Alternatively, if the page in question is publically accessible let me know the link and I'll see if I can spot anything obvious from the page itself.

I've tried both direct embedding and using the Flash node type. Both yield the same blank area with dimensions that are precisely the dimensions of the stage in my flash animation. When embedded directly, I also get "<swf file="homepage.swf">" printing out directly below the blank area where the flash item should be.

Here's the relevant source code:

I am new to flash as well, so its possible I've made a mistake in how I published my .swf. I just used the default settings using Flash CS3.

Thanks for your help!

Does anyone have any further insight to offer me on this?

The code looks to be right for direct insertion of flash, and it is clearly trying to do something as you are getting a placeholder.

Do you have a link to the website in question that I can visit to see if I see the same issue (to check it is not a browser issue).

Also, could you attach/email me the flash file. I can then test the file itself on my dev server to make sure it isn't the file that is causing a problem.

Lastly, if you are seeing <swf file="homepage.swf"> printing out, are you also trying to use the SWF Tools filter? Flash node doesn't output code in that format.

I have just committed version 5.x-4.1 of Flash node and it should be available shortly. This version of Flash node can work without SWF Tools by rendering flash directly.

Try downloading the new package and disabling SWF Tools. Then try to create some flash content and see if it works.

Let me know what happens!

Thanks Stuart,

The <swf file="homepage.swf"> is only appearing when I try to embed the file using SWF Tools. I have the same blank space when trying both methods (flashnode and swftools).

I just updated to the newer version of FlashNode. Upon creating a new page with it, I got this error message... and still have the blank space appearing in my browser.

Right now the page is in development on localhost... so I can't provide you with a link to a live version. I'm hoping that within the next week or so I will get the whole thing moved onto a server. When this happens I will let you know. I've attached the swf that is failing. I'd be surprised if it's the file itself that is the problem, because I'm having the same result trying to insert a SimpleViewer flash file generated by iPhoto. I'm using Mac OSX and the latest version of Firefox.

Thanks again.. your effort is appreciated!
Andrew

After installing the latest flashnode did you run the update script (Think it will be at http://localhost/drupal/update.php looking at your flash file path)

There is a schema update to the database table that will add columns vid and fid.

If you did run the update then did it complete ok?

You should see (or have seen!) this message if the update is successful:

Thanks for the zip file - I will test it later today.

The flash file works for me on my test server running Drupal 5.3 and Flash node 4.1

The file will render using Flash node without SWF Tools, and also with SWF Tools / javascript!

If you can try again using Flash node without SWF Tools and see if that works? That said, I compared the mark up that SWF Tools produced that you pasted above, and the mark up I am getting, and they are the same, so it ought to be working.

As a double check try visiting this page on my site. This is also producing Flash via Flash node / SWF Tools. That way we can test that your browser is able to display the flash ok!

Thanks Stuart,

Flash is loading and looks great... and no more error messages. Still one remaining issue: When logged in as admin or root user, no matter what FlashNode permissions are allowed the swf files are still blank. If I logout or am logged in as any other user, they appear. Yet the source code for the files are exactly the same no matter who is logged in. I don't think this is intentional functionality... do you have any idea why this is happening?

Thanks!
Andrew

do you have any idea why this is happening?

Um, nope! I never saw this happen before! Which version of flashnode are you using, and if 5.4 or later are you also using SWFTools, in which case which version of that? I'll have to try and recreate the problem I think.

Out of interest, if you add some text to the flashnode too do you see that? Is it just the flash file that is blank??

At least we're a bit closer to getting it working right :-)

I'm having the exact same problem, but it's oddly random. Some of my .swf files work fine, others come up blank. There's a placeholder with the proper file dimensions, but no content.

I've tried all the solutions you offered here, but no luck. Any other ideas? I've got a ton of flash files to add, each a bit different and all work fine embedded in html on another website (same host.)

Thanks in advance,
Eileen

This seems to be a really odd little bug!

Can you send me a file that works, and one that doesn't, to web@stuartandnicola.com? That way I can test the files on my local dev system and see if I can bottom it out.

Also, can I check - are the files "straightforward" in that the flash contains everything, or are they files that use loadMovie or similar in ActionScript. loadMovie needs careful use to work properly!

Thanks!

Here's the thing; the site I'm building is for students, and it's vital that they be able to upload ANY .swf file without issues. Otherwise, the site is useless.

Can you outline for me (step-by-step like I were a remedial third grader) exactly what needs to be done to make movies with loadMovie() in them embed properly? I've read the documentation and can't make any sense of it.

Thanks,
Eileen

I am having a similar problem as those above. But here's my twist:

1. SWFs work fine on IE V6, but not at all in Firefox 2 (just get a blue placeholder)
2. FLVs do not work in either browser, but a blank placeholder is present
3. SWF is installed with Tools, j.query, 1 Pixel, SWFObject, SWF Tools, UFO, and Wijering checked
4. The latest Flashnode module was downloaded and used (as of 1/4/08)
5. Source for SWF is as follows

6. Source for FLV is as follows

Any ideas?

Okay, read the doc at http://drupal.org/node/181998 regarding SWFtools. Got it working first, now Flashnode works fine! Go figure :-)

Hi, wrt a blank swf under admin user: I'm on OSX, and I also have this problem in Firefox (I can hear the swf, I just can't see it). It works fine in Safari.

I've done some messing around, and it looks like enabling the admin_menu module is causing the problem. I've no idea why, but HTH. I can live with it.

I'm using OSX with Firefox (and also have admin menu enabled). Somehow this combination seems to be the problem - when I open the page with Firefox on a PC or with Safari on OSX it works great. I can absolutely live with it, but would like to fix this if anyone has come across a solution.

I don't have access to an OSX machine so I can't recreate this problem. However, if I install admin_menu on my Vista machine then Drupal doesn't work under IE7 any more - pages with expandable sections stop expanding and the page never finishes loading. I also get flash files saying they have failed to initialise which is a sign that the js substitution routines aren't being triggered.

From this I can only assume that something to do with the js code that makes admin_menu works is interfering with other js modules, and this causes not only Flash node but also other js functions to fail.

I'm not familiar with js to know why this should be the case, but it does look like admin_menu might be the root cause.

I'll therefore have to leave this open, but you might want to check over on the admin_menu project to see if there are any reported bugs or fixes.

@eileen

Information on using submovies is here on my website. Hopefully it explains what is needed.

In a nutshell, upload the main SWF using Flash node exactly as any other Flash content, attach submovies using the upload module, or use FTP or similar, and simply make sure that the base parameter under Advanced settings provides the path to the sub-files. Within the ActionScript just use loadMovies('submovie.swf', mc1); or similar.

@mrevels - in reply to #14

It appears that there is a bug with SWF Tools that means flv files and mp3's won't play using the generic player that comes with SWF Tools. Things work ok with Wijering player, or you can try the fix suggested in this entry of the SWF Tools issue queue that works around the escaping problem that seems to be breaking the generic player.

Follow up to #16 regarding admin_menu. There's a similar bug thread over at SWF Tools, and the issue there was pinpointed to the admin_menu style sheet assigning an opacity. The suggested solution is described in this post.

I am closing this thread - there have been no further posts in three weeks, and I think all the issues contained in here are now addressed.

If there are any open issues, or you don't think the reply in here helped, please can you raise a NEW issue as this thread got kind of muddled with a few different issues all wrapped up in it. Thanks.