Flash node and SWF Tools

Flash node will take advantage of SWF Tools if it finds it is installed. There are no settings required in flash node - it can tell if SWF Tools is present and will start using it if it is available.

The advantage of combining flash node with SWF Tools is that you can then use javascript content replacement methods for adding flash to your web pages. These pages will display alternative content to users who don't have (or choose not to) run javascript, and it avoids the "Click here to activate and use this control" message under Internet Explorer. Using javascript methods to add flash to a page is generally regarded as "better" than direct embedding.

SWF Tools provides a range of javascript methods and as you change your settings on the SWF Tools configuration pages the content produced by flash node will change to match the current preference.

SWF Tools also provides easy access to a choice of media players for the playback of flash video (flv) and mp3 audio files. If you upload an flv or mp3 in to flash node then it will be output using the player that has been chosen on the SWF Tools configuration pages. If you change players then all the flash nodes will reflect the new choice.

As a result it is highly recommended (but not essential) that you also install SWF Tools once you have installed flash node and verified it is working using its built in embedding method.

If SWF Tools causes a problem for some reason then you can simply deactivate it and flash node will revert to its own direct embedding method. Although this means flv and mp3 files won't play they will work again when SWF Tools is re-enabled.

You can download SWF Tools from its project page and you can find SWF Tools documentation in these handbook pages.