By susata on

I'm trying to configure swf tools with flash node to display video on my site. I am now able to upload .flv videos and display them inline using simple swf tags and the Jeroen Wijering player. But before the visitor clicks on play, what appears in the video area is a solid black rectangle with a player arrow. Instead, I'd like to add an image that will display in the video area until the visitor clicks to begin playing the actual video. I believe this image is called a "poster", and I surmise that if I were embedding the .swf in an html page on a non-Drupal site, I would utilize a flashvar in the embedding code to specify a poster image. But I don't see any way to specify a poster image using any of the settings in flashnode/swf tools. In the admin settings for swf tools, I see it is possible to specify OTHER flashvars for the Jeroen Wijering player, but not a poster image.

I will immensely appreciate if someone could enlighten me.

Thank you,
s.

⋅ Categories: Drupal 5.x

Comments

Stuart Greenfield’s picture

Stuart Greenfield commented

This ought to be posted under the flash node or SWF Tools issue queues really. I look after flash node and it's only by chance I've seen your post.

To display a thumbnail or "poster" before playing an flv on Wijering player via flash node simply add image=/path/to/image/file to the Flashvars, found under Advanced flash node options when creating/editing a node.

If you upload the thumbnail using the upload module then you can simply write image=image filename. In this case just attach the image file when you create the node and flash node, SWF Tools and Wijering player sort it all out between them. Don't forget to uncheck the "List" option of the uploaded image file, unless you want people to be able to download the thumbnail!

If you upload the file by some other means (e.g. FTP) so that it isn't in your Drupal files directory then you'll need to put the full path to the image, rather than just the filename.

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susata’s picture

susata commented

Thank you so very much for your reply! Is it possible for this thread to be moved so that it will be under flash node or swf tools issues? If it's within my power, I'll happily enact that. Guess it's pretty obvious I'm a "newbie" here in Drupal land.

I hope you are still tuned in and find this message--I am unable to follow your instructions because I can not find "Advanced flash node options" anywhere in the Drupal administration of Flash nodes.

When I go to create a new Flash node, I select "Create content" then I select "Flash". THis page has fields for Title, Flash file name (this is where I upload the Flash file as .flv), Body, and then all the other usual node settings (Input format, URL, Menu, Comment, Authoring, Publish)--but no "Advanced flash node options."

When I go to edit a Flash node that has already been created, I select "Content management" then I select "Content" then I select the name of the Flash type node that I want to edit. Here I see all the same fields as described above in the previous paragraph. No "Advanced flash node options."

I do have the Upload module enabled. I also have Image and Imagecache enabled. I do have the Flash node module enabled, but I do not have every single component of SWF Tools enabled. The following three I have NOT enabled: SimpleViewer, SWF Tools Integration and UFO.

Am I looking in the wrong places for the Advanced options?

Thank you again for taking the time to respond.

s.

susata’s picture

susata commented

I came across this page: http://drupal.org/node/215264 and realized what I had done wrong:

In permissions I had blindly clicked every single option under Flash node, not realizing that some of the options hide important info--advanced options, basic options, etc.

Now I will try to follow your instructions! :-)
s.

susata’s picture

susata commented

I followed your instructions and a poster image now appears in the video display until I click play.

A zillion thanks!!!

susata’s picture

susata commented

I'm sorry to re-appear here--I have discovered a new snag. I created my Flash node (video) and then added the poster image, as you instructed, under Flashvars. When I view that Flash node, the poster image displays until play is clicked. Exactly what I was hoping for!

BUT -- when I insert the video (my Flash node) into another node, using the SWF Tools tag to post the video inline within the text of that greater node, the poster image no longer appears. The video display area is again solid black with only white 'play' arrow in center.

Since this problem doesn't crop up until I deploy the swf tools tag to display the video within the text of the other node type, I wonder if this is an SWF Tools issue... I greatly appreciate any thoughts you might have time to share.

s.

susata’s picture

susata commented

I started a new thread under SWF TOOLS issues: http://drupal.org/node/216946#comment-714301

Stuart Greenfield’s picture

Stuart Greenfield commented

Try using a flash node macro, rather than the swf tag. That way your flash vars are preserved.

See response here.
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susata’s picture

susata commented

See my complete ecstatic response at: http://drupal.org/node/216946#comment-714709

Stuart Greenfield’s picture

Stuart Greenfield commented

I'm sorry to re-appear here

Don't apologise! When I was getting stared with Drupal I posted loads of questions, and I always found everyone on here really, really helpful :-)
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susata’s picture

susata commented

I am amazed at how much of a sense of human community I am experiencing through an otherwise cold, inorganic bunch of circuits... Drupal is much greater than the sum of its parts (er modules).

s.

Giolf’s picture

Giolf commented

Using SWF Input Filter use

<swf width="xx" height="xx" flashvars="image=path/file.jpg"  file="path/file.flv"  />