Many moons ago I posted an AIR tool that would allow a user to drag a .swf file into a target area and have it spit out all the javascript, html, etc into a designated output directory. I’m not sure if anyone other than I ever used the thing, but I actually use it constantly at work and it seemed high time for a little update.
Well version 2 is here, and while it has the same bad name (“OBO Site GatherAIR”), it’s much more user friendly. This version now features template html files that can be selected. It ships with three templates (“Basic”, “Fullscreen with SWFFIT” and “Flash Centered in HTML” – personally, I don’t care much for the last as it relies on a table to do the centering. All are standards compliant though). Creating your own templates is a piece of cake. Just create a .html file that you’d like to use as a template and give it a memorable name (the name of the file is what will appear in the templates drop down box). Use the following abbreviatations inside the .html file (check out the included templates for examples of how to use the abbreviations):
$DESC - description of website $KEY - website keywords $AUTH - website author $TITLE - title of html page $WIDTH - width of swf file $HEIGHT - height of swf file $BG - background color (6 digit hex number) $MENU - true or false (whether or not to show the Flash context menu) $FULLSCREEN - true or false (whether or not to allow full screen) $SWF - name of .swf file $DIV - name of div that will house the .swf file $VERSION - version of .swf file
Finally, just save the html file inside the “templates” directory that is inside the application’s installation directory. The next time you run the app, your template will be selectable from the drop down menu.
The application comes packaged with swfobject.js v 2.1, swfaddress.js v 2.2, and swffit.js v 2.0 (please, no one sue me). To update to newer versions as they appear, just plunk the newer versions into the “includes” directory inside the installation directory (make sure they have the same name’s as the older versions and overwrite those obsolete ones).
*** UPDATE (30DEC08) ***
Yes, already an update to v 2.1. In the previous version (yesterday’s that is), I was moving the files using the File.copyTo() method. Worked fine, but lacked any feedback and, for large .swf files, you may end up sitting there awhile wondering if anything was actually happening. Now, I’ve switched to transferring the files with File.copyToAsync(). Long story short, once all files have been copied to the output directory, you will receive a nice little “Mission accomplished!” message to let you know everything is done.
A few gotchas to watch out for:
- Selecting the “fullscreen with swffit” template does not automatically include the swffit.js file – make sure to check the checkbox to include it in the output.
- When publishing to a full screen site, be sure to set up the .swf’s stage properties accordingly (i.e. set the align, set the scale to no scale, etc.).
- Also, even though there is a checkbox to include swfaddress.js, none of the html templates include the swfaddress.js script. You’ll either have to modify the final html file – or create your own template!
- The width, height, and file version variables are taken directly from the .swf file. If you would like to change these or add a minor version to your html, you’ll have to do so manually.
Below is a screenshot:
If interested you can install the application using the badge below:
Or you can download the .air file directly here.
Let me know if you find it useful, create your own templates, or have any ideas for further improvements.
I’ve sent it over to Ajaxian cause it’s awesome!
Bitchin’! Thanks, David…
Nice Devon, I might have to play around with this.
Devon,
I’m a long-time admirer of yours. I started to fool around Flash a year ago, and learned a lot mainly ’cause of you. As a matter of fact, I’d place you as one of my “Gurus”. I’ll try your application and will keep in touch.
Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Ed
Hi Ed,
Thank you for the kind words. Funny you should just try this out now. I was just planning on updating the app this weekend (fix a small bug, add some new templates and update swfobject and swfaddress). So you might want to hold off – or check back on Monday…
d.
[...] For those unfamiliar with the AIR Website Generation Tool with the god awful name of Site GeneratAIR (still no good suggestions), check out this old post. [...]
Thanks for creating this tool! Just found it through Refreshing Apps. Can’t wait to try it out….
[...] other news, just saw that my Site GatherAIR thingamabob has now been listed over on Refreshing Apps. Very cool stuff! And thanks to whoever submitted [...]
Holy crap! this is incrediably useful. Embedding swfs for proofs and such is a daily work chore that this app will make a pleasure.
thank you – very cool app!
Amazing, Stupendous, tremendous, fantastic,…………I love the Flash community, here the Gurus are real Gurus. They are so nice that I can’t explain. Devon, ;-) difficult to show my happiness here in text, but the thing is just that you are great. I am 20 years old novice and attached with flash on and off from 3 to 4 years. I don’t know a lot but every time I have this feeling that, If I caught in some problem there is no problem because we have such (Devon) mentors. Great Job. I am looking forward for some professional tips to become superhero in Actionscript 3.0, any resources, techniques, tricks and I am also impressed from Gugga framework what you said about it. I am eager to listen from you.
Thanks
Take care.
works great! although would rather have a “go” button and an swf file name field instead of just dropping the swf in there… but hey it’s free so not really complaining. thanks!
[...] 20. Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
[...] Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
Amazing! Really. Thank you for this great Application.
[...] Website Generation Tool Take II. Para la creación de plantillas de sitios sencillos para los trabajos de diseño rápido y fácil. [...]
[...] 20. Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
[...] Sitio: blog.onebyonedesign.com/?p=146 [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR » This AIR application can take a SWF file that you drag onto it and then after choosing an HTML template it will convert all of the files out into a directory you specify complete with all the SWFObject code and SWFFit code if you choose to select it. It ships with three standard compliant templates ("Basic", "Fullscreen with SWFFIT" and "Flash Centered in HTML"), you can also create your own template by following the instructions here: Create your own template. [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR [...]
[...] 20. Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR is a website generation tool that lets you create Html templates with ease. You can also use it to drag and drop SWF files into your template. [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR is a website era apparatus which lets we emanate Html templates with ease. You can additionally make make make make make make make use of of of of of of of it to draw towards as well as dump SWF files in to your template. [...]
[...] Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR es una herramienta para la generación de sitios web que te permite crear templates Html fácilmente. También lo puedes utilizar para arrastrar y soltar archivos SWF en tu template. [...]
[...] Website Generation Tool Take II [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR es una herramienta para la generación de sitios web que te permite crear templates Html fácilmente. También lo puedes utilizar para arrastrar y soltar archivos SWF en tu template. [...]
[...] OBO Site GatherAIR is a website generation tool that lets you create Html templates with ease. You can also use it to drag and drop SWF files into your template. [...]
A improvement, could be add Falsh variables generation, including javascript url params reader as flash variables.
[...] You can use it to create image annotations and interactive presentations. 17. OBO Site GatherAIR: OBO Site GatherAIR is a website generation tool that lets you create Html templates with ease. You can also use it to [...]
[...] admin on Aug.10, 2010, under AIR – Herramientas específicas de diseño OBO Site GatherAIR es una herramienta para la generación de sitios web que te permite crear templates Html [...]
RSS feed for comments on this post. / TrackBack URI