Load msg and compression

[DocRock]

First, congrats to the developers - keep it up, what a great program!

My problem - I've got a large Xtreme flash file on my homepage. Will Xtreme allow me to show a "Loading" message until the flash loads and how would/could I compress the flash file to help it load faster? Thanks.

[Egg Bramhill]

Hi DocRock, yes that takes far to long even on a broadband connection and no wonder it's 1.3 Mb in size! I believe the problem is that your not optimising your images before exporting them to swf.

Import the image/s you wish to use into Xtreme. Resize them to match the movie size Arrange/Create bitmap copy. Delete the original. This ensures your only working with 96 pixel per inch images at the same size as the movie size.

I attach a xar and swf as an example. The resultant file size is tiny (30Kb) compared to yours.

By the way, Ipswich UK is only about 17 miles from me as the crow flies and I don't expect Harwich MA is that much further from you.

[DocRock]

Sounds like a plan. Many thanks for your advice. Any ideas on how to do the "loading" image before the flash is fully downloaded and plays?

So far as I've been able to learn, there are only 2 towns in the world named Ipswich unlike many other town names brought to the US from England.

[steve.ledger]

there are only 2 towns in the world named Ipswich

Make that (at least) three

[DocRock]

How do you post a temporary "Loading" msg on the page while the flash file is downloading? Can it be done in Xtreme Pro?

[steve.ledger]

DocRock I've merged your new thread into your earlier thread as you've asked the same question about a 'Loading Msg'.

[raynerj1]

DocRock,

I am no expert on using flash in xara, Egg knows much more. But a "standard" loader requires more coding than what I know is provided with Xpro. There are other flash programs out there, that might be able to do the program branching needed for a standard loader.

[DocRock]

Thanks John. I gather from your answer that my understanding is correct - this must be done in something like Adobe Flash which has the needed functionallity.

[raynerj1]

Regretfully you are correct. Xara does not have the ability to create any program decisions. I know macromedia flash (I don't have a copy of adobe flash, but imagine it still retains this ability) has this ability. There are other flash creation programs out there, I have never used them so can not speak on their capabilites/limitations.

[DocRock]

Thanks for your help. Looks like I'm stuck with letting the file load. I can compress it by reducing the image resolution in the frames but wanted to also offer the loading msg option.