Calling A DLL From Within Flash To Launch App

[ajbufort]

Hi Guys,

I want a viewer of my embedded Flash (non-projector) movie to be able to, upon clicking a button, open a custom app on their machine without seeing the security dialog box. I realize this is there for a reason, and I agree with the reason. But if one has a group of users that know they want to be able to do this repeatedly without an annoying box, they should be able to authorize such a thing (kind of like how the browser can remember an applet-permission decision). Curently, I see no built-in way to allow for that. So I am considering the idea of calling a DLL in the background from my Flash movie which will seamlessly launch the app, no dialogs involved. Is there a 'best way' to do this? I found a product on the web called 'ScreenWeaver' which I believe might be a solution. Has anyone any experience with this kind of situation that they can share with me?

Thanks,

-Tony

 

[imagenetics]

As far as I am concerned you cannot do this. Flash is basically meant for website animations and it is a graphics editing program rather than advanced programming tool. You can use FsCommand for launching an external executable, check ActionScript dictionary for "fscommand". Also you could check FlashStudio Pro at

http://www.multidmedia.com/software/flashstudio/

It creates executables out of Flash's SWF movies and widely extends usage of FsCommands. I have seen fully functional web browser built in Flash and FlashStudio. Check it out.

 

[ajbufort]

Hi - I know about the fscommand deal - it still causes the security window to pop up. I am after something that is seamless. 'ScreenWeaver' is such a product that can pull this off. I am looking to make something a lot thinner than that, though - solely for the purpose of opening up executables without the security window.

Yes, Flash is a graphics program, not a full blown programming environment. This is why i am looking to DLLs for help.

-Tony

 

[imagenetics]

Have you tried to combine Flash with Macromedia Director? I don't know if it is capable of loading dlls but Director has quite extensive file management functions such as saving to disk, messing with the registry and so on. I've been trying to launch an application from within Flash movie imported into Director and compiled with it and no security alerts occured. Try it, maybe this will be what you're looking for.

 

[ajbufort]

imagenetics,

That sounds like a good idea. I have been learning more about Director and those power capabilities that you have mentioned. If it's cool with my boss, maybe we can do that. However, just thought of this - that requires a different player, correct? I heard that they (Macromedia) decoupled the Flash player from the Director one, so now one has to go and download both. Is that true? If so, that's a minus, since probably a lot more people have the Flash player already (a fact my boss really appreciates) than do the Director one.

-Tony