SlideShowPro for Flash Button Packs updated

Posted by Todd Dominey on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Both the Pearl and Quartz button packs have been updated with two extra icons each that replace the video play button that appears in the center of videos when Video Auto Start is set to “Off.” If you use the button packs and want to update your slideshow, make sure you use the new ActionScript code included in the download so that all of the navigation icons are replaced. Login to your member profile to download.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.5 released

Posted by Todd Dominey on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 5:05 pm

A new point update for SlideShowPro for Flash is now available for download in the Account Center.

This release patches up an issue with the Cache Content parameter in the AS3 version, a few tweaks to Media RSS loading (both AS3 and AS2), plus a few other small things. The main changes in this release are enhancements to the “Standalone” version of SlideShowPro that’s distributed with the Flash extension for those who don’t own the Flash authoring application.

Before, assigning parameters could only be done through the static param.xml file the standalone version loaded. This was fine for most parameters, but it prevented developers from being able to dynamically assign parameters (for example, the XML File Path). So with this release, any parameter in param.xml can be overridden through FlashVars. Simply add the parameter, its new value, and the FlashVar value will be used instead.

Another change is that SlideShowPro’s methods are now exposed through ExternalInterface. Meaning, standalone users can now do things like switch albums through HTML links outside of the SWF, just like the extension users can.

Finally, an attempt was made at simplifying the standalone’s embedding process by removing sspWidth and sspHeight from param.xml. Changing both the width/height of the SWF and SlideShowPro was a bit laborious and confusing for new users, so with this release the standalone SWF now automatically scales to whatever size you embed your SWF at.

To read more about the changes, visit the updated Standalone section of our help wiki. Version History has been updated as well.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.4 released

Posted by Todd Dominey on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 4:01 pm

A new point update for SlideShowPro for Flash is now available in the account center. This update contains your usual mix of glitch fixes and general updates, but there’s a new feature in the ActionScript 3 version we’re making available today instead of waiting for the next big point update (1.9) simply because, well, we think it’s pretty cool.

Flash CS4 introduced a graphical programming language called Pixel Bender. Adobe has essentially opened up the language used to modify bitmaps in the Flash Player; allowing developers to write their own filters. There’s all kinds of wacky things you can do with it, but Pixel Bender can be extremely useful to photographers for it can do things like convert color images to black and white, apply sharpening, tint, etc.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.4 (AS3) allows Flash developers the ability to apply one or more Pixel Bender filters to slideshow content, navigation thumbnail links, navigation link previews, album previews, or all of the above. So if you’ve ever wanted a slideshow of black and white images from a collection of color images without altering your originals, now you can. Simply apply a filter and publish. Your images will be automatically converted.

Now, as great as Pixel Bender is, it’s definitely new. Meaning, it’s only supported in Flash Player 10, which according to our site stats (and as of this writing) is about 15% of you out there. That number is undoubtedly smaller amongst the general public. But adoption will increase quickly in the months ahead, and this update allows you the ability to experiment now and deploy whenever you feel the time is right for your audience.

Here’s an example (Flash Player 10 plugin required). There’s also a demo FLA for SlideShowPro for Flash users to download and tinker with on the SlideShowPro for Flash product page, not to mention a new Pixel Bender tutorial in our wiki explaining how it works.

Alright, so that’s Pixel Bender. This update also incorporates a couple of important updates we’re releasing now instead of later. First, permalinks. We’ve changed how permalinks work to use IDs assigned to images. You can continue using image numbering for your permalink URLs, but this change allows those who move content around in an album to publish permalinks that always point to images, not their numerical position. Second, we’ve added the “video play” button (the one that overlays videos) to the navIcons array so it can be swapped out with your own button. Purchasers of the Quartz button pack can now download an update that includes a video play button. An update to the Pearl button back is on the way soon.

That’s all for now. Visit the SlideShowPro for Flash product page to download this update.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.3 released

Posted by Todd Dominey on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 2:35 pm

A new point update for both the ActionScript 2 and 3 versions of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available for download in the account center.

This release fixes a few issues in the ActionScript 3 version related to captions, the media player, as well as some album preview loading quirkiness in the ActionScript 2 build. The ActionScript 3 version also adds a new halt() method to assist with garbage collection when unloading a SWF containing SlideShowPro from a parent SWF. For those who use SlideShowPro in this manner we recommend reading the new “Errors unloading SlideShowPro” wiki doc that explains the Flash Player 9 bug and how halt() helps work around it.

As always, this update is free for all SlideShowPro for Flash users. You can read the version history for more specifics as well.

Flash CS4 is coming. Is SlideShowPro ready?

Posted by Todd Dominey on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 11:11 am

In a word, yes! Flash CS4 was recently announced by Adobe as part of their updated Creative Suite 4 family of apps, and is scheduled to be released later this month. We’ve been beta testing both the ActionScript 2 and 3 versions of SlideShowPro with Flash CS4 for the past few weeks and everything works great with both.

You can upgrade to Flash CS4 from Flash MX 2004, Flash 8 or Flash CS3 for $199. If you’d like to support SlideShowPro as part of your purchase, click this link. You’ll pay the same price as you normally would (we’ll just get a little kickback for the referral). We’d appreciate it!

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.2 released

Posted by Todd Dominey on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 4:58 pm

An updated build of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available for download in the account center. This build (1.8.9.2) mostly resolves / enhances some issues found over the past couple of weeks in the new ActionScript 3 version of the component, but also tweaks / fixes a few things in the ActionScript 2 version as well. You can read about everything that changed in the version history.

If you’re a recent purchaser and need information on how to update component instances, check out the updating instructions in our wiki.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.1 released

Posted by Todd Dominey on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Now available in the account center is a point update that fixes a few issues in the ActionScript 3 version of SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9. These include tweaks to caption visibility / behavior, smoothing bitmaps across domains, javascript hyperlinks, and other interactive tweaks. To read more about what’s in this release, see the version history.

The ActionScript 2 version in this release doesn’t contain any changes (version updated to keep numbering in sync).

SlideShowPro for Flash AS3 (Final) now available

Posted by Todd Dominey on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 11:33 am

At long last, an ActionScript 3 (AS3) version of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available as part of the product download. This gives Flash CS3 users a choice of which version of the component to use in their projects.

While the above reads rather innocuous, the splintering of the component into two versions does present some challenges and (potential) confusion amongst users who don’t know (and may not care about) the differences between AS2 and 3. I’ll try to answer what I assume will be the most common questions both here and in the wiki. But until the wiki is updated, here are the broad strokes.

Only compatible with Flash CS3
Because AS3 was introduced in Flash CS3, only people who own that version of Flash will be able to use the AS3 version. Flash MX 2004 and Flash 8 users should continue using the AS2 version, which has been renamed / labeled so you know which version you have installed (and is in your FLAs).

Same functionality in both
We purposely avoided adding anything new or different to the AS3 version (functionality wise) to avoid any confusion between the two. So pretty much everything that’s possible in one is the same in the other (with one exception, read on).

If they’re the same, why use the AS3 version?
While the surface of both versions are the same, the underlying code is completely different. AS3 ushered in many enhancements and optimizations to the language that make it faster than ever. This includes everything from XML parsing to startup time to code execution. To coin a phrase, it’s snappy. Plus it allows Flash developers to use the component directly inside their AS3 projects (instead of loading it as an external SWF, like before).

Do I use the AS3 version the same way as before?
Yes. Simply drag it to the Stage just like you’ve always done. That said, if you’re comfortable with AS3, there’s something unique to the AS3 version — dynamic instantiation. You can now add an instance of SlideShowPro from the Library to your movie with ActionScript, so you don’t have to add it to the Stage if you don’t want to. More information can be found in the SlideShowPro AS3 help documentation in the Flash Help panel.

Can I install both versions of the extension?
If you are using Flash CS3, yes. They peacefully coexist in Extension Manager. That said, we do recommend uninstalling the current AS2 version you have and installing the updated AS2 MXP that’s part of the updated download so that the version numbering / labeling reflects their differences to avoid any confusion.

Can I update an existing AS2 instance with an AS3 instance?
Yes. The updated builds for both extensions include an updated “SSP – Import Param XML” command that automatically converts any AS2 parameter values to their AS3 equivalents. So simply export your params, create a new AS3 FLA, add the AS3 version of SSP, and import. Your custom settings will be imported and reused.

I have a beta version installed. Should I uninstall it?
Yes. This final build includes some fixes that were found in the last public beta, so it’s a new version.

Has the standalone version changed also?
Yes. The standalone version now uses the AS3 version, and has been recompiled as a single SWF (“slideshowpro.swf”) to make embedding easier and less error prone.

Will SlideShowPro for Lightroom be updated to the AS3 version?
Not yet. Lightroom, the application itself, can only display a live preview of the gallery if the SWF is published using AS2. It’s our intent to update SlideShowPro for Lightroom with the AS3 version as soon as we can, but until Adobe updates the app we’ll have to wait.

And there you have it. If you have a question that wasn’t addressed here, feel free to drop us a line.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9 (AS3 b2) now available

Posted by Todd Dominey on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 2:59 pm

A second beta for the ActionScript 3 version of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available for download. This beta fixes a handful of things, plus updates the “SSP – Import Param XML” command so that it converts applicable ActionScript 2 parameters to their ActionScript 3 equivalents automatically. This should make it really easy for people to upgrade their ActionScript 2 instances of the component to the ActionScript 3 version.

If you’re a SlideShowPro for Flash user, own Flash CS3, and are interested in helping us beta test the release, you may download here.

SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9 (AS3 b1) now available

Posted by Todd Dominey on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 9:42 am

Today we’re releasing an ActionScript 3.0 version of SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9 as a public beta for all current SlideShowPro for Flash users to download and test. This version is a complete rebuild of the (current) ActionScript 2.0 version of the component and features all of the same functionality. Where it differs however is that it’s only compatible with Adobe Flash CS3, FLAs that use ActionScript 3.0 as their language, and Flash Player 9 or higher.

Some may read the above and wonder…if it’s the same, why bother? Here’s why. First, having an AS3 version allows Flash developers to use the component more effectively in their AS3 projects for it gives them direct access to the component’s properties, events and methods (which wasn’t possible when loading an AS2 SWF). Second, AS3 and Flash Player 9 ushered in numerous under-the-hood speed improvements and optimizations; allowing the component to run smoother and faster than in AS2. Third, it keeps the component up to date and current for other future uses that may hinge on AS3 exclusivity.

If you’d like to give it a try, login to your profile and click on the SlideShowPro for Flash link. Look for the “Betas” box in the left column.

To provide feedback or report issues, please visit this dedicated forum just for the AS3 version.

Lastly, please read the release notes that come with the ZIP. It contains some important usage instructions.

Enjoy! And happy beta testing.