Thread

I know this general topic has been discussed here before but I can’t quite find an answer to my specific dilemma.

I have a template which holds an SSP Flash slideshow. It works fine when I reference a static XML file - but when I try to point to an XML template I created everything just hits the fan. I created the XML template within my main group because I want to give my client the ability to update the images from within the EE panel. In all honesty - I don’t even know if I’m going about this the right way. Here is the code I’m using for the script that calls the Flash slideshow from within the template:

<!—UFO—>

var FO = { movie:"/wave_ss.swf", width:"440", height:"250",
majorversion:"8", build:"0", menu:"false", bgcolor:"#E8E3CD" };
UFO.create(FO, “info”);

Here is the path I’m using to call the XML from inside my Flash movie: “/images.xml”
Like I said - it works with a static XML file but not with the template created version.

I have a feeling that I might be calling the wrong path to the XML template from within my Flash movie but I also think that I might be screwing up somewhere else as well. I’m really confused at this point! Learning the whole EE way of doing things is a major effort in itself :-o

Any help is greatly appreciated…I need to get to sleep now…zzzzzzzz

You should use an absolute path: http://www.yoursite.com/site/image_xml/.

Thanks for your quick reply Krimster!
Yes - I tried doing that but it still does not work, unless I’m putting in the wrong path. In a EE driven website, are the paths the same as any ordinary website structure? Do I have to refer to the template / theme folder? Everything in my main template is calling from root ( /something ) path and it works. I’ve seen individuals do it in different ways so this makes it even more confusing.

Bump!
Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

Alright - I formally invite any and all EE administrators to contribute their massive amounts of IQ to solving my measly little problem 😉

Did you try calling your movie in your script “/wave_ss.swf” with an absolute URL like, “http://yoursite.com/movie/wave_ss.swf”?

I used SSP in a recent site development project of mine and had to call all elements absolutely within the <object> tag when I dropped it into my EE template.  There are some security issues when you reveal your paths like that, but I kept my movie assets outside of my EE system directory.

Thanks for your swift reply!

I tried doing the whole full path thing but it still does not work. Also, you are right about the security issue - in most cases it sends out a security notice on some browsers and looks horribly unprofessional!

I’m almost positive that I am not putting in the right path to the xml template somehow. There also must be another method to do this without using full paths. Does EE do something to the xml file / template once created? How can I find out what the full path to this file is? Does EE inherently mask this security risk from within?

If this did not have to be dynamic ( updated through the EE interface ) then it would not be a problem. I know there is a tutorial on this subject at 5pieces.com but the site has been down for a while - unfortunately I can’t wait.

BTW: I really like your website grantmx - nice work!

Thanks for the props.  😊

Are you controlling it using Director or just an XML file?

Did you check out this post on SSP?

It fixed the same issue your having but they were using Director.

More questions: is the SSP swf file coming up, but the images aren’t loading?  Or is the SSP swf file not displaying at all?

Also, check your template type.  Is it defined as XML? 

EE doesnt do a thing with your XML tempalate file if its defined correctly.

@ grantmx

I sent you a PM.

Alright.  I did a little testing and this is whats happening.  I created an XML template called, “images” in EE and placed my SSP XML inside.  I then in FLASH I directed my xml file path the to the SSP XML template absolutely: [ http://mysite.com/site/images ].

I then placed the absolute URLs in my object code for all src and movie parameters in my EE template…

AC_FL_RunContent( 'codebase','http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0','width','465','height','275','src','http://gocm.org/test','quality','high','pluginspage','http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash','movie','test' ); //end AC code
<noscript>
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" width="465" height="275">
  
  
  <embed src="http://gocm.org/test.swf" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="465" height="275"></embed>
</object>
</noscript>

and “BAM!” it works.  Here is the URL: http://gocm.org/main/test

I think the issue is how SSP or the SWF file has to find the XML file. I noticed that just by testing they both have to be in the same directory if you are using relative URLs.  But they don’t have to be if you use absolute URLs.  And since your EE XML template isn’t in the same directory, your gonna’ hafta’ use aboslute URLs.

Hope that makes sense.

I totally understand what you did - I just can’t seem to do it!(?)

1) Are you putting that absolute path into your xml template for the image path as well?
2) If my absolute path is: http//mywebsite.org - then is that the root to my xml template? How did you find that path to the xml template?

This path thing is killing me! I have done way more complicated stuff than this, but I suddenly have a brain fart when it comes to anything EE related. I just don’t get it :(

1) Are you putting that absolute path into your xml template for the image path as well?

Darn! For got to mention that. My bad. Yes. An absolute path also must be in the XML file for all of the images.

2) If my absolute path is: http//mywebsite.org - then is that the root to my xml template? How did you find that path to the xml template?

If you have removed index.php from your url using the .htaccess method, then it will be: “http://mywebsite.org/your_template_group/template_name”

If you didn’t, then your absolute path must be: “http://mywebsite.org/index.php/your_template_group/template_name”

This path thing is killing me! I have done way more complicated stuff than this, but I suddenly have a brain fart when it comes to anything EE related. I just don’t get it :(

It will come, don’t worry.  You’ll find out that its easier than you think.

Let me know how it turns out.

IT WORKED!! It was that crazy path name - I was missing the index.php part.

Now I need to create my xml weblog so the client can change-out the images.

Thanks grantmx for all your patience & persistence. I hope to return the favor someday 😉