FLASH: Using Flash for desktop delivery/larger files: issues, concerns.

[Jeremy Pinkham]

Hey, group. 


I've been seeing a lot of posts from Macromedia representatives here lately

reminding Flash users that many of the limitations of Flash stability when

dealing with complex files are due to the fact that Macromedia never

intended Flash to be used for anything but small, web-delivered .SWFs.  This

is the explanation given for problems involving large audio files, for

instance.  


This raises questions for me.  The first logical question this brings to

mind is why Flash is equipped with the ability to make .EXE projectors, if

it was only intended to be used for Web delivery.  Beyond this quibble, I'd

simply like to raise the question to the Flash using community:  are you

using Flash for desktop delivery and/or files "over a few megabytes in

size?"  Our firm regularly does, and if others in the community are as well,

it would be good to let Macromedia know this.  To me, such use signals a

need for a multimedia content creation program simpler to use (and cheaper)

than Director, employing a vector graphics paradigm.  Flash has become this

tool for our firm, but we regularly run into problems using it for this

purpose, including crashes and unpredictable ActionScript behavior in files

around 3MB in size.  However, the advantages of using Flash have thus far

outweighed these persistent problems.


To recap, here is a snippet from Flash team member Matt Wobensmith's new

"beta" technote on Flash file size limitations:


"Creating a file for desktop delivery often makes a file that is much larger

than a web-delivered SWF. They may work, but users often have problems

exporting a projector or SWF file that is over a few megabytes in size. The

same files can also have problems during playback, such as crashes,

inconsistent playback, slow playback, file corruption, and unpredictable

behavior in logical statements. In situations where large multimedia

projects are needed, it's best to use a program that was built for this

purpose, such as Director."


In conclusion, I think if Flash was given a bit more robustness when dealing

with larger files, it would be a perfect alternative to Director for

creating vector-based interactivity on a simpler scale.  At the moment,

however, it is flawed in serving this purpose, and Macromedia doesn't see

the need to address these flaws, as it doesn't see the use of Flash for this

purpose as a valid pursuit.  If anyone here disagrees with this view, please

speak up now, so we can emphasize the need for Flash's development in this

regard.


Thanks!  I'm curious to hear the opinions of other Flash users on this

issue.


--


Jeremy Pinkham

Multimedia Developer

Zydigo Technologies


(The opinions expressed above are entirely my own, and do not represent

official statements of the firm I work for.)

  


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