The FlashToGo system supports the upload of Flash movies (.swf files) instead of plain .jpg images.

You can create an animation within Flash and upload it to your site as it was a simple image. Check out this demo!

Export it as Flash 5 for maximum compatibility.

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Here is a how to:

We assume that you have already created your image in Photoshop or so.
The image shall have at least two layers: the top layer is the image "shape" and the bottom layer is the background ;
Choose the Save for Web option;
Choose the PNG 24 format;
After you save the image, you should import it within Flash and export it as an .SWF file.

The file is now ready to be uploaded to the FlashToGo System.

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The menus/sub-menus must be created within Flash and exported as .swf files before they can be uploaded to the site.

For maximum compatibility, export your Flash movie as Flash 5.

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You can display from 1 to 12 Movies. Each movie can have up to three different versions, such as MPG, Quicktime, AVI, ASF, etcetera...

As you probably know, your visitors might not able to vizualize certain formats, so it is very important that you provide different file formats of each movie to ensure your audience will be able to visualize it properly.

Important!

There are some formats, such as RealVideo that will require some SERVER features, so, this issue is NOT particularly related to the interface provided by FlashToGo.

Providing RealVideo or streaming movies will require features at your server's end.

Important -2

The movie files themselves (because those are usually large files), must be uploaded directly to your server (where your site/domain is hosted) separately, using a third-party FTP shareware. Such kind of software is really easy to use and a must for anyone willing to maintain his/her own web site. Further info with regards to FTP can be accessed here!

Is it possible to embed a movie within a site, such as the Corporate/Premium/Master/Fit/Enterprise?

Flash does not support video clips embeded within the Flash Movie itself, but there is a workaround in order to do that.

There are in fact, two different ways in case you want to include a video clip to your FlashToGo site:

You may create a separate HTML page and include your video clip within that page. From the Flash interface you refer to that page from one of the links provided. The video clip will then open in a separate pop-up window.

The second way is for advanced users that might be able to import the movie file to the Flash MX software and generate a Flash movie file (.swf).

Our support team can not provide support for that. The information found here is to help you out and should be used as a starting pointing, since the process is somewhat simple for the more experienced user who is familiar with FTP and Flash (basic).

FlashToGo users are able to upload a file to each page through the Editing Area. Usually, users do uplaod a JPG image, but it is important to highlight that a .SWF file (Flash movie) is also accepted.

The Flash movie file (.swf) that embeds the movie clip (avi or quicktime) can be imported to the Flash main movie as if it was a plain .JPG image.

If the movie is small in size (less than 50k) you may simply upload it as if it was a plain JPG image to one of the pages. Eventually, this movie can be uploaded as the background of your FlashToGo site, since you can upload a .SWF file as a background image.

Attention! Since these movies tend to be larger files (way over 50 kbytes) you will probably need to upload them separately to your web server (whre your site is hosted) using any third party FTP freeware/shareware software.

In case you need help with FTP, please refer to the Publishing section at the Support Center home.

Tip: For positioning purposes only, you may upload some image with the same dimensions of your Movie Clip file to the main interface. After you proper position that image, you may exchange it for the real Flash movie (the one that you have imported the Movie Clip into).

The image files are named image1.swf ... image9.swf depending on the page you want the image to appear and YOUR Flash movie (that embeds the quicktime or avi movie clip) must be named accordingly.

Finally, please note that those Flash movies (that embed a movie clip -avi or quicktime) will be Flash MX based and will require the visitor to have the updated version of the Shockwave Flash MX plug-in. In case they don't, they will be able to access the site but will not be able to visualize your movie clip.

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Request the files to be sent via Email to you.

Open the main.htm page within a text editor. Notepad will do.

Look for a line that displays the following:

newwin = window.open(winurl,winname,'height=480,width=640,top=100,left=150,status=yes,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=no,location=no');

The pop-up window heigh is set by default at 480 pixels and the window width is set to 640 pixels. You may change that to a different size.

As you can see, you can also change the properties of the popup pages, such as showing the address bar and the buttons bar. You just only to change that to "yes" instead of "no".

The change will be set for ALL the pop-up pages at once.

Important!

You should upload this page separately to your web server (where your site is hosted) using some third-party FTP shareware.

If you need info in regards to FTP (File Transfer) read the topic Publishing also in this section.

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First of all you should either get a CGI software to be installed at your server (where your site/domain is hosted) OR, to subscribe to one of the several sites that provide Counters and Stats. Some of them are free.

We would recommend you to check StatCounter.com

They provide a comprehensive set of stats for your site and, best of all, it is free.

After you create your account at one of these Stat providers, you will get a piece of code that should be inserted at the main page of your site.

First, you must login at your FlashToGo account and request the site files to be sent to your Email box.

You must then open the index.html file using a text editor (such as Notepad). The page code is commented so it should be easy for you to see where exactly to place the code you have received from the Stat/Counter provider.

Save the page and transfer to your web server SEPARATELY, using any third-party FTP shareware.

Attention!

It is important to remember that you must have a backup of the edited page (index.html), because whenever you edit your site at FlashToGo and transfer the files to your server using the FlashToGo FTP module, this page (index.html)will be overwritten by the default .

A possible workaround is, when you transfer the edited index page to your webserver, that you remove the write permissions to that file (your FTP software can do that) so when you transfer the files form the FlashToGo to your webserver, this page will not be overwritten anymore.

If you find it too complicated, you can request such services to our tech team. There will be a one-time setup fee of US$ 100.00. Our Tech Team will create an account for you at Stat Counter, include the code at the index.html page, upload it to your server and remove the written permissions to that file.

Inside Pages

All the internal directories/pages of the main site, (not the additional pages that you link from the Links buttons) are WITHIN a single Flash movie. It means you can not track those pages individually. You can only track the main index.html page that embeds tha main movie with all the main pages within it.

So, it is only needed that you insert your conter/stats code to the main index.html page or, eventually, to the extra pages that you link from your site.

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FlashToGo is a fully automated process so you don't need to edit the source codes.

In addition, you are able to include aditional movies to the interface. Check out this FlashToGo Demo

This is a special DEMO created by the FlashToGo Team in order to demonstrate how flexible the system is.

If you absolutely need some adition to the main source code, you may contact our Support Team and request a Custom addition.

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Simply put it means you can not include images, tables atcetera within the text boxes/area. Only plain character attributes and links described at the HTML SINTAX section.

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We can also customize the interfaces available.

If you intend to further customize your site, we stronlgy recommend you to opt for the FIT Series. Those sites were designed so that they require less time to customize, which ultimately means that you will save money. :-)

Send us a detailed inquiry for an estimate.

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Our Tech Team is able to customize and install it for you upon request. There is a one-time fee of US$ 75.00 for a basic form (minor changes) as the example below:

Example of a Contact Form

Ask your hosting provider if your web server is PHP enabled. Most are these days, but it is a must for installing the form.

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Processing checks online, as credit cards, require a processor, such as 2CheckOut, Authozine.net, PayPal, IBill, etcetera (which process both cards and checks).

Any of FlashToGo sites can be easily integrated to Paypal, IBill, ClickBank or any other processor you might choose.

Most Merchant Account Providers (payment processors) do provide a Shopping Cart Solution or, at least, an online form bundled with their services.

Such online forms or Shopping Carts can be seamlessly integrate (linked directly from the FlashToGo sites) by simply typing its URL associated to one of the many link buttons.

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In case you want to use a larger Flash Movie file, you may upload it separately and directly to your server using some FTP shareware software.

Tip: For positioning purposes only, you may upload some image with the same dimensions of your own Movie file to the main interface. After you proper position that image, you may exchange it for the real Flash movie by uploading it to your server. The file must be named image1.swf ... image9.swf depending on the page you want the movie to appear.

With regards do the Image Background (themes), the maximum size allowed is 60 KB.

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There are still plenty of internet users out there who wtill do not have the Flash MX plug-in installed. In that case, they will be unable to visualize your movie (the one you eventually exported as Flash MX).

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filename.zip or the full address: http://yourdomain.com/filename.zip

It would be better if the file was zipped (compressed) first. The file will have ten a .ZIP extension.

In order to upload any additional file to your server you will need to use some third-party FTP shareware. These softwares are very easy to use, pretty much like the Windows Explorer and are a must for anyone willing to maintain/administer his onw website.

Check the Publishing topic.

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First you must upload the flle directly to your server (where your site/domain is hosted). For example, if you upload to the main directory, the file will be available as follows: http://yourdomain.com/somefile.pdf

After uploading, verify if you can access the file from your browser by entering the file address at the browser address field.

If you can access the file from the browser, you are half way there.

Then you must login at your FlashToGo account, choose any of the several Links/buttons available and paste the URL of the file at the Link address. The same URL you used when testing if the file has been correctly transferred. You can enter any title you want for the button/link.

In case you need help transferring the file(s), check the Publishing section also at the Supporte Center http://help.FlashToGo.com/ftp.html

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In fact, linking to internal pages of a site (bypassing the home page) is a major headache for most webmasters.

You can only link from buttons wthin the major site/movie itself because some Action Scripting coding is required, as we do with the regular buttons that lead to the internal pages.

As a tip, if you want to link directly to some particular info, you can create a separate plain HTML page, upload to your server (where your site files/domain is hosted) and link to that page directly.

In addition, you can not include a LINK within the Text boxes that links to any internal pages because the Flash software itself does not allow Action Scripting within the text boxes which would be needed to create links to some particular areas of the Flash site/movie. This relates to the Flash Software itself. It is not a FlashToGo restriction in particular.

Sorry.

You can only include text links within the main text boxes that lead to other pages or sites, external to the main Flash movie.

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Complex HTML coding (such as JavaScript, Tables etc) can NOT be included within the text areas of your Flash site. The Flash software itself does not support that.

There are a couple ways to include a Live Support Link, button or banner.

   Adding a Link

The easiest way to go is to use one of the links available. Create a Link titled (for example) "Live Support" and include the URL of the program interface/main page, disregarding the Button/Banner coding itself.

Another option is to create a separate html page and include the button/banner coding.

From one of the Links available you call this particular page that will display the Live Support button/banner that usually displays the ON-OFF status of the Live Support Team.

This extra page must be, of course, uploaded to your web server (where your site/domain is hosted) using any third-party FTP shareware.

   Actual Banner/Button above or below the movie area

You can also edit the index.html page and include the Live Support button/banner image coding above or below the site (movie) area, pretty much as a regular banner.

In this particular case, you must request the files to be Emailed to you (from the Editing Area), and manually edit the index.htm page using some text editor (Notepad will do). After that, you must upload this file SEPARATELY to your server using any third-party FTP shareware. Consult the PUBLISHING topic for detailed info regarding FTP.

   Actual Banner/Button WITHIN the site/movie area

Finally, and aimed at the most experienced user, an image/button/banner can also be included WITHIN the movie area, alongside the logo for example. In that particular case, the actual image or banner must be imported into the Flash software and a Flash button must then be created. The coding must be included as the action of the button to be performed when clicked.

The Flash movie shall then be exported as a .SWF file (Flash movie) and then uploaded through the FlashToGo interface as if it was a plain image. A bit more complicated as you can see, but the FlashToGo system is a valuable tool even for the most Flash savvy user.

You can request such job to our tech team as a custom addition.

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The system must provide an admin interface so that you may create (add) users and passwords to those who will have access to that protected area.

From the FlashToGo perspective, you may use one of the links available to link to that protected directory, such as http://yourdomain.com/secure for example.

When the users clicks on that link, he/she will be asked to enter his/her login and password.

Please note that the content itself that will be within this directory must be built or included by yourself. There are FlashToGo users that use a full secondary FlashToGo site within that secure directory. It means, you can have a public FlashToGo site at your root directory (yourdomain.com) and a secondary account/site within a password-protected directory such as yourdomain.com/secure, for example.

In case your Hosting Provider do not offer such sotware, there are third-party solutions that will allow you to secure (password protect) a directory and manage users who have access to it. Such software may vary a lot depending on the features they offer. Some allows visitors to subscribe and require approval, others allow instant access after subscription and the more sophisticated softwares allows access after payment is made.

As you may figure, prices may vary according to those features but roughly, a basic version will cost around US$ 200.00 or so and can, of course goes (very) up based on particular requirements.

Drop us a note to supportATflashtogoDOT.com and describe what your needs are. There might be an out-of-the-box solution for you.

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