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Movie Player

This template makes it easy to create a control panel where the user can select from several digital video clips and includes standard controllers for each video clip.

Example

To play the movies below, follow these steps:

  1. Select the radio button for the movie you wish to view.
  2. Use the controls below the movie to play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop the movie.
  3. To select a new movie, select the radio button for the movie you wish to view.

Customization Instructions

To customize our Macromedia Flash MX movie player for your own use, follow the steps below. If you are not yet familiar with the Flash MX interface, open Flash MX, select Tutorials from the Help menu, and select the Introduction to Flash MX tutorial.

1. Download a Template

We have created the following Flash MX template. A zipped file should appear on your desktop. Unzip the file if necessary:

2. Copy and Open the File

  1. Go to the File menu and select Save As...
  2. Enter a new name in the File Name box.
  3. Select Save. (For best results, use only lowercase letters and numbers in the filename, no spaces or special characters. Your .swf and .html files will have the same name,and you will be less likely to experience problems uploading these files to a Web server if you use Web friendly file names.)

3. Import New Movies

  1. Prepare the digital videos in a video editing program. For best results, each movie file should be exactly 320 x 240.
  2. Select File: Import to Library...
  3. Select all nine movie files (Use SHIFT to select multiple files) and select Open.
  4. Review and OK the settings for importing each video clip.

4. Swap Videos

For each item, movie1 - movie8, in the Library:

the tools window

The tools window with the black arrow selected.

  1. Double click to open the library item.
  2. Use the black arrow tool on the tools window to select the video image.
  3. Select the Swap... button on the properties window.
  4. Using the pop-up window (labeled Swap Bitmap) locate and select the appropriate video clip in the library you uploaded.
  5. Select OK.
  6. If the new video clip is longer than 5 seconds, you will be asked if you want to expand the frames to include the entire video. Select Yes.

5. Set the Frame Length

For each item, movie1 - movie8, in the Library:

  1. Make sure the Timeline is visible. (Go to Windows: Timeline if this isn't open).
  2. Locate the final frame in the Movie layer.
  3. If the Movie layer expands beyond the Controller layer, select below this frame, on the same frame number in the Controller layer. Touch the F5 key or go to the Insert menu and select Frame.
  4. If the Controller layer expands beyond the Movie layer, select on the frame one beyond the last frame of the Movie layer in the Controller layer, and WITHOUT RELEASING THE MOUSE BUTTON, drag across to the end of the Controller layer. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and select Remove Frames.

Step 6. Test and Publish your Movie

  1. Select Control: Test Movie to test your learning object.
  2. If you see problems, review the instructions and make corrections as needed.
  3. When you are ready, go to File: Publish.

Last modified Tuesday, 19-Jun-2007 15:32:16 CDT