# External swf vs movieclip

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [June 22, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812 "2003-06-22T17:18:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MAGILJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@MAGILJ](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/MAGILJ)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812/1 "2003-06-22T17:18:27Z")

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i see all these people posting about using extrenal swfs. whats the benefit of using these instead of just putting the animation into a movieclip? when is it appropriate to use one over the other?

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812/2 "2003-06-22T17:42:12Z")

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it keeps those external clips seperate. (yeah I know, duh) where the advnatages lie in 1) keeping it seperate in terms of organization. Working on one swf means you wont be cluttered by the elements of another portion of the movie (another swf) and 2) and more importantly that it means the swf is loaded on demand. This means if you have a site with say 6 sections where each section is its own external swf, but someone comes to the site only needing to look at section1, then they wont have to wait for the preloader to load all the sections before viewing. Basically you jst load the main interface then load each section when needed. No point in loading whats not going to be seen.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812/3 "2003-06-22T21:57:52Z")

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Also its more cost effective when you bring in factors such as maintainability and updating. But thats when you start making sites and such for clients.

Viru.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/external-swf-vs-movieclip/23812/4 "2003-06-22T21:59:15Z")

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Also forgot to mention that after the swf has been loaded into your main movie in a empty movie clip you can treat it like a regualr movie clip.

Viru.