hello everyone. I’m having trouble with a flash standalone app. I have a contact form, (the same one you guys helped me with with the checkboxes and stuff) only this time it’s the standalone version. It’s supposed to load the variables to a PHP on my server. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work anymore. Can someone help me and tell me if it’s not possible or something? There seems to be totally contrasting answers everywhere on this issue. And if it’s not possible, I’d like to load the variables into the default email proggy instead, but i KNOW there’s a bug or something that doesn’t let this be possible in projectors without the use of a 3rd party proggy, which they are all out of my price range right now. anyways, let me post the file, and if anyone can tell me how to do this with a standalone, i’d totally appreciate it. 
>=]
cheez!!! :sure:
anyone?
Well PHP is a server-side language. And Flash doesn’t allow “hotlinking” as it is a security risk, you can only send and get variables to the remote server that the file is on.
Soooo… I believe that unless you actually have PHP installed on your computer, the standalone player will not be able to support your PHP form.
oh poo. ok thanks. next alternative, does anyone know a way to submit a form from a standalone without using a 3rd party software?
nevermind… i’m going to buy SWF studio, its a groovy proggy so i think it’s worth the cash. plus you can make your own icons for the projector… bwahahahahah… ultimate control…
That sounds like a cool program
yeah it is. 
Hey, I’m posting this because I don’t see much about this stuff in this forum, so after trials this last week with all these forms, and .exes and junk, I want to just list exactly what I have learned from you guys and from other people, and the programs, and forums and internet and trial and error… blah blah blah… in hopes that if anyone has the same problem, they can read this and get a better understanding, because belIEVE me this issue is surprisingly not clarified too much anywhere else… so here goes…
On problems with Flash projector/standalone/.exe files for CDRom use or presentations etc. using Flash MX…
[COLOR=red]Problem 1. [/COLOR]
You can NOT have the typical “mailto:blah@blah.com” link on either a button or dynamic text in a standalone. It will not work. It will not open up the default email program like in normal flash.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 1a. [/COLOR]
You must use a 3rd party software to allow your EXE to do this. If you simply need to open the default browser on the press of a button or link, you can use the COMPLETELY FREE tool from Flash Jester called [URL=http://www.flashjester.com/?section=tricks_jtools_jemail]JEmail. This is a wonderful little thing, and all you do is get it and it adds a new fscommand to open the email. No ads, no money, no trial versions. Just delivery. You can set the message, body, and subject. (but not variables from a form, at least, I don’t know how. maybe you can. ask them. I asked and they never replied, so I gave up trying after a day or two.)
[COLOR=blue]Solution 1b. [/COLOR]
You can use a 3rd party software that costs money. The choices are:
SWF Studio $139 USD, $79 USD for students, teachers, or educational institutions
Flash Studio $139 USD
Flash 'N Pack $89 USD (subject to change)
FlashAnts no idea
Jugglor (by FlashJester) $129 USD
LPFlashEX no idea
mProjector $129 USD
SWFKit $189 USD
[COLOR=red]Problem 2. [/COLOR]
You can NOT use PHP with an email form in a standalone unless you have PHP installed on the computer that the user is er… using, (thanks lostinbeta), and since this is for a potentially unpredictable clientel, that is not something good to count on. Moreover, if you try using the PHP you have on your server, this will NOT work because of some sort of security thing, where you can not send email if the flash file is not on the server as well.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 2a.[/COLOR]
You can send the variables from a form using a 3rd party software into the user’s default email program, and then they can manually send the email. This is my option of preference this way in case the user is not connected to the internet, they can connect once they realize they need to.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 2b.[/COLOR]
You can send the variables from a form using SMTP, and totally bypassing any email programs and server side scripts. You need a 3rd party program to do this. The two that do this are SWF Studio and Flash Studio. In this case SWF Studio is your best bet IMHO, because I read some people who had issues with the Flash Studio one. This option is cool because there are no added steps for the user.
[COLOR=red]Problem 3. [/COLOR]
You can NOT send email from a flash standalone with CGI on your server because of the reason in #2.
[COLOR=blue]Solution3. [/COLOR]
See Solutions 2a. and 2b.
(notice a pattern here? For as much as i love flash, i have to admit that Macromedia is giving us very little options in the flash projector area)
[COLOR=red]Problem 4.[/COLOR]
You can not get your flash standalone to open a file in it’s default application.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 4.[/COLOR]
You need a 3rd party.
[COLOR=red]Problem 5.[/COLOR]
You can not get your flash standalone to behave the way you want it to.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 5. [/COLOR]
You need a 3rd party.
[COLOR=red]Problem 6.[/COLOR]
You want your flash standalone to have it’s own icon instead of the little s bubble that is Macromedia’s.
[COLOR=blue]Solution 6.[/COLOR]
You need a 3rd party.
[COLOR=red]Problem 7. [/COLOR]
You want your flash standalone to say “Amy’s Sewing Company Promotional Software” in the title bar instead of “Macromedia Flash Player 6”
[COLOR=blue]Solution7.[/COLOR]
3rd party.
Basically I could go on and on forever about the things you can’t do with just flash and the things you can do with a 3rd party. So now, let’s berifly review the various 3rd party applications I have mentioned so you can get an idea of their capabilities.
[COLOR=green]SWF Studio:[/COLOR] This program not only has incredible options but a very competant support system. The site has it’s own forum you can post on, or you can look on FlashKit in the standalone section of the forums and post there, where Northcode is a mod, and will happily answer your questions, as well as discussing your options instead of shamelessly promoting his product. You can also email or call them for further support for free. There is also priority support, which costs $49 USD and you are guaranteed a responce in one day. This is my product of choice. Also, most people whom I have spoken with or have seen their reveiw are satisfied and would chose this program over other programs hands down. It is also very easy to use.
[COLOR=darkred]FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE:[/COLOR] the catch, your exe expires after 24 hours.
[COLOR=green]Flash Studio:[/COLOR] Also has incredible options. Also has support through email and forums. Also you can look on FlashKit in the standalone section of the forums and post there, where Gambini is a mod. Also relatively easy to use. No student discounts. I have also seen positive reveiws, but interestingly enough, more people chose SWF Studio over Flash Studio that I have seen. I do not know statistics, I am just going by what I have seen.
[COLOR=darkred]FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE:[/COLOR] the catch, unlimited use, but you get an ugly popup before your exe opens saying “created with flash studio trial version”
[COLOR=green]Flash N’ Pack:[/COLOR] Has many features. Easy to use. Reasonably priced. Support forum. The customers in the suport furum seem to be dissatisfied with the support services and one statement I read several times was “you get what you pay for”.
[COLOR=darkred]FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE:[/COLOR] the catch, i think this also has an ugly popup. I don’t remember.
[COLOR=green]FlashAnts:[/COLOR] No idea. My brain is too fried from everything to look into this right now.
[COLOR=green]Jugglor:[/COLOR] Pretty cool, but not as many features as SWF Studio and Flash Studio. Also you can look on FlashKit in the standalone section of the forums and post there, where FlashJester is a mod. I must admit, I LOVE their splash screen. It is very cool.
[COLOR=darkred]FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE:[/COLOR] the catch, program expires after 30 days i think. also you get an ugly popup.
[COLOR=green]LPFlashEX:[/COLOR] No idea. Again, fried brain.
[COLOR=green]mProjector:[/COLOR] FRIED BRAIN! FRIED BRAIN! FRIED BRAIN!
[COLOR=green]SWFkit:[/COLOR] pretty cool. nice features. a bit more difficult to use. really pricey!! I tried this one first i think, but i was dissatisfied for reasons i can’t remember exactly, so i moved on.
[COLOR=darkred]FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE:[/COLOR] the catch, ugly popup.
OK, that’s it. You now have read, and either love me for telling you this, or hate me for makign SUCH a long post. so now it is disclaimer time!!!
[COLOR=darkred]Disclaimer[/COLOR] I am NOT trying to advertise any of these products, I simply want people to learn from my experiences and be able to be more informed when reveiwing their options. I DO NOT work for any of these companies or any affiliates. I DO NOT hope to gain any profit from this information. I DO NOT mean to offend, defile, upset, or in otherwise harm ANY of these companies or employees. Everyting stated is MY OPINION derived from research, other’s opinions, things stated on the company’s website, and personal experience. If anything I have said is incorrect, I apologize and have no problem with it being edited by myself or a mod. Um. I think that’s it. Happy Flashing! :beam:
Oh!!! I almost forgot…
[COLOR=darkred]Special Thanks to:[/COLOR]
all the people on Kirupa who have helped me, all the people on FlashKit who have helped me, all the people associated with the various companies that have helped me, all the people who came before me and posted stuff on the internet that i have read, GOD for giving me the patience to finally figure all of this out, Cheez for listening to me venting about this like every night for a week, my cat for constantly entertaining me during this poop, Mahlon who constantly said, “don’t give up, you’ll figure it out”, and Harry Potter book #4 which taught me that if you stop thinking about the problem, and take a hot bath, the solution will come to you, even if it’s not from the help from the mermaid on the wall…
