Inserting Flash

The standard method for embedding a flash file onto your web page using a HTML editor, such as Dreamweaver, is usually as follow:

<script type=”text/javascript”>

AC_FL_RunContent( ‘codebase’,'http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0′,’width’,'990′,’height’,'276′,’title’,'Flash Example’,’src’,'file:///C|/Users/harty/Documents/Websites/Cheap Web Design/images/banners/index-offers’,'quality’,'high’,'pluginspage’,'http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash’,'movie’,'file:///C|/Users/harty/Documents/Websites/Cheap Web Design/images/banners/index-offers’ ); //end AC code

</script><noscript><object classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0″ width=”990″ height=”276″ title=”Flash Example”>

<param name=”movie” value=”file:///C|/Users/harty/Documents/Websites/Cheap Web Design/images/banners/index-offers.swf” />

<param name=”quality” value=”high” />

<embed src=”file:///C|/Users/harty/Documents/Websites/Cheap Web Design/images/banners/index-offers.swf” quality=”high” pluginspage=”http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”990″ height=”276″></embed>

</object></noscript>

By using this standard method, your flash will work absoluely perfect BUT it wont meet the standards of W3C! When you come to validate your website I’m afraid it wont be compliant due to disagreements with the plugin method above. Dont panic… we have a solution!

Flash Solution

Replace the code above for the following code:

<object type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” data=”/file.swf” width=”142″ height=”91″>

<param name=”movie” value=”/file.swf” /></object>

This plugin method is fully compliant with W3C standards, as well as a lot simpler and lighter in terms of coding space.

Banner Design

A good website requires great appeal and both static and flash banners help to achieve this. When visiting various day to day websites, you will probably notice that the majority of them have some form of banner which is either directing you to an inner page, highlighting offers and services, or displaying advertisements for an external source. A well designed banner can really make a difference to the look and feel of your web pages and attract your viewers attention.

Types of Banner Designs

If your going to pay for a descent banner for your web site then we would recommend going for a flash banner. A flash banner can display an arrangement of static, moving and animated graphics, offering appeal and interaction for your viewers. Flash banners don’t require excessive code so your website will stay clean and fast.

Alternative banner design options include static .jpg or .gif images, or JQuery. The easiest and cheapest option is of course the static image, which can be saved in many formats (jpg, gif, png, etc). JQuery offers very similar functionality to flash and has its own bonuses but may be more expensive and also requires more coding.

Take a look at some of our flash, static and jQuery banners in our Banner Design section.