Question about flash

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scruff
  • Start date Start date
Flash. That's all you need. And you may only need it if you want to
customize what you get from that site, otherwise, the swf files will work in
FP fine.

Be aware that using Flash menus may block your site to those without the
Flash plugin, those needing screenreaders, and search engine spiders. These
considerations are enough to make most serious webdevelopers avoid using
Flash unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
 
Be aware that using Flash menus may block your site to those without the
Flash plugin, those needing screenreaders, and search engine spiders.
These considerations are enough to make most serious webdevelopers avoid
using Flash unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
Click to expand...

I've read this a number of times here and other places so I'm on board and
have removed several flash intros from client sites.

One question though....

is this also true for smaller flash additions that are say a part of the
main home page? Something that produces a slogan or marquee or just spins a
globe in one little cell on the page?

Best to you.......
Tom Gahagan
 
The real issue is: What benefit does it actually provide to site visitors?

Every feature and function added to a site should have a easy to define benefit for the site
visitor, if not then it is not needed. Doesn't mean that it can't be used.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================
 
It is true that people without the Flash player will not be able to see your
Flash movies. However, that's not the question. The question is how many
people don't have the Flash player installed?

If you ask me, this is just one of many pieces of "don't ever do that"
advice that you frequently see that I don't think ought to be followed. The
Flash player has the largest install base of any software product in the
world.

Let me put it this way. If I disable pictures in my browser, I won't see
any of your images. Does that mean that you should avoid using any graphics
in your Web site at all cost? If I don't have a Web browser installed, I
can't even see your Web site at all. Does that mean that you should not
even be creating the site in the first place?

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
Thomas said:
The real issue is: What benefit does it actually provide to site
visitors?
Every feature and function added to a site should have a easy to
define benefit for the site visitor, if not then it is not needed.
Doesn't mean that it can't be used.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Graphics on a site offer the visitor no easily definable
benefit. They just make the site look more attractive. If you ask me,
that's enough.

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
There are many professional organizations that do not allow their staff to
install Flash player. The real question is - are you willing to take the
chance of turning someone away for some fluffy cosmetic effect? I agree
that the install base of Flash is large, but I think Jim is ignoring a
demographic that may not have the option to use it.

I personally do not think it's worth it. Your mileage may vary.
 
If the graphic is photo that is related to the text, then it is a benefit.

If the graphic is a logo, then it valuable for branding.

If the graphic provide directions or hints, etc. it can be a benefit.

If the graphic is used for navigation (button) it really serves no benefit, as text link can do the
same thing and are readable and preferred by search engines, as well as users of screen readers,
PDAs and other small screen devices.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================
 
Jim Cheshire said:
It is true that people without the Flash player will not be able to
see your Flash movies. However, that's not the question. The
question is how many people don't have the Flash player installed?

If you ask me, this is just one of many pieces of "don't ever do
that" advice that you frequently see that I don't think ought to be
followed. The Flash player has the largest install base of any
software product in the world.

Let me put it this way. If I disable pictures in my browser, I
won't see any of your images. Does that mean that you should avoid
using any graphics in your Web site at all cost? If I don't have a
Web browser installed, I can't even see your Web site at all. Does
that mean that you should not even be creating the site in the first
place?
Click to expand...

Jim, there is a big difference in pictures and flash. I have flash
installed on my computer, but like hundreds of thousands of others,
it's turned off. It doesn't get turned on for entrance into a new site
or for anything else that is not business related.

That said, I had flash UNinstalled for a while because of the flashing
ads that made me sick to the point of throwing up, before I finally
found a way to disable flash and only turn it on when absolutely
needed. So just because we have flash installed doesn't mean it's
being used!!

Tom J
who would never put flash or any kind of screen up in place of an
index page
 
Tom said:
Jim, there is a big difference in pictures and flash. I have flash
installed on my computer, but like hundreds of thousands of others,
it's turned off. It doesn't get turned on for entrance into a new site
or for anything else that is not business related.

Tom J
who would never put flash or any kind of screen up in place of an
index page
Click to expand...

There are many uses for Flash other than using it to create a splash page.
I personally don't like splash pages, but that doesn't make me despise the
tool used to create them.

I would be curious to know where your "hundreds of thousands" statistic
comes from. I've ton a decent amount of surveying on the usage of Flash,
and the number of people with Flash enabled has always been in the high 90s.

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
It is not neccessarily the use of Flash that is the problem. The problem is
when Flash is used as the only means for navigating the site. Not unlike the
use of Java Hover Buttons.

Bob Lehmann
 
GREAT THREAD!
Pretty much ices it for me. While I have flash installed, why cut out a
substantial
percentage of possible viewers from a site just to look cool. I guess it's
ok if that doesn't matter
but a site like this http://www.dewbajablast.com/home.php Can be
virtually untraversable
to many.
Since the site I'm going to make will be directed towards less computer
savvy people (housewives)
I think I'll pass on the flash for now.
Thanks all

ps; no disrespect to the housewives intended, lol.
 
Scruff said:
Since the site I'm going to make will be directed towards less
computer savvy people (housewives)
I think I'll pass on the flash for now.
Thanks all
Click to expand...

People who are not computer savvy will almost certainly be able to see
Flash. It's already installed on most computers, and if you're not computer
savvy, you aren't going to be reconfiguring the box so that it's disabled.

My point of going on over this is that I think it's far too easy for
computer people to get in a rut of "don't ever do that" concerning some
particular technology. The end result of that is that technology is held
back because those who are in a position to promote the technology are
afraid to use it. The WWW has suffered immensely from this.

Whenever think of telling someone not to do something, I have to ask myself
whether I'm offering good advice or just instinctively dissuading him or her
from using technology based upon a flawed paradigm. In the end, there is
appropriate use of most technologies. For example, a page covered with
animated GIFs is generally considered annoying, but that does not mean that
one should be dissuaded from using animated GIFs at all cost.

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
It's already installed on most computers

Where do you get that?

And my paradigms are not flawed. I just had them in for a 200,000 mile
checkup.
 
When you buy a new computer, it is not installed. If you don't physically
install it, you won't have it.

Those statistics are deeply filled with marketing spin....
 
Flash was ok until it became a common practice to use it to deliver Ads.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================
 
Murray said:
When you buy a new computer, it is not installed. If you don't
physically install it, you won't have it.

Those statistics are deeply filled with marketing spin....
Click to expand...

I suspect they are taking into account all the new users that log on
to some page the day they start using the new computer and get the
message "Click here to install the plugin" with no warning of what the
plugin is or what it will do, especially people like me, that become
ill to the point of throwing up from the actions of many flash
screens. It's the worst computer program to ever hit the market as
far as I'm concerned.
Mozilla and others now have a plugin with a switch to turn it OFF and
on!!

Tom J
 
Tom said:
I suspect they are taking into account all the new users that log on
to some page the day they start using the new computer and get the
message "Click here to install the plugin" with no warning of what the
plugin is or what it will do, especially people like me, that become
Click to expand...

There is no such message in any browser I know of. You are always notified
of what is being installed.

If you look at the details on the survey, you'll see that it is a survey
determining who already has Flash installed.

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
Murray said:
When you buy a new computer, it is not installed. If you don't
physically install it, you won't have it.

Those statistics are deeply filled with marketing spin....
Click to expand...

Perhaps you'd care to elaborate on that. All the survey shows is a number
based upon a third-party, independent survey. You'd be hard pressed to
prove marketing spin in that.

I'm surprised to see you taking such a stance considering your close ties to
Macromedia!

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO
http://www.jimcoaddins.com

The premiere add-in and software source
for Microsoft FrontPage.
 
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