flashTicker XML file


When using the XML option, you must save your fla before testing it in order for Flash to locate the relative path to the XML file.

The numbers # 1 through # 8 detail how to define the basic parameters:



 

  Property Description
1

XML/TEXT FILE

 Define the XML file with a name (for example 'ticker.xml'). If the XML file is located in a different folder to the swf which contains the flashTicker, the relative path must be entered here as well.  For example: "testfolder/ticker.xml"
2 FILE TYPE Select the file type to load. In this case, select "xml".
3 DATA ARRAY Omit when using XML.
4 TOPIC SPACER This is the distance in pixels between each topic.
5 ROUND SPACER This is the distance in pixels between topic rounds.

NOTE: In cases where there are not enough topics to fill the height of the flashTicker, the round spacer will be automatically determined and the number set will have no effect.
6 TARGET IS URL Sets a default value for target types. Set to 'true' if links are URLs. If 'false' links will open anywhere else inside of Flash (e.g. open in a movie clip, another level, etc).
7 TARGET ARRAY Omit when using XML.
8 TARGET NAME Define where your target should open. For example, if you want to open a URL in a new window, you would type "_blank" (without quotation marks). Or if you want to open the target in level 1, you'd type "_level1" (without quotation marks). To open a target in a movie clip, you would enter the instance name of the movie clip.

 


 

How to create a flashTicker XML file: (you may create an XML file using any text editor, such as Notepad)

 

 

Description Syntax Example of complete XML file
Start of topic <topic>

<?xml version="1.0"?>
 

<ticker>
 

   <topic>

       <text>This topic opens an swf in a target movieClip.</text>

      <image>image1.jpg</image>

      <link>myMovie.swf</link>
        <target>holder_mc </target>

      <targetIsUrl>N</targetIsUrl>

    </topic>


    <topic>

      <text>This topic opens an swf in level 2</text>

      <link>myNewMovie.swf </link>

      <target>_level2</target>
        <targetIsUrl>N</targetIsUrl>

   </topic>
 

   <topic>

      <text>This topic opens a URL in a new browser window.</text>

      <link>http://www.flashloaded.com</link>

      <target>_blank</target>
        <targetIsUrl>Y</targetIsUrl>

   </topic>  



</ticker>
Define topic text <text>Topic text here</text> 


To use HTML tags in an XML file, you must add CDATA tags at the beginning and end as shown below:

<text>
<![CDATA[Topic text here.
 <font color="#FF0000">
This is red text.
</font>.]]>
</text>

* The CDATA tags are highlighted above in magenta.
Define topic image
(optional)

<image>image1.jpg</image>

 * Only one image per topic is possible.
* JPGs or SWFs may be used. The paths to the images or SWF files may be specified here too. The images and SWF files must be uploaded together with the swf containing the ticker.
Define link
 (optional)		 <link>http://www.YOURURL.com</link>
Define target
 (optional)

<target>myTarget</target>

 Setting a target here will override the target set in the component panel
Define if target is URL
 (optional)		 <targetIsUrl>Y</target>
End of topic </topic>
End of XML </ticker>

 

 

Note: The order in which the topics appear in the XML determines the order in which the topics will be displayed.

 

The only images which may be used are jpegs. It is important that the jpegs are not saved as "progressive" as Flash cannot load progressive jpegs.