XML Flash Templates - Maintaining your Flash website made simple!
| by Dave Collado | November 29, 2007
On September 18th, 2007 templatemonster.com, announced that it now offers XML Flash Site templates a new product category with a unique feature allowing content to be loaded onto Flash via an XML file, no doubt aimed at lessening the convoluted task of running and maintaining Flash Sites.
One of the claims made on the templatemonster web page is:
“XML Flash Site templates are equipped with the system that will simplify your work with the Flash website by giving you the opportunity to edit it without having to use the special Flash software for that (you only work with the XML file)”
What their basically saying is that I can get the functionality and simplicity of editing my template’s content from a text editor, and still get to keep the performance and beauty of a premium Flash website.
So I decided to put this to the test, using a free sample XML Flash site, a copy of which I have taken the liberty to make available to you here. Don’t mention it! Besides as a developer you’re expected to be somewhat comfortable around XML. So if you aren’t, this free XML Flash Site template is just what you need to start getting your hands dirty.
Once I extracted the files I opened the site_flash directory, located the tfile_main.xml file and in just a few key strokes same as I’m doing right now I was literally changing menu items, adding more links, and even editing the content throughout the entire Flash template instantly requiring no prior knowledge of Flash whatsoever (I only worked with the XML file). What I liked best of all is not having to buy some hyphy Flash software in fact I did all my editing in Notepad. I simply edited all my stuff from the text file, changed whatever I wanted, and still kept the efficiency and beauty of Flash totally intact. Seriously, it’s unbelievable!
One neat thing XML Flash Site templates allow me to do is add as many “read-more” pages as I want or, for that matter, any page. Here’s what you do. I wont go into too many details-this is already beyond the scope of this article, and you’re darn smart.
Copy (Ctrl+C) an existing code for a “read-more” button, find an area where you want the button to be, paste (Ctrl+V) and give it a unique identifier (e.g. change function from asfunction:_root.more_click_func,0 to asfunction:_root.more_click_func,1). The same if you were to add a 3rd button you’d change this function to a “2” the 4th would be “3” etc… Mi conprende? Oh yeah! I almost forgot, in addition to that little tidbit you’ll need to copy the existing code for a read-more page and paste (Ctrl+V); then replace the old text with new text and give it title. See? That wasn’t too bad.
The greatest gain for web site owners is they wont have to hire someone each time they have to make a change on their website. XML Flash site templates will let you circumvent the need to modify FLA source files whenever you need to change some text or move some pictures around. And it’s not just for beginners either, just think of the time we’ll save, I cant tell you the number of times I’ve been coding away the hours seemingly making huge progress, when out of nowhere I’ve got one of these “Flash has encountered a problem and needs to close” Dam!
Lastly, here’s the basic information you need to edit XML Flash site templates.
Open the “tfile_main.xml” file in the text editor (e.g. Notepad ). DO NOT rename this file. Otherwise you’re screwed. Find the text you need and type in your new text. Upload all files to your public_html folder. All files should be placed in one folder. Also there are a number of free XML text editors that offer some really neat features such as color-coded text and section highlighting which can be very helpful. If you would like to find a text editor that provides this feature, try searching Google for a free XML editor or if you like you can contact the Foamers.net Web Team for our recommendations.
One of the claims made on the templatemonster web page is:
“XML Flash Site templates are equipped with the system that will simplify your work with the Flash website by giving you the opportunity to edit it without having to use the special Flash software for that (you only work with the XML file)”
What their basically saying is that I can get the functionality and simplicity of editing my template’s content from a text editor, and still get to keep the performance and beauty of a premium Flash website.
So I decided to put this to the test, using a free sample XML Flash site, a copy of which I have taken the liberty to make available to you here. Don’t mention it! Besides as a developer you’re expected to be somewhat comfortable around XML. So if you aren’t, this free XML Flash Site template is just what you need to start getting your hands dirty.
Once I extracted the files I opened the site_flash directory, located the tfile_main.xml file and in just a few key strokes same as I’m doing right now I was literally changing menu items, adding more links, and even editing the content throughout the entire Flash template instantly requiring no prior knowledge of Flash whatsoever (I only worked with the XML file). What I liked best of all is not having to buy some hyphy Flash software in fact I did all my editing in Notepad. I simply edited all my stuff from the text file, changed whatever I wanted, and still kept the efficiency and beauty of Flash totally intact. Seriously, it’s unbelievable!
One neat thing XML Flash Site templates allow me to do is add as many “read-more” pages as I want or, for that matter, any page. Here’s what you do. I wont go into too many details-this is already beyond the scope of this article, and you’re darn smart.
Copy (Ctrl+C) an existing code for a “read-more” button, find an area where you want the button to be, paste (Ctrl+V) and give it a unique identifier (e.g. change function from asfunction:_root.more_click_func,0 to asfunction:_root.more_click_func,1). The same if you were to add a 3rd button you’d change this function to a “2” the 4th would be “3” etc… Mi conprende? Oh yeah! I almost forgot, in addition to that little tidbit you’ll need to copy the existing code for a read-more page and paste (Ctrl+V); then replace the old text with new text and give it title. See? That wasn’t too bad.
The greatest gain for web site owners is they wont have to hire someone each time they have to make a change on their website. XML Flash site templates will let you circumvent the need to modify FLA source files whenever you need to change some text or move some pictures around. And it’s not just for beginners either, just think of the time we’ll save, I cant tell you the number of times I’ve been coding away the hours seemingly making huge progress, when out of nowhere I’ve got one of these “Flash has encountered a problem and needs to close” Dam!
Lastly, here’s the basic information you need to edit XML Flash site templates.
Open the “tfile_main.xml” file in the text editor (e.g. Notepad ). DO NOT rename this file. Otherwise you’re screwed. Find the text you need and type in your new text. Upload all files to your public_html folder. All files should be placed in one folder. Also there are a number of free XML text editors that offer some really neat features such as color-coded text and section highlighting which can be very helpful. If you would like to find a text editor that provides this feature, try searching Google for a free XML editor or if you like you can contact the Foamers.net Web Team for our recommendations.
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