Hi All,
Our company (CLT) does a fair amount of screen casting which we output in flash. We also help business to use Moodle to build internal training on Moodle, so we do a lot of end user training on how to use Moodle and run courses, having said that I would like to start a discussion to bring some clarity to how we, as practioners, use Flash in Moodle. By way of starting this, I will list our current method, and hopefully may bring out some better "best practise" for all flash implementations.
Using products like Camtasia, Captivate and of course flash.
1. Camtasia and Captivate:
Camtasia and Captivate outputs have incorporated html, preloaders, flash file.
Method:
1.1. navigate to the output directory, zip all the files in the directory.
1.2 upload and upzip the zip file into the course file area
1.3 In the Moodle course area, use the resource to create a link to an html file to hook to the html file produced by camtasia and captivate.
Positives: all rendered, includes the object and embed tag, etc and seems to run ok
Negatives: a bit difficult for the average user to do.
2. Using only the SWF file
2.1 if only a swf file is available, then upload to files area.
2.2 Ensuring that the multimedia plugin is activated (search flash forum for howto on this)
2.3 Use the resource >> link element to hook to the swf file. Use the ?w=800&h=600 code at the end of the link to control the size. (I still don't see this as the swf always is fitted to the size window opened - what is that?)
2.4 Select if you want to open in new window or show as a framed window.
Postives: easy to do for everyone, seems to work well, no html coding.
Negatives: doesn't seem to hold the size... might be my ignorance and I'll test further,
- NB! can't code into the file help text such as ..."click your back button to return to the course" This would now have to be coded into the flash file...more work and not so good.
3. HTML coded
Worst most irritating method and one we have used a lot
3.1. upload swf
3.2 create a html resource and past the html code <object ...tags See this great discussion on this whole subject (http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=29588)
3.3 Save and view
Negative: html editor strips out the code....that helpful gnome has a bizzarre sense of humour!!, its technical and difficult for the average non-developer to do and lots of room for mistakes
Postives:
You can edit the html code to add in instructions, and other nice elements so as help text.
Well that is in a nutshell, is how I seen the situation. All comment, experiences, etc would be greatly appreciated...
Look forward to any and all reponses.
Patrick
Thanks for starting this discussion Patrick.
About 2 :
The way to control the size is actually ?d=800x600. This would give a size of width 800 times height 600. The default in 1.7 and 1.8 if the d parameter is not used is width 400 times height 300. I think this was introduced in 1.6?
About 2 :
2. Using only the SWF file
2.1 if only a swf file is available, then upload to files area.
2.2 Ensuring that the multimedia plugin is activated (search flash forum for howto on this)
2.3 Use the resource >> link element to hook to the swf file. Use the ?w=800&h=600 code at the end of the link to control the size. (I still don't see this as the swf always is fitted to the size window opened - what is that?)
2.4 Select if you want to open in new window or show as a framed window.
2.1 if only a swf file is available, then upload to files area.
2.2 Ensuring that the multimedia plugin is activated (search flash forum for howto on this)
2.3 Use the resource >> link element to hook to the swf file. Use the ?w=800&h=600 code at the end of the link to control the size. (I still don't see this as the swf always is fitted to the size window opened - what is that?)
2.4 Select if you want to open in new window or show as a framed window.
I should mention that there are fairly serious security implications of enabling the multimedia plug in. A malicious student who is tech savvy could do nasty things with the plug in on.
and it is worse to allow the object tag. If you're running a big site with many users you have to be careful about how you allow users to embed Flash.
The Trusttext code is one solution to this problem. According to the wiki it is only working in the Forum and Glossary module so far but the plan is to roll this out across Moodle.
The Trusttext code is one solution to this problem. According to the wiki it is only working in the Forum and Glossary module so far but the plan is to roll this out across Moodle.
Thanks Jamie,
I was wondering why it was not working! I saw a number of permeatations of this so was not sure.
In terms of security, do you suggest turning off the multimedia plugin? Will I still be able to "link" my flash files using the "link to html or file" option in the resource area of the course.
What would be the best way to embed a flash movie that doesn't require communication with moodle in any way?
Regards,
Patrick
I was wondering why it was not working! I saw a number of permeatations of this so was not sure.
In terms of security, do you suggest turning off the multimedia plugin? Will I still be able to "link" my flash files using the "link to html or file" option in the resource area of the course.
What would be the best way to embed a flash movie that doesn't require communication with moodle in any way?
Regards,
Patrick
As you say Camtasia / Flash / most applications that generate Flash will also generate an html file. Probably the easiest and secure way to get your Flash file into Moodle is to upload those files either individually or as a zip to your course files area and link to them as a resource. Unfortunately this means you'll be using frames or a popup window or the resource will open in the same window with no navigation.
This linking as a resource does mean that if you link directly to the swf the parameters like the user first name and last name can be passed into the swf. And you can control the size of the popup window. So I think a popup window would be the best option available for many situations. Some users do find popups a little difficult to deal with but it would be easy to include a button in your movie 'close this window', to make things easier for them.
This linking as a resource does mean that if you link directly to the swf the parameters like the user first name and last name can be passed into the swf. And you can control the size of the popup window. So I think a popup window would be the best option available for many situations. Some users do find popups a little difficult to deal with but it would be easy to include a button in your movie 'close this window', to make things easier for them.
In reply to Jamie Pratt
Re: Moodle Flash Best Practise - case for a new Flash resource?
by Jamie Pratt -
It might be a good idea to create a simple Flash resource, to have a resource that let's you pick a Flash file and then generate a page with the proper Moodle header and navigation at the top and the Flash file below. It would let you control how the Flash file was embedded in the page - width, height parameters etc. And you could pass simple parameters to the flash movie - Username, Course Name, etc, same as with the current resource.
We could take advantage of the new UFO js library that is included in the Moodle header and used to embed Flash elsewhere. The advantage of using the UFO js library is that it will get rid of that annoying 'you have to click this resource first' before you can use it stuff that you see in IE.
We could take advantage of the new UFO js library that is included in the Moodle header and used to embed Flash elsewhere. The advantage of using the UFO js library is that it will get rid of that annoying 'you have to click this resource first' before you can use it stuff that you see in IE.
I've just started using Moodle Version 1.7.1+(2006101010) and, using 'Add a Resource', 'link to a file or website', I am trying to link to some Camtasia flash files via the html file. This works without any problem in a separate 1.6 site, but when I go to play the video in 1.7, I get a message that says I need to either enable Javascript or need to upgrade Flashplayer, but I don't need to do either. Can anyone help please? Do I need to change some setting or code in 1.7 to enable this?
Thanks
You have js on and the Flash player installed? If you are linking to the html file camtasia generates the problem would seem to be there in the html file and not be related to Moodle at all but you say that this used to work?
I have experienced this problem and it happened when I edited the html in FrontPage and saved the file from Design View instead of Code View.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am facing the same problem that you are facing i.e. when I go to play the video, I get a message that says I need to either enable Javascript or need to upgrade Flashplayer, but I don't need to do either.
I am using moodle 1.8 on a shared hosting server.
Did your problem was solved? If yes, then please let me know.
Rgds
Mahesh
I would recommend turning off the link to Flash file in the multimedia plugin if you think that you might have a user on your site who would be very tech savvy and have a good understanding of web technology and go to some considerable trouble to do damage to your web site. If you allow anyone to sign up to your web site or if your web site is for a college with a speciality in computer science you would have good reason to worry about having this option enabled.
Dear Sir,
I am using Moodle 1.8 on a shared hosting plan.
I tried to use flash movie in Moodle but was not successful.
I made a movie in Camtasia. I zipped all the files. Uploaded it . Then unzipped the file. And then I chose the html file(out of all the unzipped files) as a link in resourses.
But the movie did not play in Moodle.
Can anybody help?
Rgds
Mahesh
mahesh,
do you want the user to play the flash movie inside moodle? can you explain more on this?
I use flash resource for my students by giving them a url link to the flash file.
the browser then play it.
Another approach is to create a html block and then embed your flash code in the html block. In this case the flash movie will play regardless if you have a moodle flash plugin installed or not.
Hope this helps.
do you want the user to play the flash movie inside moodle? can you explain more on this?
I use flash resource for my students by giving them a url link to the flash file.
the browser then play it.
Another approach is to create a html block and then embed your flash code in the html block. In this case the flash movie will play regardless if you have a moodle flash plugin installed or not.
Hope this helps.
Dear Sir,
Yes, I want to play Flash movie inside Moodle.
I did not understand the other approach that you described.
Giving URL is very easy but I want to run Flash movie inside Moodle by the method I described. I want to know whether I did any mistake or not?
Rgds
Mahesh
Yes, I want to play Flash movie inside Moodle.
I did not understand the other approach that you described.
Giving URL is very easy but I want to run Flash movie inside Moodle by the method I described. I want to know whether I did any mistake or not?
Rgds
Mahesh
HI All,
MySelpf pawan, and i am very new to moodle. I am having similar type of problem, i want camtesia file to run moodle. please help me on this guys.
Thanks in advance.
Forgive me for the quick response, but I think I know what the problem is.
Camtasia will produce not just a single swf, but a series of swfs, one being a "container" with a srubber and preloader, and the others being avaialable to be loaded into the container. Data about the others swf's is contained in an xml file that is loaded into the container.
The problem is that the url for the swf's are relative and moodle can't resolve relative links within a swf. There are two possible solutions:
Camtasia will produce not just a single swf, but a series of swfs, one being a "container" with a srubber and preloader, and the others being avaialable to be loaded into the container. Data about the others swf's is contained in an xml file that is loaded into the container.
The problem is that the url for the swf's are relative and moodle can't resolve relative links within a swf. There are two possible solutions:
- Camtasia can produce an older swf, which produces a single file. You can link to this fine.
- Publish your file as a SCORM and upload into moodle as a SCORM or IMS content package, then the links should resolve.
Dear Sir,
Please explain what do you mean by "publish your file as a Scorm" .
What exactly i have to do?
Rgds
Mahesh
Sorry, I'm not looking at Camtasisa right now, but somewhere in the publish options (for 3.0 and above) is the option to publish as a SCORM. Have a look throught the help files or interface, it should be there.