Flash Commands with Lectora

[xithis]

Since people have been asking me about it, here are some common Flash commands for communicating with Lectora that I use.
I will use a generic "objectname" that you can can replace with the HTML name that Lectora assigns.

This refers to images/groups/text boxes/buttons/anim objects/external htmlNote: if you want to use javascript just use what is in the quotes, that is the javascript command.

Note 2: you need this code on the pages where you use these functions: import.flash.external.*
List:
Hide an object: ExternalInterface.call("objectname.actionHide()");
Show an object: ExternalInterface.call("objectname.actionShow()");
Next Page: ExternalInterface.call("trivNextPage()");
Previous Page: ExternalInterface.call("trivPrevPage()");
Go to a Specific Page in Lectora (see page name rules):ExternalInterface.call("trivExitPage('htmlpagename.html', true)");
Move an Object on stage (xval=the new xcoordinates, yval=the new ycoordinates): ExternalInterface.call("objectname.objLyr.moveTo(xval,yval)" );
ExternalInterface.call("objectname.objLyr.hasMoved=true");
ExternalInterface.call("objectname.objLyr.newX=xval")
ExternalInterface.call("objectname.objLyr.newY=yval");

Talk to another Flash object (using Lectora's tools, I know there are other ways), set variable: ExternalInterface.call("objectname.setFlashVar('thevariable' ,thevalue)");
Grab a value from Lectora and assign it to a variable in Flash:See Mark's post below.
[b]Set a Lectora variable from flash:ExternalInterface.call("Varvariablename.set('value')");
Run a Lectora Action Group: ExternalInterace.call("runGroup_objectname()");

Page Name Rules: You can control page naming by setting up a system of chapeters and sections. Make sure you don't have duplicate names, or else it will publish as ascii. Example for a SCORM/AICC course:Chapter Name (mod1)Section Name (sec1)Page Name (page1)This structure would give you an html page name as: a001_mod1_sec1_page1.htmlWhere a001 is the assignable unit. Keeping uniformed and controled page naming allows for some neat interactions with flash because you always know where every page is. Let your imagination run wild Example: I have created a dynamic flash menu for every page within the course, that also updates based upon your location in the course.Post here if you want me to add any more. I'll update the post.

Thanks!
*Updated for new forum

[hem99004]

Awesome list Greg! Just a note for everyone. Flash player 10 has some added security "features" and for some reason if you try to grab a lectora variable and assign it to a variable in flash it will come back as undefined. So this call will fail:var tempVariable = ExternalInterface.call("Varvariablename.getValue()"); Even though it works great in flash players 8 and 9, as soon as someone upgrades to 10 that call will no longer work. Unless Adobe come out with an update for it.For now I've been working around it by adding an external HTML object to the page with a javascript function to set my flash variables. For example if in flash I had a variable called "setFromLectora" and I wanted to set it equal to a Lectora variable called "lectoraVariable" I would need external html that looked like:

<script>function setVars(){    var lectoraVariable = VarlectoraVariable.getValue();      window.document.swfanim2153.Se tVariable("setFromLectora",lectoraVariable); </script>

What this does is creates a javascript variable called lectoraVariable and sets it to the Lectora variable of the same name. Then it uses javascript to set that variable in the flash movie. swfanim2153 is the Lectora generated name of your flash movie. So inside of flash you would have something like:

var setFromLectora;ExternalInterface.call("setVars");

Anyhow, hopefully this will save a few headaches when your clients call and want to know why things stopped working when they upgraded to flash player 10.

[xithis]

Thanks Mark for the clarification. I've edited my list. You can also use the code for talking to another flash object and instead replace it with the name of your current swf.

[dtate]

is Lectora 9 not able to communicate with Flash CS4 yet? Could that be why I can't get anything to work?

[xithis]

Most likely it is a security violation when trying to run. (Also need to test in html).I'm using CS4 with lectora without any major issues.http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager04.htmlGo to this link and allow your testing locations. That should help out.

[evkuhn]

Greg, 
I believe it should be --  import flash.external.*
and not -- import.flash.external.*
You have an extra period after import.
Other than that thanks for the info!

[eductor]

Sounds simple, but can't get that external HTML thing to work :(
I publish to HTML on a localhost and even tried to upload as scorm to the LMS. No result, always 'undefined'.Have tried to replace ExternalInterface.call("setVars"); with ExternalInterface.call("setVars()"); an much more.
In my swf:
import flash.external.*;var setFromLectora;ExternalInterface.call("setVars");tekst_txt.text = setFromLectora; // sets a textfield to display setFromLectora
 
In Lectora as external HTML-object, Custom HTML:
<script type="text/javascript">    function setVars()        {            var lectoraVariable = VarlectoraVariable.getValue();            window.document.swfanim39.SetVariable("setFromLectora",lectoraVariable);        }</script>
What am i doing wrong? can anyone upload working sample files?

[dojacobson]

Hi,
 
instead of using
tekst_txt.text = setFromLectora; // sets a textfield to display setFromLectora
 
use:
tekst_txt.htmlText
This will help using html text in flash :)
 

[eductor]

Hi Do,
Nice suggestion. But unfortunately it didn't work :-(
I have made the var in Lectora under tools -> variableManager.Also tried having an action that modifies the variable (on show) on the same page as the swf.

[eductor]

Finally something happened!
Got it to work as an uploaded scorm package. But stil no response as html on the localhost or www.
Turns out that i have to make an action that modifies the variable on show. It is not enough to have the variable in the variable manager.It makes no difference whether I use textfieldname.text or textfieldname.htmlText in Flash. Both work fine.
Any suggestions on how to make it work when puplished as html?I usually test as html on localhost for faster workflow.