Accessibility
Lisa Larson

Lisa Larson-Kelley

FlashConnections

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Progressive Video?
  3. Understanding Your Thumbnail Options
  4. Using Mini FLV Files
  5. Creating JPEG Thumbnails
  6. Changing the NetStream Code
Created:
15 June 2005
Modified:
30 March 2006
User Level:
Intermediate, Advanced
Products:
Flash

Creating a Dynamic Playlist for Progressive Flash Video

Note: This tutorial was written when Flash first featured a video workflow in Flash MX Professional 2004. To take advantage of feedback that readers have sent me over the years about developing playlists, answers to many common questions, and the latest features in Flash CS3 Professional and Flash Player 9, please read the thoroughly revised version of this article.

There's been a strong outcry for an article demonstrating an XML-driven playlist that does not require Macromedia Flash Communication Server. You wanted the flexibility to update your progressive Flash video (FLV) playlists without editing your Macromedia Flash source files. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present VideoSource Pro.

This version of the dynamic playlist code is adapted from the Flash Communication Server XML-driven playlist written by Chris Hock and Srinivas Manapragada, covered in detail in my other article, Creating a Dynamic Playlist for Streaming Flash Video. By changing a few lines of that code, I will show you how to create an XML-driven playlist of progressive FLV files, allowing you the flexibility to update your playlist without editing your Flash source file, and without requiring Flash Communication Server streaming.

I will outline the basic structure of this application in this article and explain the code that changes from the streaming example. For a more in-depth understanding of the code, please refer to my other article.

The basic framework of the VideoSource Pro application consists of the following components:

  • An XML file as data source (playlist-demo-1.xml)
  • A custom-made player for playback (VideoSourcePro.swf)
  • External ActionScript files (VideoSourcePro.as, VideoThumb.as)

To get a taste of what I'm talking about in this article, check out the working sample application at the VideoSource Pro page.

Requirements

To complete this tutorial you will need to install the following software and files:

Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004

Sample files:

Download and unzip the contents of the videosourcepro.zip file to a new directory on your hard drive. Refer to the readme.txt file included in the ZIP file for more detailed instructions.

Prerequisite Knowledge

You should be familiar with Flash MX Professional 2004 and understand the basics of delivering video through Flash. You should also have a basic understanding of XML.

Here are some other articles that can help you get up to speed with Flash video:

Page 1 of 6
Next Page

About the author

Lisa Larson-Kelley began her career in print design, but was soon lured to digital media by a little application called Flash 4. In addition to hands-on development projects, she enjoys writing and teaching, with a knack for breaking down complex concepts and making them accessible. She has authored technical articles for the Adobe Developer Connection, and editorials and features for StreamingMedia.com; and coauthored the book, Flash Video for Professionals (Wiley, 2007). Lisa has also presented at numerous industry conferences around the world and is an active member of the FlashCodersNY user group. A graduate of Wayne State University in Michigan with a BFA in Graphic Design, Lisa received a New Media Certification from the Rhode Island School of Design/Fraunhofer CRCG in 2003. After spending two years as a freelance designer/developer, she went on to become the technical director and cofounder of go:toGroup, a new-media firm based in New York City specializing in Flash video applications. She now consults, teaches, and develops iFoxCam, a consumer video surveillance product using Flash Media Server. While with go:toGroup, Lisa worked with many video-centric startups as well as companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, and L'Oréal. She shares news and musings about Flash video, web development and life in the big city on her blog, flashconnections.com.