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Flash Release Notes

Macromedia Flash Ad Kit v1.0.1 Release Notes

This document addresses known issues in the release that are not discussed in the Macromedia Flash Ad Kit documentation. This document may be updated as more information becomes available.

About Macromedia Flash Ad Kit v1.0

Welcome to the Macromedia Flash Ad Kit (for DoubleClick DART Motif).

The Macromedia Flash Ad Kit for DoubleClick DART Motif integrates Macromedia Flash for authoring rich media ads and DoubleClick DART Motif for delivering and managing their results—simplifying the time-consuming rich media advertising process into a single activity. This integrated solution enables agencies to bring error-free, rich media campaigns to market in a matter of days, not weeks—maximizing ROI.

Fixes and Improvements for Macromedia Flash Ad Kit v1.0.1

Flash Ad Kit v 1.0.1 fixes a bug in the FLA templates installed with the Flash Ad Kit. Many ads created from the version 1.0 templates preview correctly locally, but when viewed over a network connection do not display properly. (The animation stops before the first frame of visual content is displayed, on the first frame of content, or in some cases with a partially drawn first frame of content.) This problem is fixed by changes to the ActionScript on the first frame of the FLA templates. Note that Flash content based on the version 1.0 templates will continue to experience this problems once version 1.0.1 is installed, but any new FLAs based on the new templates will work correctly.

The changed files are:
* exp_child.fla
* exp_timeline.fla
* exp_w_child.fla
* exp_w_mc.fla
* general.fla
* Readme.htm
* Flash_Ad_Kit.pdf

If you have made any alterations or customizations to any of the FLA templates installed with the Flash Ad Kit, they may not be overwritten by the new, fixed FLA templates included in the 1.0.1 installer. To ensure that you get the new templates you need to delete the templates already installed.

On Windows (assuming default install paths used):

First you need to show hidden files and folders:

1) From any Windows Explorer window select Tools > Folder Options… from the main menu.
2) Choose the View tab.
3) Under the Hidden Files and Folders section select the Show Hidden Files and Folders radio button.
4) Click the OK button.

Then delete the files:

1) delete the folder C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\Templates\Flash Ad Kit
2) for every user who uses Flash MX 2004, delete the folder C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\Templates\Flash Ad Kit

On Macintosh (assuming default install paths used):

1) delete the folder Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:Templates:Flash Ad Kit
2) for every user who uses Flash MX 2004, delete the folder Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:Templates:Flash Ad Kit

Supported Languages

Macromedia Flash Ad Kit (for Doubleclick DART Motif) is available and supported in English only.

Installation

In order to install the Flash Ad Kit, you must have Macromedia Flash 2004 or Macromedia Flash Professional 2004 installed on your system. The Flash application must not be running when you install the Flash Ad Kit.

When you install the Flash Ad Kit, the installation process adds several elements to your Flash application:
• Flash Ad Kit templates, in the Templates tab of the New Document dialog box.
• The Flash Ad Kit panel, listed under Window > Other Panels.
• Flash Ad Kit actions, in the Actions panel toolbox.

To install the Flash Ad Kit:
1. Make sure the Macromedia Flash application is not running on your system.
2. Open the Flash Ad Kit Installer file.
3. Follow the online installation instructions.

Uninstall

Automatic Uninstall:
In order to uninstall Flash Ad Kit you must uninstall Flash MX 2004 or Flash MX Professional 2004.

Manual Uninstall:
To perform a manual uninstall, remove the following folders.

On Windows:

To delete some of these files you must first turn on the Show hidden files and folders option.  To change this option, open a Windows Explorer window, click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options.  Within the Folder Options dialog switch to the View tab and select Show hidden files and folders.  Click OK to submit the change.

  1. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\ActionsPanel\CustomActions\Flash Ad Kit.xml

  2. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\External Libraries\FlashAdKit.dll C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  3. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\Templates\Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  4. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\Configuration\WindowSWF\Flash Ad Kit.swf

  5. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  6. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\ ActionsPanel\CustomActions\Flash Ad Kit.xml

  7. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\External Libraries\FlashAdKit.dll

  8. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  9. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\Templates\Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  10. C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash MX 2004\en\First Run\ WindowSWF \Flash Ad Kit.swf

On Macintosh:

  1. Macintosh HD:Users :<username>: Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:ActionsPanel:CustomActions:Flash Ad Kit.xml

  2. Macintosh HD:Users :<username>: Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:ExternalLibraries:FlashAdKit.dll

  3. Macintosh HD:Users :<username>: Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  4. Macintosh HD:Users :<username>: Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:Templates:Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  5. Macintosh HD:Users :<username>: Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Flash MX 2004:en:Configuration:WindowSWF\Flash Ad Kit.swf

  6. Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  7. Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:ActionsPanel:CustomActions:Flash Ad Kit.xml

  8. Macintosh HD :Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:External Libraries:FlashAdKit.dll

  9. Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  10. Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:Templates:Flash Ad Kit (remove entire folder)

  11. Macintosh HD:Applications:Macromedia Flash MX 2004:First Run:WindowSWF:Flash Ad Kit.swf

Issues for both Windows and Macintosh

The FLA templates exp_w_mc and exp_w_child support a read-only property on each movie clip, _expanded, which is true if the movie clip is in the expanding, expanded, or collapsing state and false or undefined if the movie clip is in the collapsed state. In the exp_w_child template, a value of undefined indicates that the child SWF has not yet been loaded into the movie clip. This information is covered in the Instructions Layer in these templates but is not covered in the Macromedia Flash Ad Kit for DoubleClick DART Motif User Guide.

Windows-only issues

None.

Macintosh-only issues

NOTE: These issues apply to previewing ads in the browser on the Macintosh. The problem is not with the generated preview but with the browser support for the preview, so a preview file generated with the Macintosh version of the Flash Ad Kit will work correctly if viewed on the Windows platform with Internet Explorer version 5.5 or better.

Preview is only supported in Internet Explorer version 5 or better on the Macintosh. If this is not your default browser and you do not want to change your default browser it is still possible for the Flash Ad Kit automatically to open previews in Internet Explorer. Simply launch Internet Explorer and quit all other browsers so that no browser is running aside from Internet Explorer.

In the initial release of OS 10.3, if the default browser in the System Preferences is set to Internet Explorer , the Flash Ad Kit will launch preview as though Safari is the default browser. This issue is resolved by upgrading to OS 10.3.2. Also the method described above for previewing in Internet Explorer without setting it as your default browser works.

The left offset for a floating ad is relative to the motif tag instead of to the page's upper left corner on the Macintosh. This means that horizontal positioning of most floating ads will be incorrect in the mac preview. Workaround: Download a copy of the target preview URL locally and insert <motif></motif> immediately after the <body> tag; this will effectively place the motif tag in the upper left corner of the page. Note that this work around will also affect the placement of an in-page ad if you are previewing in-page with floating.

Delaying the display of a floating or in-page ad with the start time option in the Flash Ad Kit panel only delays the visibility and not the start of playback on the Macintosh. So an ad displayed after 4 seconds is already 4 seconds into the animation when the user sees it. There is no work around for this. This is not an issue for pop-up/under or expandable ads.

Expandable ads are always expanded in preview on the Macintosh. This is because the expand and collapse Flash Ad Kit functions have no effect on the Macintosh. If the expandable ad SWF file relies on the HTML to cover content in the expanded section when the ad is collapsed then the preview will look incorrect. If the expanded sections of the ad are transparent when the ad is collapsed then the preview will look correct.

The closeSelfFloat Flash Ad Kit function does not have any effect on the Macintosh.

The exit Flash Ad Kit function does not have any effect on the Macintosh when exitnwindow=“popup”.

The hide scrollbars and hide dropdowns checkboxes for expandable ads in the Flash Ad Kit panel have no effect on the Macintosh. This is because the expand and collapse Flash Ad Kit functions have no effect on the Macintosh.

Setting end time to auto for floating ads does not work properly on the Macintosh. The SWF file will stop playing at the end of the main timeline, assuming the SWF file has been authored in such a way that the embed tag parameter loop=false will successfully end playback. However, the floating ad is not automatically hidden when playback ends.

The menu bar checkbox for pop-up/under ads in the Flash Ad Kit panel has no effect because menu bars are not in the browser window on the Macintosh.

If a floating ad does not have a gotoAndPlay function call in the first frame, then it will stop in the first frame on the Macintosh. All of the Flash Ad Kit templates have a gotoAndPlay function call in the first frame, so unless this is removed you will not experience this issue.

In some cases floating ads will not preview correctly if window mode is set to window in the Flash Ad Kit panel.

Notices, Terms, Conditions, and Attribution

Copyright (c) 1993-2004 Macromedia, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Macromedia, the Macromedia logo, Flash, and Macromedia Flash are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other marks are the properties of their respective owners.

This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.

Notices, terms and conditions pertaining to third party software are located at /go/thirdparty/ and incorporated by reference herein.

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