Member Avatar for Hazel Sibbs

I have a small flash program that after running opens a powerpoint doc (using a .bat file).
However sometimes it just doesn't work, and sometimes it just does, my PC is a bit old (over 5 yrs) and I am working on XP on a network.
I've tried it on other PC's, and have the same problem, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Has anyone else experienced this problem of sometimes it working and sometimes it not.
It seems once I do get it to work, by just keeping trying it, it will work ok from then on.
Any ideas advice, it is costing me a lot of time, and users aren't that impressed!!
Thanks!!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Member #114696

Dani AI

Generated

Intermittent launching of a PowerPoint from a Flash workflow is usually caused by the environment (how the SWF is run, where the launcher lives, timing, or security software), not by a single Flash command. described the symptom; and raised related launcher points; and suggested alternate approaches. The following checklist and small test scripts help pinpoint the failure and make the launch reliable.

  • Reproduce locally first: copy the SWF and launcher to the local hard drive and run it there. If it becomes reliable, the problem is network/permissions.
  • Confirm whether the SWF is running in a browser (plugin) or as a standalone projector; behavior can differ and plugins often block external launches.
  • Add simple logging to the launcher to prove whether Flash actually invoked it. Example batch that logs and opens a file without blocking:
@echo off
echo %date% %time% - launcher called >> "%~dp0\launcher.log"
start "" "%~dp0\presentation.ppt"
exit /b 0

If the log is never written, Flash did not execute the launcher every time — focus on how the SWF is being run and on any security policy or player sandboxing. If the log exists but PowerPoint does not open consistently, check file associations, whether PowerPoint is already running with modal dialogs, or whether antivirus/pop-up blockers are interfering.

For a more robust opener, use a small script that invokes PowerPoint via COM so the file is opened explicitly. Example VBScript that accepts the PPT path as an argument:

Set ppt = CreateObject("PowerPoint.Application")
ppt.Visible = True
ppt.Presentations.Open WScript.Arguments(0)

Call that script from your launcher (using full paths and quotes). Additional checks: use quoted paths for any names with spaces, avoid relying on mapped drive letters (use UNC paths for network tests), inspect Windows Event Viewer for errors, and temporarily disable AV for testing. If absolute reliability is required for many users, consider a small signed launcher EXE or a server-side conversion to a format the Flash can play directly.

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for looloo

convert powerpoint to flash. example:

Member Avatar for Member #114696

what code have you used in that flash object for opening that.

Member Avatar for remiremi

PowerPoint Templates come packaged as either .zip files or self-extracting .exe files (developers are migrating to only .zip files). Once the files are extracted, the customer will find a .pot file included. This is the PowerPoint Template file. Most users are accustomed to opening PowerPoint first and then navigating to the location of the .pot file, and then opening the .pot file from within PowerPoint. Other users (with PowerPoint closed) like to double-click on the .pot file to open the file and the program at the same time. This second option works correctly in a majority of cases, but does not work well for products that include Flash movies

Member Avatar for MidiMagic

Why not use the .bat file to start one, then the other.

Member Avatar for hwit

i have sort of a simeler problem i cant open .bat filles with flash so far i only came acros the methode of fs command but it wont work i tried changing the publish settings from local to network but it wont open my.bat i use flash 8 proffesinall could it be because of the wrong flash??? i am losing sleep over this problem hehe. i use the folowing coment line in the action script


on (release) {
fscommand("exec", "mydoc.bat");
}

am i doing somthing wrong please help

hwit

Member Avatar for Member #114696

You will have to keep that BAT file into fscommand subdirectory.

Member Avatar for hwit

what exacly do u meen by fs comand subderectory? how do i do this?

Member Avatar for Member #114696

Make a folder called fscomand in the directory where you have places your swf file. Place all the files for instance the BAT file in the fscomand folder which you want to opened by fscommand.

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