MetaChat - Can you edit a flash file without having any flash software?

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12 April 2011

Can you edit a flash file without having any flash software? →[More:]
I have a flash thing. I guess it's called an app. Not sure. I have it uploaded to a website. I need to change where the url goes when a photo in the app is clicked. Is that something I can do myself by opening something? I'm totally clueless. Or is there something I can download to use to open it?

post by: iconomy at: 12:13 | 5 comments

If you don't get a response, I'd email our tech-bunnies. I'm sure they'll know.

posted by BoringPostcards 12 April | 17:58

Do you have just the file ending in .SWF, or do you also have the .FLA file? The latter is the one that can be readily edited.

If all you have is the SWF, you may be able to find a decompiler program that will extract some sort of FLA, but it's kind of like breaking an egg: you can see what went into it, but making it whole and useful again is a totally different matter.

I can try to extract the FLA and change the URL, if you like.

posted by maudlin 12 April | 18:35

No.

Even decompiling you won't get an exact copy of the original file - and you'd need Flash to edit it anyway.

I assume that the urls and the photos are not being fed into the Flash file via an external xml file? If that is the case then you just need a text editor to edit the xml file.

If you don't have the original Flash .flv file or Flash doable software to edit even if you decompile it will be less of a headache to just recreate the app, which seeing as you don't have the software to do it you might want to look at jQuery alternatives.

posted by gomichild 13 April | 06:52

Ok, thanks very much, everyone. I don't have the flv, just the swf.

posted by iconomy 13 April | 09:42

is there a decent freeware flash editor/creator?

posted by theora55 14 April | 11:01

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