SWF size

[xavier1]

What is the good size for an SWF web page? Is there a normal size criterea that you should try to stay in?

[farafiro]

this is a bit common question

http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=30355&highlight=size+AND+swf
http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=201&highlight=size+AND+swf
http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=3681&highlight=size+AND+swf
http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=13540&highlight=size+AND+swf
http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=15603&highlight=size+AND+swf

[xavier1]

Thanks for the reply, I read most of those before posting, there were no clear reply's as to an actual size in kb's. I mean is 900kb to big for a web site or is that ok? What is a good standard to go by? I realize that it's different for everyone especially those that are on dial-up, but when is a file too big?

[farafiro]

900 k :eek: :rolleyes:
I say 60 k max is the best

[xavier1]

wow! I guess I'm way over, huh! What would be making it so big?
To many frames? I doa lot of my tweening by frame instead of creating a motion tween. Or is it the pictures? And also, is there some way to compress it without losing quality? Thanks!

[farafiro]

pictures
shape tween
motion tween

all boost the file size, u can use action script for tweening
and loadMovie() for gettint pix (jpg)

[xavier1]

Thats one thing that I havnt learned yet is to load mc's form somewhere else, guess I need to get on that! Also, I was reading on Macromedia's site about this and it said that the flash player has 4000kb of memory and that it shouldnt have a problem playing a file of my size. So is it just the amount of time it takes to load the site or is it that the Flash player will have problems playing a file of that size on someone elses PC?

[farafiro]

no, the memory is something else
read up the tuts in this site, u can do it all in a month and then we'll have a younger flash guru here ;)

[linckx]

[QUOTE]So is it just the amount of time it takes to load the site or is it that the Flash player will have problems playing a file of that size on someone elses PC?
[QUOTE]

the flash player can (although sometimes I've got my doubts about it), but it's the connection... even on a T3 connection or cable 900 kb might take you between 1-15 secs to get in... that's a long time...

of course there's 100's of tricks for it like creating splash pages (a page in front so that user immediately sees things, and those tips from farafiro...

I noticed sound also takes up some space, but there's less to do about it I guess...

robin

[xavier1]

Yeah, it takes 9 sec on cable right now. Thansk for the info, I'm off to find some info on creating splash pages.

[linckx]

splashpage is not more or not less than a simple html page with a welcoming text or so and a button to link to your next page.

the reason for that is that people immediately view something, and stay, otherwise if they need to wait, they'll leave after approx 4-8 seconds ;)

good luck!
robin

[tg]

my take on this would be to spend less time working on a splash page/preloader, and work more on getting your file size down to sub100kb... besides, learning new stuff is always fun

[xavier1]

I love learning new things! Thats the reason I picked up Flash in the first place, but, until I figure out the loading of external mc's I will use the splash page. So, let me get this straight, if I put a splash page as say the index.htm on my site pointing to my swf is my swf loading as they are viewing the index page, or am I giving them something to read after they click the link to the swf?

[linckx]

make index.html your first page with a link or so to your second page with the flash in ;)

do NOT hesitate on learning how to load movies and use paths... once you know them... wooow you'll be flying ;)

robin

[Timmee_3Styler]

I didnt get to fly :(

yup I agree 60 k should be the max
and at the moment im so obsessed with creating high level sites @ 30 k less.... as the main site
while loading addtional optional files later

the size report is something good to look @ too for each movie

[xavier1]

where ar the mc's stored that you would load and how would you get them to load in the correct place? I know this is probably a dumb question but I cant seem to get it right in my head ya know.

[linckx]

if you're gonna load mc, they're stored in your library and addressed by a linkage name,

if it's .Swf's you're loading, they're in the same folder as your main.swf

I know this is probably a dumb question

nah, it's a question from a learning person, that's never dumb ;)

robin

[farafiro]

wanna see some cool work for making almost the whole site as externals
clear all the cash
go to disney.com
let it fully load
then open the cash file and refresh

see how many swfs' there ;)

[xavier1]

woohoo! I figured out the load MC thing!!! The only thing that I dont quite get is how I got it to load in the exact spot I wanted it to. What I did was took the MC out of the main movie turned it into it's own swf then checked teh position it was at when I had it in the main one and placed it in the same spot as it was in it's own swf, is this the normal way of doing that?

Also, the MC that I'm loading is attatched to a button wich plays it upon rollover and unloads it on rollout, when it loads it fades in, but when it unloads it I want it to fade out instead of dissapearing, is there any way to do this?Thanks for the help I think if I do this to all my MC's it should cut my file size dramatically!

[tg]

try:

//this is main timeline
this.createEmptyMovieCip("holder",1);
holder._x=100;
holder._y=100;
holder.loadMovie("myswf.swf");


your swf should now be loaded in at 100,100.