Question

Flash 5 Preloader Problem

Asked by: drydo

Got an unusual issue with creating a Flash 5 preloader (Note: Flash 5 is the client's specific request unforuntately).  Basically, I've been passed a pretty large Flash file to deal with that is approximately 2mb when compiled into a SWF.  It uses a lot of JPGs and other goodies.

To create the preloader, I created a second scene, changed the order of the scene to ensure the preloader is played first, and added the following code...

<code>
loadedbytes=getBytesLoaded();
totalbytes=getBytesTotal();
loadedkbytes=Math.ceil (loadedbytes/1024);
totalkbytes=Math.ceil(totalbytes/1024);

trace( loadedbytes  + "==" + totalbytes )

if (loadedbytes == totalbytes) {
      gotoAndPlay (3);
}
else{
      gotoAndPlay (1);
}
</code>

Note: I've tried a variety of other techniques, e.g. ifFrameLoaded, _Framesloaded, etc. to no avail.

With Frame 3 moving to the next scene.  My issue is that the actual preloader doesn't kick in until the 90% of the actual movie is loaded.  When using the Bandwidth profiler, it happily streams the movie in but the never moves from Frame 0 until its 90% - then all the logic kicks in.  On the preloader scene there is NO graphics, movies or anything - just the code.  It almost like its still loading in the majority of the elements on the second scene before it actual does anything.

So how do I get my preloader to *actually* work (and I'm assuming running from Frame 1 and using my preloader logic).  I've create preloaders in the past and never experienced this problem?

OS = XP Pro.  Environment = Flash 8.

M

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Asked On
2005-11-07 at 03:26:02ID21621637
Tags

8

,

frame_loaded

,

preloader

Topic

Adobe Flash

Participating Experts
2
Points
125
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: squarebracketPosted on 2005-11-09 at 05:04:23ID: 15255613

"It almost like its still loading in the majority of the elements on the second scene before it actual does anything."

Are you using linkage Export for Actionscript on any of your symbols? Any symbols that have this option checked will be loaded before frame 1 of your movie.

You could try making the preloader a stand alone movie that loads the main movie into itself.

dAN

 

by: da_squirePosted on 2005-11-10 at 06:50:12ID: 15265655

YO drydo,

this script has never falied me....

onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
      _root.preloader.bar._xscale = siteLoaded;
      siteLoaded = int((loaded_bytes/total_bytes)*100);
      // bytes
      total_bytes = _root.getBytesTotal();
      loaded_bytes = _root.getBytesLoaded();
      remaining_bytes = total_bytes-loaded_bytes;
      // frames
      frame_loaded = _root._framesloaded;
      frame_total = _root._totalframes;
      // kilo bytes
      totalkb = int(total_bytes/1024) add "KB";
      loadedkb = int(loaded_bytes/1024) add "KB";
      remaining_kb = int(remaining_bytes/1024);
      remainingkb = int(remaining_kb) add "KB";
      percent_done = int((loaded_bytes/total_bytes)*100) add "%";
      // time
      time = getTimer()/1000;
      // speed
      speed = loaded_bytes/time;
      bits = speed/1024;
      Kbps = Math.round(bits*10)/10 add "KB/S";
      // time remaining
      kbyteCounter = (total_bytes-loaded_bytes)/1024;
      loadRate = (loaded_bytes/1024)/time;
      timeCounter = kbyteCounter/loadRate;
      minutes = Math.floor(timeCounter/60);
      seconds = Math.round((timeCounter/60-minutes)*60);
      time_remaining = minutes+" min "+seconds+" sec";
      // timeelapsed
      minute = Math.floor(time/60);
      second = Math.round((time/60-minute)*60);
      time_elapsed = minute+" min "+second+" sec";
      if (total_bytes == loaded_bytes) {
            _root.gotoAndStop(2);
      }
}

Has a few more features......not sure who to give the glory to found it in a clip a while ago.....

neway good luck

 

by: squarebracketPosted on 2005-11-10 at 10:28:22ID: 15267864

The problem is nothing to do with the actionscript.

 

by: da_squirePosted on 2005-11-11 at 02:15:47ID: 15272473

Yeah, you don't know that for sure mate :0)) i have made games, presentations, etc using everything you can imagine gif, jpeg, swift, scenes....anything you can add in there...and this issue that drydo has never come up and i only ever use this script....So its worth giving it a shot.  

Next time think before you type bud :0))
Peace

 

by: squarebracketPosted on 2005-11-11 at 05:30:25ID: 15273263

da_squire - sorry if my response came off as brusque - I didn't mean to belittle your advice or anything.

As you say, I don't know for sure, but the actionscript looks fine to me.

The problem that Drydo describes is one I remember experiencing back in the days of Flash 5: when the library contains assets that have their linkage set for export they get loaded before anything else. The only fix for it is to create a separate preloader swf that loads the main movie into itself.

The problem doesn't exist in Flash MX or MX 2004 because you can set deselect "export in first frame". This option didn't exist in Flash 5.

Cheers,
dAN

 

by: drydoPosted on 2005-11-23 at 04:23:32ID: 15349324

<just back from paternity leave - thus the late response>

squarebracket,

The 'wrapper' option was my last option and implemented it on the day.  Points awarded for the extremely useful titbit of info. re: linkage - that's exactly what I was doing something to certainly bear in mind with a raft of additional Flash 5 stuff to do.

Cheers - M

 

by: squarebracketPosted on 2005-11-27 at 04:13:51ID: 15367926

congratulations! boy or girl?
i'm just back from holiday with our 11 month old daughter
dAN

 

by: drydoPosted on 2005-11-28 at 02:47:04ID: 15371866

A pink one!  Got a blue one of 3 - now trying to adjust from cars and Thomas the Tank Engine to pink things :-0

 

by: squarebracketPosted on 2005-11-28 at 07:00:37ID: 15373125

ah one of each - nice!

good luck

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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