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Best way to import external text in Flash

Currently, we are using 15 spreadsheets to edit the data. We are creating a new EXE to manipulate the data in arrays in Flash 8 Pro. We will eventually use Flash CS3/Flex to manipulate the text.

I think the best method of importing the current data is to export the spreadsheets to a .TXT file and save into a string and manipulate the data then. However, when I export the spreadsheet to a tab-deliminated file, it seems to miss the initial tabs on the first row and only sees the last tab on the second row.

The example of the file is as follows:
matID      Benefit      KPIs      trueMatID      KPICount      KPI COUNTS
PFM_1      Test Text      PFM_2      86      -
PFM_2      Test Text      PFM_2      219      -

I have code that is the following:
tabPosition1 = textOnScreen.text.indexOf(Key.TAB);

Why does it not see the first tab location? Or what do I change so that it sees the first instance of a tab.

OR - is there a better way to import the spreadsheet data or a database solution for Flash? We are currently using Director and v12, but want to convert to Flash CS3/Flex soon.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CyanBlue

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msukow

ASKER

Looks pretty good -

However, we need to the the tool self-contained for half the clients - there will not be a server that we can connect to for at least 50% of the users (due to firewall restricts or lack of a internet connection in many areas in the world), the other half with have a connection and the firewalls issues will not be a concern. In that case we will be connecting directly to the database on our servers. We are interested in AIR and it looks like it may be what we need locally (especially if we wait 6 months before inplementing).

Will AIR be something that can be implemented easily, or is there training needed to set up the correct production environment?

CyanBlue

Well... AIR sounds like the tool you are looking for... The big huddle will be that AIR uses ActionScript 3.0 which is somewhat new... If you are comfortable with learning new language, it won't be that hard to achieve your goal... ;)

The only concern is the timeframe... It still is not a real product, so I don't know how much will be changing down the road and if you are allowed to create a commercial app with it...

CyanBlue

msukow

ASKER

Thanks for all thoughts as well.