Setting the Insert Flash Video dialog box options

This dialog box lets you set options for a Flash Video (FLV) file inserted in a web page.

To complete the Insert Flash Video dialog box for Progressive Download Video:

1. Select Progressive Download Video from the Video Type pop-up menu.
2. Specify the following options:

   URL specifies a relative or absolute path to the FLV file. To specify a relative path (for example, mypath/myvideo.flv), click the Browse button, navigate to the FLV file, and select it. To specify an absolute path, type the URL (for example, http://www.example.com/myvideo.flv) of the FLV file.

   NOTE

   For the video player to function correctly, the FLV file must contain metadata. FLV files created with Flash Communication Server 1.5.2, FLV Exporter version 1.2, and Sorenson Squeeze 4.0 automatically contain metadata.

   On the Macintosh, you must use an absolute path if you are pointing to FLV files in directories that are two or more levels up from the HTML file.

   Skin specifies the appearance of the Flash Video component. A preview of the selected skin appears beneath the Skin pop-up menu.

   Width specifies the width of the FLV file, in pixels. To have Dreamweaver determine the exact width of the FLV file, click the Detect Size button. If Dreamweaver cannot determine the width, you must type a width value.

   Height specifies the height of the FLV file, in pixels. To have Dreamweaver determine the exact height of the FLV file, click the Detect Size button. If Dreamweaver cannot determine the height, you must type a height value.

   NOTE

   Total With Skin is the width and height of the FLV file plus the width and height of the selected skin.

   Constrain maintains the same aspect ratio between the width and height of the Flash Video component. This option is selected by default.

   Auto Play specifies whether to play the video when the web page is opened.

   Auto Rewind specifies whether the playback control returns to starting position after the video finishes playing.

   Prompt Users to Download Flash Player if Necessary inserts code in the page that detects the version of Flash Player required to view the Flash Video, and prompts the user to download the latest version of Flash Player if they don’t have the required version. For more information, see Detecting the Flash Player version to view the Flash Video.

   Message specifies the message that will be displayed if the user needs to download the latest version of Flash Player to view the Flash Video.

3. Click OK to close the dialog box and add the Flash Video content to your web page.

   The Insert Flash Video command generates a video player SWF file and a skin SWF file that are used to display your Flash Video content on a web page. (To see the new files, you may need to click the Refresh button in the Files panel.) These files are stored in the same directory as the HTML file to which you’re adding Flash Video content. When you upload the HTML page containing Flash Video content, Dreamweaver uploads these files as dependent files (as long as you click Yes in the Put Dependent Files dialog box).

To complete the Insert Flash Video dialog box for Streaming Video:

1. Select Streaming Video from the Video Type pop-up menu.
2. Specify the following options:

   Server URI specifies the server name, application name, and instance name in the form rtmp://www.example.com/app_name/instance_name.

   Stream Name specifies the name of the FLV file that you want to play (for example, myvideo.flv). The .flv extension is optional.

   NOTE

   For the video player to function correctly, the FLV file must contain metadata. FLV files created with Flash Communication Server 1.5.2, FLV Exporter version 1.2, and Sorenson Squeeze 4.0 automatically contain metadata.

   Skin specifies the appearance of the Flash Video component. A preview of the selected skin appears beneath the Skin pop-up menu.

   Width specifies the width of the FLV file, in pixels. To have Dreamweaver determine the exact width of the FLV file, click the Detect Size button. If Dreamweaver cannot determine the width, you must type a width value.

   Height specifies the height of the FLV file, in pixels. To have Dreamweaver determine the exact height of the FLV file, click the Detect Size button. If Dreamweaver cannot determine the height, you must type a height value.

   NOTE

   Total With Skin is the width and height of the FLV file plus the width and height of the selected skin.

   Constrain maintains the same aspect ratio between the width and height of the Flash Video component. This option is selected by default.

   Live Video Feed specifies whether the Flash Video content is live. If Live Video Feed is selected, the Flash Player will play a live video feed streamed from Flash Communication Server. The name of the live video feed is the name specified in the Stream Name text box.

   NOTE

   When you select Live Video Feed, only the volume control appears on the component’s skin, because you cannot manipulate live video. Additionally, the Auto Play and Auto Rewind options have no effect.

   Auto Play specifies whether to play the video when the web page is opened.

   Auto Rewind specifies whether the playback control returns to starting position after the video finishes playing.

   Buffer Time specifies the time, in seconds, required for buffering before the video starts playing. The default buffer time is set to 0 so that the video starts playing instantly after the Play button is clicked. (If Auto Play is selected, the video starts playing as soon as a connection is made with the server.) You might want to set a buffer time if you are delivering video that has a higher bit rate than the site visitor’s connection speed, or when Internet traffic might cause bandwidth or connectivity problems. For example, if you want to send 15 seconds of video to the web page before the web page starts to play the video, set the buffer time to 15.

   Prompt Users to Download Flash Player if Necessary inserts code in the page that detects the version of Flash Player required to view the Flash Video, and prompts the user to download the latest version of Flash Player if they don’t have the required version. For more information, see Detecting the Flash Player version to view the Flash Video.

   Message specifies the message that will be displayed if the user needs to download the latest version of Flash Player to view the Flash Video.

3. Click OK to close the dialog box and add the Flash Video content to your web page.

   The Insert Flash Video command generates a video player SWF file and a skin SWF file that are used to display your Flash Video on a web page. The command also generates a main.asc file that you must upload to your Flash Communication Server. (To see the new files, you may need to click the Refresh button in the Files panel.) These files are stored in the same directory as the HTML file to which you’re adding Flash Video content. When you upload the HTML page containing Flash Video content, don’t forget to upload the SWF files to your web server, and the main.asc file to your Flash Communication Server.

   NOTE

   If you already have a main.asc file on your server, make sure to check with your server administrator before uploading the main.asc file generated by the Insert Flash Video command

   You can easily upload all of the required media files by selecting the Flash Video component placeholder in the Dreamweaver Document window, and clicking the Upload Media button in the Property inspector (Window > Properties). To see a list of required files, click Show required files.

   NOTE

   The Upload Media button does not upload the HTML file that contains the Flash Video content.

Related topics

• About inserting Flash Video
• Inserting a Flash Video
• Detecting the Flash Player version to view the Flash Video
• Editing and deleting a Flash Video component