Can I import Flash movies?

Steve Newsome · Post by **Steve Newsome** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:00 pm

A coworker is trying to recreate a movie done by a contractor. The files were used to create Flash movies, but unfortunately due to the 16,000 frame limitation of Flash this contractor broke the video into 4 parts.

Now that I have come onboard, I have been asked to help "recreate" the video from the .swf files available. Can MediaStudioPro import .swf files to create a single piece?

Thanks for all advice

fabulousbaker · Post by **fabulousbaker** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:52 am

Yes, you can edit SWF or Macromedia file in MSP Video Editor 7. Actually, you can see it in the Files of type drop down list upon importing a video clip in the timeline track. I'm afraid the program don't have support to encode into SWF format.

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:14 am

That's not totally correct.

MSPro 7 cannot import compressed Flash files, only uncompressed, so when creating SWF's for use in MSPro you should un-check the compression option.

Otherwise you can put 'em on the timeline and create any supported filetype, but SWF is not one of them.

Post by **Ron P.** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:23 pm

Terry Stetler wrote:That's not totally correct.

MSPro 7 cannot import compressed Flash files, only uncompressed, so when creating SWF's for use in MSPro you should un-check the compression option.

Otherwise you can put 'em on the timeline and create any supported filetype, but SWF is not one of them.

I've been playing with the MSP 7 Trial and also have VS9. I noticed that VS 9 can import SWF files. I use SWiSHMAX http://swishzone.com to author flash files. So after seeing this I tried to import a SWF, which is compressed just from the program and it worked...

Now I don't know about further compression, or how much Macromedia MX compresses it's files but with Swishmax MSP seems to work ok..

This is a quickie that I imported a swf into MSP, then used VS9 to create a WMV file...

http://grandpasgraphics.net/smax.wmv

Regards..

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:19 pm

I'm glad it works for you, but this is what's on Uleads FAQ;

http://www.ulead.com/tech/msp/msp70faq.htm

(last entry under editing/rendering)

Why can't I insert Flash .swf files into MediaStudio Pro 7 when the .swf is compressed?

* This is because MediaStudio Pro 7 doesn't support compressed .swf files. Please un-check the compressed option when exporting to .swf in Flash MX to solve this problem.

Most likely a difference in the compression lets you get away with it.

Post by **Ron P.** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:04 pm

I stand, ( rather I'm sitting right now) corrected. I went back and checked my swi (working) file and found that the compress option was not checked. I always have it checked. Had to do a re-install recently and the default must be unchecked on it.

So I exported with a compressed file and MSP will not import compressed swf files...

My appologies.....

fabulousbaker · Post by **fabulousbaker** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:24 pm

My apology, I missed that FAQ

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:36 am

This is kind of in line with this thread...
Just for kicks I created another SWF file using Swishmax and insured that the Compress SWF file was checked.
I then opened VS9 and was able import the compressed SWF file no problems. So I wonder why Ulead would put this option in a consumer product and not in a Prosumer product? I guess MSP 7 was out before VS9, so maybe something to look forward to in MSP 8?

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:44 am

My bet is that the "support" is accidental. I'll d/l the trial and give it a go.

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:58 am

Terry Stetler wrote:My bet is that the "support" is accidental. I'll d/l the trial and give it a go.

The trial of Swishmax or VS9?

Once thing that I did notice about both MSP and VS9 is that the SWF file can not contain movieclips or Sprites as Swish calls them. If you build a movie with sprites or movieclips then MSP or VS9 will only see 1 frame. A bummer because the real power behind either Macromedia MX or Swishmax is the scripting and movieclips or sprites...

Also Terry for the compression, in Swishmax you have to export to SWF 6, as compression is not recognized in earlier Flashplayers..

Here's an example video made using VS9 using 2 swf files. The overlay video located in the top left corner is a compressed swf. The main track is the same swf file except uncompressed.

The first link is lower quality about 428k, the second link is higher quality about 3.2Mb.

http://grandpasgraphics.net/swfs.wmv

http://grandpasgraphics.net/swf_files.wmv

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:52 am

Swishmax for testing in MSP 7, MSP 8 and VS9.

Got all 3