span “.FLA” and “.SWF” several times
class="cap">W hat in the article so I should
every Web site owner should explain the two terms. When a Web
know about using Flash on their developer is creating the Flash
Web site. movie, they edit a file that is
Is it a good idea to use Flash in saved as a “.FLA” file. This file
a Web site? In a word...sorta, can be opened and changed as
kinda, but-not-really, unless needed. When a developer has the
done right. How’s that for Flash file ready for use on a Web
clarification! Actually, site, they publish it as a “.SWF”
Macromedia's Flash is a great file. These “.SWF” files are what
program that, when used the end-user sees when they view
correctly, can make a Web site a Web site that uses Flash. The
attractive and sometimes even uploaded .SWF files are not
more functional than it would be editable. An analogy that many
if you didn't use Flash.
people will understand is the
But before we go into the use changing of a MS Word document
and issues involved with Flash, into a PDF. If you want to make
let’s spend a moment clarifying changes to the PDF, you have to
exactly what “Flash” is in a Web have the original MS Word
site. If you go to a Web site and document. .FLAs and .SWFs operate
see text or images moving around in the same manner. To make
the screen, fading in and out or changes to the Flash on a Web
otherwise see the Web page moving site, a Web developer has to have
in a way that makes you go “wow”, access to the .FLA source
then you are probably looking at file.
a site using Flash, a program
It’s a little difficult to
created by a company named give a non-technical description
Macromedia.
as to how Flash does what it does
I’ll be mentioning the terms to give the end results that so
many people like. Flash “movies”, impressive to the rare human that
as they are called, are very actually views it, but your
different from coded page content decision to use Flash as a
in that they don’t depend on complete solution for your
coding to position content. They business Web site has ensured
use a technology called that few Search Engines or actual
“vectoring” to determine exactly human visitors will be seeing
where each piece of content is your Web site anytime soon.
and where it will be at any
Macromedia recognized this
particular point of time during problem early in the development
the playing of the movie.
of Flash and decided to include
This “non-coded” method of commented tags with all of the
controlling content creates a words used in the Flash movie
huge problem for using Flash on a with each published .SWF to try
business Web site. Namely, Flash to off-set the problem.
content can't be "seen" by Search Unfortunately for Macromedia (and
Engines Spiders.
for developers that make
Search Engines Spiders (a all-Flash sites), Search Engines
small program) read code when decided to totally ignore any
they visit a site and Flash content included in comment tags.
doesn’t have readable code. When As a result, your “Flash Intro”
a Search Engine Spider goes to a home page with the moving text
Web page that is totally Flash, and images appears to most Search
the Spider doesn't see any of the Engine Spiders as little more
Flash. It isn't impressed by all that a relatively blank HTML
the moving words or pretty page. So when you make your
pictures. And it doesn't see the default home page a “Flash
"Skip Intro" link you've put at Intro”, you are really hurting
the bottom of your Flash movie. yourself with the Search
So your home page might be very Engines.
The same is true with the level that means they will most
very-popular “Flash menus” that likely have a good broadband
many Web developers use to make connection”. That’s a cop-out and
the very attractive roll-over an excuse for lazy development.
effects (much better than Even broadband users appreciate
standard JavaScript or DHTML quick-loading graphics.
roll-over effects). A Web
And lastly, as far as the
developer creates a great Flash negatives go, it is very time
menu that the looks really consuming to make and to update
attractive to end users but, once Flash files so site owners will
again, very few people ever get find that making even simple
to see it since the Search changes to their Flash sites will
Engines can’t see the links and be much more expensive that if
thus never even try to index the they’d opted for a non-Flash Web
links to the other pages on the site. And beware those Web
Web site.
developers that publish your Web
And let’s not forget that site without providing you with
Flash files can become large a the .FLA source files. Many Web
slow-loading when you use Flash developers don’t give site owners
for the entire site. Many Web the source files and the owner
developers in today’s broadband gets stuck paying for the
Internet world forget that there development of a totally new Web
is still a significant percentage site when they decide to use a
of Internet users that do not different Web developer. That can
have the connection capability to be a VERY expensive mistake.
download large .SWF files on top
Web developers rarely upload
of the other elements in the Web the .FLA source files for a Web
page. I often hear the excuse site to the Web server so, when a
“our targeted site visitors are business owner tries to contact
more advanced or of an economic their developer and he/she has
disappeared or otherwise become aggravate a visitor that
not available, then the site otherwise wants to view business
owner is stuck with Flash pertinent information rather than
elements within their Web site fancy graphics. Use Flash in the
that they either have to accept headers, menus, or as
as unchangeable or they have to “mini-intros” on your home page
recognize that they will be but make sure that every page has
paying to have the Flash lots of Search Engine-friendly
recreated by a new Web text.
developer.
2. Text links at the bottom,
I’m saying all this bad stuff or “footer” of each page. This
about the program so now it’s will ensure that Search Engine
time for me to confess that I Spiders are able to get to and
really love the program. Flash index each page of the Web site.
can be used to create really Doing this will also make it OK
attractive and memorable Web to use the fancy Flash menus that
sites. But business owners should so many modern Web sites use.
want their Web sites to be
3. Make sure you, as the site
effective and user friendly as owner, have your Web developer
well as Search Engine-friendly give you a copy of all .FLA files
first and attractive and used on your Web site. This will
memorable second. So what can ensure that you will always be
they do to ensure that Flash able to have other Web developers
helps their Web site rather that make changes to your Web site’s
hurts it? Here are a few Flash content if needed.
tips:
Business owners should always
1. Use Flash selectively keep in mind that many Flash Web
within your Web site. Avoid Flash developers are more graphic-savvy
“intro” pages that Search Engines than they are business-savvy and
cant view and that might that they may be implementing
Flash on your Web site that is nd>
About the
graphically pleasing but also Authorhurting the overall business id="authorbio"
goals of the Web site. Ask class="membersnoticewhite">Ed
yourself if your Ruth is a managing partner of
business-oriented Web site Webulant Inc., a Web development
visitors really want to spend and Web hosting company with
time watching fancy graphics or offices in Atlanta, Georgia and
are they more interested in Miami, Florida. Webulant
learning about your business. specializes in the development,
Flash is a great program and, hosting and maintenance of
when used correctly, can really database-driven Web sites.
make a Web site impressive. But Webulant Web Design: “Full Flash” Web sites should be href="http://www.webulant.com"
left to personal Web sites or for title="http://www.webulant.com"
those rare business Web sites target="_blank">that don’t care about Search color="#001000"
Engines or the ease of viewing by size="-2">http://www.webulant.com
site
visitors.
