Capturing screens into SWF 1

[LiddleMark]

Hi folks.
I would like to build a tool that captures screenshots into a SWF whenever I either Click an object or Type a letter.

I am aware of the existance of the like of "RoboDemo" etc, etc, but these tools are always lacking something.

I was wondering if it is possible to build something like this in Flash.

I have been looking at the references to the CAMERA, but either I am not reading the info correct or there is not a command that can be used to capture screenshots.

Any suggestions, ideas or ponters in the right direction greatly appreciated.

 

[pixl8r]

There is a flash exporter for Robodemo (last I knew purchased seperately) that will save the RD file as a .fla so you can add further functionality in Flash.

Wow JT that almost looked like you knew what you were doing!

 

[LiddleMark]

Thanks for the advice pixl8r.
I am aware of the export functionality that exists within the RoboDemo product. However, RoboDemo is missing some features that we(out client) would like to incorporate.

The basic reason that I am persuing this avenue is that we work as follows.

A project manager goes out and captures the processes of the client's proprietary system in a movie format. (Currently as an AVI.)

The PM also gathers all the business and system rules in a seperate document.

Both the AVI and the text doc are then sent to sub-contractors (developers) who link all the information together to produce e-learning content. Although we have built tools to import, convert, manipulate data etc,(thereby shortening the development time considerably) this process takes a little longer than what I envisage the new tool will be able to do.

Part of the problem here is that different developers process avi's differently. (Coral / Flash / Boomer / PSP and who knows what else.) We have tried to standardize the processing, but there are valid reasons why different methods have been used.

As a result, if there is a problem on the alpha and beta versions of the final SWF, then we need to go back to THE specific developer who processed the SWF and get them to make the changes.
I.E. One cannot always just import the SWF into flash and make the change, because when it saved again, there is a marked change in the colours. I guess that this has to do with the different compression methods that have been applied.

Therefore, if I can ensure that all developers are working on ONE platform, productivity should increase accordingly.
It should also be less prone to version control type errors.

Now that you understand the bigger problem, I am hoping that you (or anyone) can offer a solution to how I get a flash exe to take snapshots of the screen (on a key and/or mouse press) and save the collection in a FLA file?

 

[pixl8r]

I don't think you will be able to use Flash in that capacity. As mentioned in another post here, the security settings of Flash would prevent you from saving a file (outside of the sharedObject) on the users machine. Even if you could, I don't think you would be able to save as an editable .fla file.

Sounds like the FLV format might help you out. Also IMHO you absolutely must standardize your movie processing. If you don't you will always have mixed results. I can make a great argument for using Notepad to develop .NET web applications, but I have never found an employer who would change the development process or environment to allow me to do so. Business' need fixed development environments to minimize overhead (which is what it sounds like you are trying to do).

I hope it helps...