Demo - avi or flash

[Jane Here]

I have Camtasia and am planning to use it to make a "movie" of a software
program. It can make an avi file.

I have been hearings that Flash .swf is a better way to do this. Does anyone
have any experience of this? If so, can you tell me what the advantages of
either are. Should I put in the effort to get and learn Flash, or is an avi
OK.

 

[Raghu Prakash]

HI jane,

I have the necessary information about the Macromedia Flash.
Macromedia Flash is a vector graphic (vector graphics: The representation
of graphic objects such as lines, arcs, and squares by using geometrical
formulas. By contrast, bitmapped graphics (also called raster graphics) are
stored as a collection of pixels.) animation technology. Web developers use
Flash to produce movies, animation, presentations, and more. Flash-based
content works on cross-platform browsers, which means that site visitors
can play it by using almost any Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

You can add Flash-based content to enhance and update your Web site. You
can add multiple types of Flash-based content, such as short movie strips,
repetitive audio-enhanced animations, previously-recorded educational
presentations or courses, and more.

You can embed Flash-based content directly in a Web page, so that it
downloads automatically when a site visitor opens the page. You can also
add a link in your Web page to the location of Flash-based content. This
enables site visitors to decide whether or not they want to download it.

In Microsoft FrontPage, you can set options to scale and align Flash-based
content and set background colors for it. Additionally, you can set options
for automatic playback, such as playing a short animation once when the
site visitor first loads the page or looping the content to play
continuously.

Note You must have the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in installed in order
to preview the Flash-based content you add. Additionally, site visitors
must have it installed in order to play such content.


Please let me know has this helped You...
Thank you...
Raghu...
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Guy Lapierre]

If you will be doing lots of this type of thing, I would recommend RoboDemo.
It records your demo of the software in flash format as well as other
options.

Check out www.forefrontbusinesssolutions.com/tours.htm. These were all done
using RoboDemo.

 

[Jane Here]

Thanks for the tip. I'll take a look.

If you will be doing lots of this type of thing, I would recommend RoboDemo.
It records your demo of the software in flash format as well as other
options.

Check out www.forefrontbusinesssolutions.com/tours.htm. These were all done
using RoboDemo.

 

[Jane Here]

1. Thanks for the info. I'm still not sure why, if I make a movie of a
software demo. Flash is better than .avi. Is there a reason to avoid .avi
files?

2. Does the requirement for the user to have Macromedia Flash Player plug-in
installed put people off visiting your site?

 

[Guy Lapierre]

I haven't done a lot of work with avi files so I really can't answer that
question. I will say that I have come across few of these files for demos
but it just could be my ignorance to the format of the file I was viewing
.

I do not know for sure about people getting put off. Everyone that I have
instructed to view it has reported positive results. Now, a surfer migh not
view the demos I guess if they do not want to add the plug in. Flash is
probably the most common and most probably already have it installed.