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Mac users unable to play embedded SWF files

Forum Index > Rich Media/Flash > Mac users unable to play embedded SWF files
2009-02-11 16:39:03
beccaC
Registered: Feb 11 2009
Posts: 11

A client with the latest Mac OS (10.5.6), who has downloaded Reader 9 is still unable to play the .SWF file embedded in my PDF. I actually created two test files: 1. Inserted the .SWF file in InDesign CS3, then exported it as a PDF with embedded multimedia. Since when I export as PDF, InD CS3 offers compatiability with Acrobat 8, highest, I also did it another way... 2) Opened the document in Acrobat 9, used the multimedia tool to delete the movie, and reinserted it.

My client can't play either version however.

Would greatly appreciate guidance about how to make this work. Thanks.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro Extended 9.0, Windows
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2009-02-11 17:24:24
#1
joshcorey
Registered: Jul 14 2008
Posts: 79
The first test case would likely not be playable on a Mac, it creates a video annotation that is played back by whatever player is registered on the system for the file type, there is probably nothing registered to play SWF on the Mac.

The second test case, using Acrobat 9 (the "Insert Flash" tool) and embedding the SWF as a new Richmedia annotation type (new to Acrobat 9 which does not require native system player) should be playable in Reader 9 on Mac or Windows regardless of what other software is installed etc. When you right click on your Flash annotation (created from your SWF) do you get "Enable Content" and "Properties" for the context menu options (if you do then you did create a Richmedia annotation and it should be working on the Mac)?
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2009-02-11 18:52:47
#2
beccaC
Registered: Feb 11 2009
Posts: 11
Thanks Josh. When you say to right-click for a context menu, do you mean that I should do that inside Acrobat 9 or inside Adobe Reader 9?
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2009-02-12 12:24:02
#3
beccaC
Registered: Feb 11 2009
Posts: 11
I just answered my own question. Thanks again Josh.
For anyone else who needs to know, my problem was that I was using the Multimedia Tool (which I had used in Acrobat 8) instead of the Flash Tool. The texts I have said that you could use either, but that doesn't seem to be the case--it makes a difference, at least for Mac viewers of the PDF.

To insert the .SWF files into an InDesign document, you need to upgrade to CS4, since CS3 only gives you the option of exporting a PDF compatiable with Acrobat 8 or below. First compelling reason I've had to upgrade!
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2009-02-13 10:59:13
#4
joshcorey
Registered: Jul 14 2008
Posts: 79
In Acrobat 9 there is not a "Multimedia tool", there are four multimedia tools in the "Multimedia Toolbar", the "Flash Tool", "Video Tool", "Sound Tool", and the "3D Tool". Using any of these tools should give you the same results. The only way to get to the old multimedia tool that was in Acrobat 8 is by clicking the blue link "Create Legacy Multimedia Content", otherwise you should get the new Richmedia annotation from a SWF. It may have had something to do with your deleting a "Legacy" multimedia annotation with the tool first, but even then when you use the tool (any of the four I listed) to create a new annotation it should default to the new type.

If your question is solved can you mark it as "Answered". Thanks
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