Help Modifying a Flash Player (open-source)

[just_bri]

Hello. =)

I found this really nice flash player (http://www.varal.org/media/niftyplayer/), and I'd like to modify it a bit. But I don't know anything about Flash, so I'd really like some help.

1) I want to change the color of the flash player. Right now it's green, but how would I make it blue, or red, or any other color? (Would I need to edit the SWF file? I'm just guessing here...)

2) There are two versions of this flash player -- the first one (which I linked to above) only loads one MP3 into the player. But the second version (http://www.varal.org/media/niftyplayer/flashmp3alizer.html) works with multiple files; whenever you click a link, it'll load that song in the player.

But currently, it's programmed to open each link in a popup. How can I stop this from happening? (ie: I want the flash player and the links to be on the same page). I assume I have to modify one of the JS files (probably flashmp3alizer.js), but I don't know what to do.

Here are all the files that are needed for the Flash player (http://twinkle.starr.13.googlepages.com/Flash-MP3-Player.zip) (I've zipped them all together for convenience).

Please help. =(

[Eye for Video]

Are you wanting to learn how to make the modifications to the Flash player, such as edit the .fla file? Or do you just want the finished product?
If you want to do it yourself, it may be just as easy to build your own, from scratch, with all the features you want. Here are a couple of sites for good Flash tutorials:
www.gotoandlearn.com
and
www.learnflash.com
You can build your own Flash player with an xml playlist that feeds the song urls to the player. Building your own not only lets you choose the colors, but the shape and style of the player can be anything you can imagine. Your player could be a guitar, an gramophone, or an old shoe if you wanted. A custom player like that adds character to the Web page and makes it unique.
http://www.uncledoodad.com/photo_ss/weapons_of_choice/index_woc.html

http://www.uncledoodad.com/demo/demo.html

If not, there are lots of other players out there that may already have those features. Either way, good luck on your project!
Eye for Video
www.cidigitalmedia.com

[Mr. E. Cryptic]

I can't find the exact link at the moment, but google around; there is a modified version of the XSPF Web Music Player (http://musicplayer.sourceforge.net) that is quite similar to the one you linked to above and allows modification of colour with param values. If I do come accross it in my travels, I'll repost.

[just_bri]

Hello, and thank you both for responding (I'd just about given up hope, hehe..).

@Mr. E. Cryptic:
Before I came here, I had been looking around for Flash players. I've been searching for DAYS until I finally came across one that was close to the player I had in mind. (That said, I've already seen the player you linked to, and I didn't really like it too much.)

Although...I do think it's cool that the XSPF Player can be easily modified (with different colors, etc.), so I might look into it again. (Also, I hope you find that other link! I'd like to see what that Flash player does. =)


@Eye for Video: Thanks for the links, but at this point in time I don't think I'm good enough to build a Flash player on my own (plus I'm in the midst of cleaning my computer; I'm almost out of storage space here...so I can barely run Flash MX and I avoid it as much as I can. If I open it, my computer will seriously lag).

I like the idea of creating my own unique player (which I DO want to create someday; I've already drawn out some plans -- and that Flash player I linked to is the closest thing I could find, which is why I want to use it, for now anyway. =) And the players you linked to are cool (especially the guitar one!), but I know I can't do anything like that right now.

I'm too much of a n00b (plus my computer isn't at 100% power), so that's why it'd be best if I changed a few lines in a pre-existing player (as opposed to building one ENTIRELY from scratch).

Also, I've visited that GoToAndLearn site before, but I didn't like that Flash player at ALL. Plus, since my Flash player will have different (and somewhat more advanced) features, I'm not really sure how helpful that tutorial will be. And I definitely can't do the LearnFlash site right now; it's too expensive. =(

[Mr. E. Cryptic]

Found it! :)

http://www.e162s.com/programs/xspf_player.htm

Like the niftyplayer, you don't NEED to use an spiffy playlist, individual songs can be loaded. Unlike the nifty player: You CAN use a playlist if you want to.

If you were looking forward to nifty's js parts, then there you're out of luck.

You can modify the colour though. :D

[nina7683]

fla file: it is the source document of flash, it can be opened and designed on Flash Player 8 or 2004 MX.

swf file:it is the release of formats of flash,With the only function of playing only, the Flash file designed in SWF can not be modified.

If you want to modify the SWF file, please turn it into FLA before.

[just_bri]

@Mr. E. Cryptic (and nina7683):
I'm going to use that XSPF player afterall, but I'm having a few problems:

1. (major problem) - The font is REALLY small. Is there a way I can fix this?

2. (minor problem) - I can't get rid of the scrollbar, regardless of how big/spacious the player is. What can I do?

[Mr. E. Cryptic]

Sorry, not that I'm aware of.

[Eye for Video]

Take a look through all the files you downloaded with the player and you will see one that is called “xspf_player_v3.6.fla”. This is the editable Flash file. Before you dig in, understand that the player was intended to use small font. This allows longer song titles in a small space. If you change that, you may not be able to display longer titles correctly. Unless you want to enlarge the playlist area, and while you’re at it, change the color and add a few bells and whistles…. Hey! next thing you know, you’ve got your own custom player…..Coooollllll !
OK, open the .fla file and if you want to use a larger font in the playlist, you’ll need to navigate through the layers of movie clips in the playlist area until you find a dynamic text box. That’s where the font size is set. While in the .fla file, double click the “playlist_mc”, keep drilling down until you finally come to the “display_txt” dynamic text box. It’s attributes are listed to the right.
I’ve attached a screen shot to give you a preview of what to look for. Sorry 'bout the poor quality, but images here are limited to 100 kb.
As far as the scroll bar goes, what scroll bar are you talking about.. the one for the playlist? If so, it’s on the “scroll” layer, a movie clip called “scrollbar_mc”. You don’t like it?? Dump it!
Remember, this a very complex player, alteration could have unforeseen consequences. Oh… and did I say “Change the file name to xspf_player_v3.6_TEST.fla” before starting any alterations?
The designer also used a nice technique to handle the ActionScript, check the “include layer”.
#include "xspf_player_v3.6.as"
This allows for the ActionScript to be in an external, simple text file, making it easy to alter the AS once it’s uploaded to a Web host, without having to redo the .fla file. Keep this in mind for future projects, it may come in handy.
Best of luck to ya,
Eye for Video
www.cidigitalmedia.com

[nina7683]

i found a freeware--FLV Player (http://www.*******.com/flv_player/),it is an easy-to-use desktop FLV player for the desktop playback of FLV files in a controllable mode.

if need u can google it,hope it can help u.:p

[babkubwa]

was just having the same thoughts on the orribly small font size for the xspf player.

Don't think I'm brave enough to start pulling apart the flash file, - I'll keep on checking back here to see if you got anywhere with it! good luck !

great player otherwise. I use it on my own site - just love the way you can fling things in a folder and it sorts out the rest.



Ralph