View Full Version : computer/program related question
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 08:49 AM
in case someone knows...
so I have to take this Multimedia Flash class for school and it's an on-line course so I work on projects from home.
For some reason, when I pulled the files off the CD (like I am supposed to) it would want to open them in winamp. I went to the folder options and changed the file association but it would still open in winamp. So I uninstalled winamp. Now it will automatically try to open in Flash, but when it's about to open it stops and gives the prompt "unexpected file format" and that's all she wrote.
They are files ending in .fla so I'm not sure what the problem is exactly.
Maybe it's the CD itself? I am going to try installing a trial version of Flash on another computer and try again. But in case anyone knows what the problem is, please let me know... my assignment is due tomorrow :( haha.
Can you upload one for us to test?
abcdefz
09-11-2007, 09:07 AM
I mis-read it. Sorry.
jabumbo
09-11-2007, 09:20 AM
when it was opening with winamp, did you try and do the 'open with' option?
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 10:36 AM
I'm not at home anymore so tonight I will upload one of those files to see if maybe it's the files themselves.
jab: yes, I did that first before changing the file association. And then I double clicked it once it was recognized as a flash file (the icon was for flash and it said flash file, etc) and when that didn't work I tried to "open with" again and selected the flash program itself and it still gave me that same error. :(
stupid computer and/or the files. blargh.
abcdefz
09-11-2007, 10:39 AM
Did you copy the files you want to open onto your computer, or are you trying to open them straight off the CD?
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 10:43 AM
I pulled them off the cd (via the CD's own prompt/installation of the files, and then I tried via 'exploring' the CD and dragged the zip file to my computer and unzipped the files) AND I tried directly off the CD :( haha.
Someone said that it might be a different version of flash that the files were made on could be the issue. I have MX and the book and supplement CD I am using is for 8. Bueller? Bueller?
jabumbo
09-11-2007, 10:47 AM
if i recall, MX was picky when it comes to opening older versions of stuff. do both the old and new versions have the same file extention name? that's probably your source of the error though
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 10:52 AM
yeah, both use .fla ... it's the universal file type for flash :/ OH! I also installed the new version of flash. CS3? (I downloaded the trail version just to test the files) Or something? And the files won't open in there either. Same error.
So I either need the exact version that the book applies to (Flash 8) OR the files are corrupted. Or my computer is a piece of crap and I'm screwed out of this class, perhaps.
WEEEEEE.
abcdefz
09-11-2007, 10:52 AM
For the heck of it -- will it play the swf file?
Maybe it sees the entire build (.fla) as a somehow incompatible version. Flash can be kind of screwy.
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 10:59 AM
I'll have to try and open a .swf once I get home.
fucking computers and programs and bullshit :mad: I already got screwed out of one class this semester. If I get screwed out of this one via not being able to use the files I am going to be pissed :( it will mean I'm in ZERO classes then.
ughughugh
abcdefz
09-11-2007, 11:01 AM
:(
jabumbo
09-11-2007, 11:02 AM
For the heck of it -- will it play the swf file?
single white female?
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 11:18 AM
haha^
For school... my last chance this semester, if I can't get these stupid files to work, is crashing an 8 week course that starts on 10/22. And that's only if the professor is willing to give me an add code. I emailed her and she said I just have to wait and see since the ones who are officially registered get priority (of course, not disputing that) and it might be too full.
eh. perhaps school is falling apart for a reason this semester. I am in a kind of a rocky time in my life anyway. But I'm going to at least try damn it :mad:
Maybe the computers on campus have flash and I can do my homework there. I wouldn't mind that, actually.
I just remembered a friend having problems with some flv file in her flash and she sent it to me and i got it working in my flash. And it being an issue with the difference between mx and 8. I cant really help you now though, as I'm now on CS3 which you've said doesn't work.
Try get a hold of flash 8 :)
jabumbo
09-11-2007, 11:35 AM
most of the time schools make at least one lab area carry software that you need for a course since not everyone can get it on their own computers or even have a computer of their own....
what is it exactly that you are taking up?
TurdBerglar
09-11-2007, 11:36 AM
.fla is sometimes used for .flac
flac files are audio fliles. maybe that's why winamp is opening them. i can't answer the other problem.
beastieangel01
09-11-2007, 11:37 AM
If anyone gets Flash 8 and/or can send it I'd appreciate it x10000!
and jab: it's for a Multimedia class. Just a requirement class for transfer to the four year. I have 5 or 6 classes left and this is one of them.
I SHOULD only have about 2 classes left, and I have an associates already. But accreditation differences and all mucked that up. Boo.
If anyone gets Flash 8 and/or can send it I'd appreciate it x10000!
and jab: it's for a Multimedia class. Just a requirement class for transfer to the four year. I have 5 or 6 classes left and this is one of them.
I SHOULD only have about 2 classes left, and I have an associates already. But accreditation differences and all mucked that up. Boo.
I did a quick search on a file mirror site and it gave me this (http://www.ntu.edu.sg/cits2/software/download/flash8-en.exe). Its called flash8-en.exe which I guess is what you're looking for. If its not then I also have a copy of flash 8 pro here which I can hook you up with.
synch
09-11-2007, 01:06 PM
CS3 should be backwards compatible with any fla you can throw at it. We've just upgraded to CS3 at work and I haven't heard of any issues of that kind.
skinnybutphat
09-11-2007, 01:27 PM
Dreamweaver trial
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=dreamweaver
Dreamweaver trial
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=dreamweaver
Dreamweaver is to make websites. We're talking about flash.
skinnybutphat
09-11-2007, 01:34 PM
Doesn't Dreamweaver open flash files? I thought that was the issue.
Doesn't Dreamweaver open flash files? I thought that was the issue.
Nope. Dreamweaver is for coding websites.
Freebasser
09-11-2007, 02:20 PM
Flash MX definitely has problems reading flash 8 files, and by problems I mean it can't read them!
Get hold of Flash 8 or take Walt's advice and try the brand spanking new Adobe Flash CS3 ;)
synch
09-11-2007, 02:37 PM
She has CS3 but it still isn't working :(
I pulled this from some forums... hope it can help for this and future problems. (I've never used MX sadly)
The other option is to save the FLA as a down-rev version of Flash from the source machine. Save it down to 6 or even 5 (provided there's no ActionScript that such a down-rev will screw up).
Just had this problem with v7 files.
I open fla1 from this new launch panel,
close, try to open another, =>error msg,
try a third => "unexpected blabla" again,
try the 1st one (i had opened before),
same error...
so i open a new, blank document, and then try
to open all 3 flas from the file menu:
everything works just fine!
just in case that helps out someone..
Aaaand some extra info...
the problem that you're encountering is that the file you're downloading was saved from flash 8 and it's not compatible with flash MX 2004 (Flash 7). In order for it to work, it will need to be loaded into flash 8, then re-saved for flash 7. Note: if the .fla is using any flash 8 specific features, it won't work in flash 7 anyway.
synch
09-12-2007, 01:14 AM
Yeah but in theory none of that should matter with CS3.
In theory.
beastieangel01
09-12-2007, 08:54 AM
I think it is in fact the compatibility issue. I restarted a billion times and finally got them to open in CS3.
So I either need to have all the files saved in MX format via someone doing it for me (in my CS3 trial, it will only let me save back to 8, booo) OR I need to get a copy of Flash 8 and a key. Or get a key for CS3 so I can use it longer than another 29 days.
I'm going to try and find 8 tonight. Thanks for the links/info/etc :)
I think it is in fact the compatibility issue. I restarted a billion times and finally got them to open in CS3.
So I either need to have all the files saved in MX format via someone doing it for me (in my CS3 trial, it will only let me save back to 8, booo) OR I need to get a copy of Flash 8 and a key. Or get a key for CS3 so I can use it longer than another 29 days.
I'm going to try and find 8 tonight. Thanks for the links/info/etc :)
I posted a link to 8 further up the page. Post #19 (http://beastieboys.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1510664&postcount=19)
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