Coding: XHTML: Flash
Adobe's Macromedia Flash is a great tool for creating animations containing text, graphics, movement, audio, and even video elements. Flash projects can be saved as SWF files that can be viewed by your end users.
You'll want to provide specific information or guidelines to help people use your animation. It's a good idea to provide a link to the website where the end user can download the software or plugin at Adobe Flash Player Download Center.
Keep in mind that Flash animation is not accessible to the visually or hearing impaired, so it's important to provide alternative content.
Flash Tags
You can use a text or graphic link to share your animation. You can also embed it on the page.
Separate Page
If you use the link option, it will display the animation on a separate page. This option makes your video available to the largest audience.
Example
<a href="http://eduscapes.com/flash/utahinteractive.swf">Takeoff</a>
Result
Embedded on Page
Embedding animation files is another option, however keep in mind that not all browsers can handle this option. Embedding incorporates the animation directly into the page. However, it only plays if visitors have the appropriate plug-in. It's important to include the controller, so that people can enable or disable the animation as they wish.
You can also set the animation to play or not play automatically using autoplay="true" or autoplay="false". The default is to play the animation. You can also set the height and width of the animation.
Example
<embed src="http://eduscapes.com/flash/takeoff1.swf"> </embed>
Result
Try It
There are many sources for Flash animation. Check out our online course called AIM Your Projects with Flash.
Keep in mind that a person would need to be able to play Flash animations. It's a good idea to provide directions to downloading the correct plug-ins that will allow users to play sounds, movies, or animations.