RE: FLASH: flash 5.0 plugin detector

[Paul Willoughby]

Hi John,


I have a theory about this which I mentioned the other day, but so far I

don't know anyone who's tested it with both players.

In Flash 4 you could write code like this to find out the player

version:


SetVariable: "playerVersion" = Eval($version)


This returns a variable like MAC 4,0,2,0. You can then substring it to

find the major release number (i.e. 4 or 5):


Set Variable: "thisPlayer" = Substring(playerVersion, 5, 1)


You can then add a simple If statement to GetURL according to the value

of "thisPlayer". 


Flash 5 has a similar function called GetVersion, but this doesn't work

with the F4 player, whereas Eval("$version") does work with the F5

player (i've tested this). For that reason, a (perhaps!) foolproof way

to detect the player version (4 or 5) is to run a teeny F4 movie before

you run anything that requires the F5 player. All you'd have in this

movie is some code based on what I describe above.


But NOTE, this doesn't detect whether the user has a Flash plug-in or

not. You would have to do that first, then load the 'version test' SWF

to clarify what player they were using.


I'd love to know your results if you try this method!


hth


paul


John wrote on 13 November 2000:


> Does anyone know how to detect flash player 5.0 only.

> 

> My site will open up if you have a flash player 4.0 but it 

> won't work correctly.

> 

>                        Johnny Davis

>                               J-CAT

>            New Media Freak

>

johnipowerplant [dot] com

> www.ipowerplant.com

> 

> 


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