SlideShowPro News

09.30.08 | SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.2 released

An updated build of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available for download in the account center. This build (1.8.9.2) mostly resolves / enhances some issues found over the past couple of weeks in the new ActionScript 3 version of the component, but also tweaks / fixes a few things in the ActionScript 2 version as well. You can read about everything that changed in the version history.

If you're a recent purchaser and need information on how to update component instances, check out the updating instructions in our wiki.

Director 1.2.7, DirectorPHP 1.0.2

Director 1.2.7 is now available in the Account Center. The fixes in 1.2.7 mainly revolve around the API and two methods in particular: user->all and content->all. Both of those methods were broken in previous installs and are now fixed in 1.2.7. Also, as a part of these fixes, the DirectorPHP class has been updated to 1.0.2 so be sure to grab that as well.

Other fixes in Director 1.2.7 include a tag upload issue where "undefined" was being written into the tags accidentally. This has also been fixed along with some other small bug fixes.

09.22.08 | Director 1.2.6

We've just released Director 1.2.6 with a few important bug fixes. First, uploads now work even when multiple tags are assigned at the time of upload. Second, when using Director with SlideShowPro for Lightroom, the live preview in Lightroom now works as expected.

Minor user interface refinements are also included in 1.2.6, along with a fix for content_list API calls that involve tag filtering. To download the update, visit the account center.

09.15.08 | SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9.1 released

Now available in the account center is a point update that fixes a few issues in the ActionScript 3 version of SlideShowPro for Flash 1.8.9. These include tweaks to caption visibility / behavior, smoothing bitmaps across domains, javascript hyperlinks, and other interactive tweaks. To read more about what's in this release, see the version history.

The ActionScript 2 version in this release doesn't contain any changes (version updated to keep numbering in sync).

09.08.08 | Glenn Bowman / Traveling: Japan

Currently traveling in Japan, web designer / photographer Glenn Bowman (and friend Anthony Delaura) wanted a web site to showcase photos from his travels to friends and family back home. He could have used a variety of web sites and products to do it, but wanted something more custom, unique and engaging, while also easy to update on the road. Using SlideShowPro for Flash and SlideShowPro Director, Glenn and Anthony built just that.

A liquid Flash layout was created whereby the SWF always filled the browser window and internal content was scaled (or not scaled) to accommodate. Using ActionScript, the SlideShowPro instance was stripped of its navigation and captions and setup to automatically upscale / downscale whenever the dimensions of the SWF changed. They then used SlideShowPro's event listeners to populate an external menu and simple navigation layered over the component. And because the navigation was populated with the data SlideShowPro loaded, they could create new navigation options simply by adding more albums in SlideShowPro Director.

"SSP is great product and without it, we wouldn't have been able to do it." -- Glenn Bowman

Check it out.

Director 1.2.5

We've just released Director 1.2.5, which fixes two key issues. First, large uploads were failing after a certain amount of time because of how the upload URL was being handled. Also, with the changes in 1.2.4, Director's internal cache for the API was not being cleared properly, causing the albums list to not update when album data had been changed. This affected the albums list in the Lightroom to Director plugin and other applications based on the API.

Both of these issues are resolved by the 1.2.5 update, available now in the account center.

09.04.08 | SlideShowPro for Flash AS3 (Final) now available

At long last, an ActionScript 3 (AS3) version of SlideShowPro for Flash is now available as part of the product download. This gives Flash CS3 users a choice of which version of the component to use in their projects.

While the above reads rather innocuous, the splintering of the component into two versions does present some challenges and (potential) confusion amongst users who don't know (and may not care about) the differences between AS2 and 3. I'll try to answer what I assume will be the most common questions both here and in the wiki. But until the wiki is updated, here are the broad strokes.

Only compatible with Flash CS3
Because AS3 was introduced in Flash CS3, only people who own that version of Flash will be able to use the AS3 version. Flash MX 2004 and Flash 8 users should continue using the AS2 version, which has been renamed / labeled so you know which version you have installed (and is in your FLAs).

Same functionality in both
We purposely avoided adding anything new or different to the AS3 version (functionality wise) to avoid any confusion between the two. So pretty much everything that's possible in one is the same in the other (with one exception, read on).

If they're the same, why use the AS3 version?
While the surface of both versions are the same, the underlying code is completely different. AS3 ushered in many enhancements and optimizations to the language that make it faster than ever. This includes everything from XML parsing to startup time to code execution. To coin a phrase, it's snappy. Plus it allows Flash developers to use the component directly inside their AS3 projects (instead of loading it as an external SWF, like before).

Do I use the AS3 version the same way as before?
Yes. Simply drag it to the Stage just like you've always done. That said, if you're comfortable with AS3, there's something unique to the AS3 version -- dynamic instantiation. You can now add an instance of SlideShowPro from the Library to your movie with ActionScript, so you don't have to add it to the Stage if you don't want to. More information can be found in the SlideShowPro AS3 help documentation in the Flash Help panel.

Can I install both versions of the extension?
If you are using Flash CS3, yes. They peacefully coexist in Extension Manager. That said, we do recommend uninstalling the current AS2 version you have and installing the updated AS2 MXP that's part of the updated download so that the version numbering / labeling reflects their differences to avoid any confusion.

Can I update an existing AS2 instance with an AS3 instance?
Yes. The updated builds for both extensions include an updated "SSP - Import Param XML" command that automatically converts any AS2 parameter values to their AS3 equivalents. So simply export your params, create a new AS3 FLA, add the AS3 version of SSP, and import. Your custom settings will be imported and reused.

I have a beta version installed. Should I uninstall it?
Yes. This final build includes some fixes that were found in the last public beta, so it's a new version.

Has the standalone version changed also?
Yes. The standalone version now uses the AS3 version, and has been recompiled as a single SWF ("slideshowpro.swf") to make embedding easier and less error prone.

Will SlideShowPro for Lightroom be updated to the AS3 version?
Not yet. Lightroom, the application itself, can only display a live preview of the gallery if the SWF is published using AS2. It's our intent to update SlideShowPro for Lightroom with the AS3 version as soon as we can, but until Adobe updates the app we'll have to wait.

And there you have it. If you have a question that wasn't addressed here, feel free to drop us a line.

09.02.08 | Slew of Director updates

We've just released updates to SlideShowPro Director (1.2.4), the Lightroom to Director plugin (1.0.2) and the DirectorPHP class (1.0.1).

The fixes are fairly minor and mostly address an issue with the Lightroom to Director plugin and Director installs with large amounts of content. Users experiencing an empty album list in the Lightroom exporter should upgrade their Director install as well as update to the latest version of the Lightroom to Director plugin.

To get the latest version of Director, login to the Account Center. To grab the latest versions of the Lightroom to Director plugin and the DirectorPHP class, visit the SlideShowPro Director extras page.