Swiffy at last.

I just feel, (although it's wholly against my cyborgian nature), that the ability to include an SWF Signature will open beautiful doors (we assume) for graphics portrayal and Promo-video iClone Studio output & asc. content which should, if handled properly in time, make an amazingly entertaining arena if only for the Signature engineering potential. A functional globally beneficial addition.

Of course, I'm assuming posts hold the Signature data we see in the setup preview at Signature creation time. 

And a pleasant jump in Forum deisgn too. It's about time. :exclamationmark:

Siouxie.
(Alias, someone else.) 

With all due respect for your work and forum contribution, posting such a space and bandwidth-intensive signature is an absolute don't.

While an 1 MB animated GIF on the old forum was already inappropriate, the current 1.9 MB are just way over the top!

Obviously you're in the happy position that you don't have to care too much about your server bandwidth. And luckily my internet connection is fast enough to view such things with only a relatively short delay. However, there might be visitors from around the world with slower transfer rates who come here for the content rather than to wait minutes for a banner ad to download. Imagine several people in the same thread with similar sized signatures...

Good criteria in my opinion: graphical signatures should not exceed 500 x 120 pixel and approx. 100 KB, text signatures no more than 4 to 5 lines of text or 1 line if combined with a graphical signature.

Keep up the good work! :)

…

Regarding Bandwidth...
In it's finished format the final secondary SWF was 700kb.
The initial scene was a choice initialiser whereby it simply downloaded a 7kb image and button "Click to Play" and sat static.
The second scene is called to replace the initialiser and it plays after a preload and in this way the user decides whether they see it or not, the opening graphic being static.

The failing is that despite resizing the SWF for the signature here the final SWF jumps to fill all available space because of code limitations there, despite its own proportions  so that even making a 100 x 200 SWF banner it mis formats.
Allowing the simple html tags for table parameters would allow this a) not to happen and b) to present itself in a superior fashion, higher quality,  not space consuming which, at the moment, the user does not have control over.
The previous forum backed everyone into flickery lumps of gif output to match the animation of the software subject.

The Forum is new here and has teething issues as they all do....and thankfully has these technological advances re: SWF inclusion.

But rather than curb everyones technologies back to the 1990's where 28k download was a standard and a 20 meg movie was unheard of accordingly,
set in place pre-initialised parameters that maybe allow correctly sized SWF's, format limitation and set the rules such that users who know how to implement advanced technologies properly and employ them to successful ends (re: advanced SWF driven commercials promoting Reallusion in a superior fashion with PLAY buttons incorporated for user choice - rather than a flickering gif strip) can administer them with a non demanding code of practice like.... as I initialised earlier, a Static intro frame with a preloaded animation AFTER the user had selected the "Click to play" button.
By allowing movies to be played within the forum it perfectly matches the theme of product. Animations.

Some people don't like losing facility for the lacking of others, while that sounds hard it isn't meant to be. Its a fact. You don't buy broadband to go dial up. 
Looking after 14k download speeds is important but catering for those who work online at speeds of 10 megs ps is also important.

Your SWF inclusion is the first time Ive seen Reallusion actually cater for the ability of users to display, in the forum they bought the software from,  audio driven movies in their signature in streaming SWF format and, if simple html was initialised, in their posts too for examples sake etc.

I've removed my swf movie proto which worked..... aside from  the size which was not in my control and the bandwidth came from my servers as it was hosted externally on  the fastest devices in Europe.

It'll be great to see what Movie facilities are embedded within this new forum.
Best of luck. 

By the time I was writing my first reply the SWF was still 1.981.672 bytes. I noticed that you had changed it in the meantime to use a smaller preloader, which is the better practice of course.

There is no doubt that I am delighted about the new features the new Reallusion forum has to offer and this includes the options to embed Flash movies into posts as well as to add advanced signatures.

Having said that, the focus should be on the content rather than on the accessory parts.

…

I beg to differ...

To admit viewing such signature content as a secondary "accessory" belittles the potential value of animated audio driven promotion.
Not just for the sake of sales and profit, but for the sake of entertainment value (creates program sales of iclone), educational value (learn through hands on samples linked to the sig. movie itself and thereby the forum or zone behind it)  but also inpirational value (Seeing demonstartions and new content otherwise buried in a large arena like Coolclones.) it would allow instant focus on new or 'up and coming' items/elements

Coolclones have some of the most advanced developers in this new technological field 'outside' Reallusion and I have no doubt that the simple inclusion of advanced SWF animation inclusion is second nature to about all of them and of primary importantance especially if such a single opening static could link to a dozen intrigueing audio driven  movies pulle din by demand.
They, above all others, not only should at all times be in the market to display their works which cover all common and very diverse elements to this field, but it would be a severe detriment to Reallusion's progrerss aside from their own inevitable promotional stunting, if they treated such "accessories" as second priority ingredient.

Rather, for those new to iClone Studio, and to those seasoned with it's quirks and vast array of  assets & creation, incorporation of even lengthy movies of this format have a value that is paramount and primary.

Taking www.icloneuniverse.com as an example, an SWF could be made in such a way that a multiple menu could be created in order for those looking for
a) Inspiration
b) Missing elements to a movie
c) Reason to Purchase iClone itself
d) New characters and super heroes
could click on a single  button from an array of, say, ten and by so doing, call in a movie which accurately and impressively displayed, in action, in context, with audio, new facilities they may then purchase the means to obtain and employ accordingly. in simple English this means they may have been convinced IClone is for them and purchased it AND the accessory through inspiration.
To restrictively squinch this down into a one inch strip four inches long nips this new technology right in the bud and also delivers uninspiring negative social conditioning. I'm sure CoolClones would rather ditch their WoNkY flag for a three minute hollywood promo vid.

Focussing on these incredibly varied and diverse sources/resources out there, a primary focuss on their part would be on such signature movie content with the post content being a secondary informative in that it would simplify and deliver explanatory data to those who otherwise are on a quest to overcome obstacles in the employment of such accessory units potentially purchased from them and also lead them to the displayed arena of solution.

Not only that, but when this forum fills I imagine it will have one of the most diverse varieties of animation anywhere in the world and if posts as a 'standard issue' hold movies of all levels in all formats with a heavy armoury to allow their embedding, that is where the best education and entertainment will inevitably lie not by degrading the facility to a dacade gone by.

If I can deliver in my humble forum Iframes for embedding movies, Tables for enclosing them and "click of a button" Youtube, Myspace, WMV, FLV, SWF, and google videos and unlimited lossless server space for those wishing an account,  for just such a purpose, I know it's only a question of time before Reallusion also refine this element accordingly leagues higher.

When I've found a way around the failing I'll resubmit the signature but I can't while it misformats. :crying:

Hi, Neil

Sorry for the late reply.
Actually, I love to see all the possible features included in this new forum.

First, you can try to use our IFCode "Flashvideo" to embed a SWF file.
Like this one......


And the size issue (<table width="x%" height="x%" border="x">)...
yes...we will figure out and get back to you soon.
I think you have already noticed some YouTube videos embeded here.
To keep it pleasing to the eye, we try to control the size of the video from YouTube previously.
But we should also notice some possible sizes from other video sharing sites.
Therefore, we should have some refinement & adjustment here.

As to the feature to upload flash video through the system.
It seems to be limited here. But we will try our best to make it come true.

Of course, the bandwidth issue...
Thanks for RKD's suggested size, it will keep the loading of the new forum much smooth.

Best wishes
Visconti

______________________________________________________

Visconti
Forum Moderator

Reallusion, Inc.
https://forum.reallusion.com

Hi Visconti & RKD...

The IFCode looks promising. :P That has to be a winner!!!
And I just noiticed the menu left for FLV.  Vey nice.
I'll give it a try later.

Hi, Neil

You can see the IFCode on the left panel now.
We add the flexibility of "width" & "height" for your flash display.
I think you can easily apply it to create your SWF signature.

As to the issue of SWF upload, temporarily we will be conservative about it because it will cost much space of the server.
And users can still display SWF here by IFCode.
So, we are really sorry to put off the development of the new feature as you request
But...of course, we will be happy to see more useful features in this new forum if you have any new idea.

Sincerely
Visconti

______________________________________________________

Visconti
Forum Moderator

Reallusion, Inc.
https://forum.reallusion.com