Avatar based animated FAQ: Playing back only a portion of the script


https://forum.reallusion.com/Topic65745.aspx 		Print Topic | Close Window

By candlelight2007 - 15 Years Ago
Hi! I'm trying build a character-based talking version of FAQ for a website. Now instead of building a separate СT project for each answer (there's over 20 answers) I wonder if there's a way to build all the answers into one project but then control flash player playback (when published) somehow to make it play certain portions of the script (say between second 30 and 60, for instance). I understand that it may require some tweaking of the flash player settings in an output file but that seems like a possible option. Or maybe there are better options?

Can you guide me please?

P.S. I also own WidgetCast Pro so I understand that it may require some of its widget functionality but I'm not sure. If it does can you please point me in a specific direction?

By sjonesdc - 15 Years Ago
candlelight2007 (10/16/2010)
Hi! I'm trying build a character-basedtalking version of FAQ for a website. Now instead of building a separate СT project for each answer (there's over 20 answers) I wonder if there's a way to build all the answers into one project but then control flash player playback (when published) somehow to make it play certain portions of the script (say between second 30 and 60, for instance). I understand that it may require some tweaking of the flash player settings in an output file but that seems like a possible option. Or maybe there are better options?

Can you guide me please?

P.S. I alsoown WidgetCast Pro so I understand that it may require some of its widget functionality but I'm not sure. If it does can you please point me in a specific direction?


Right off the top of my head depends on if you know Actionscript. You could put each answer in a separate frame, then write a little script so that the player will advance and play that particular frame.

I know other members of the forum may have a another solution. I've never used WidgetCast, but that may be the best solution.
By InfoCentral - 15 Years Ago
I don't see any advantage to not breaking it up into individual videos. It would make it easier to add content and also when there needs to be changes in the current content. Just make sure you copy the starting key frame to the end of the video and repeat the same key frames in all subsequent videos and it all should play very smoothly. This will become your "master key frame."
By candlelight2007 - 15 Years Ago
Thank you, folks! I appreciate the responses. At least I can see some options

SJ: I am not very familiar with Actionscript but I'll learn it or find someone who is if that's what's needed. Would you care to elaborate a bit on your suggestion? Any threads or articles that you think may help with this specific requirement? What I'm really after is finding a workaround for the lack of CT webcomponent with its dynamic change of the script functionality (that had been discontinued since v4), which would be ideal for this task and other similar ones (it's a bigger educational project with several stakeholders).

InfoCentral (10/16/2010)
I don't see any advantage to not breaking it up into individual videos. It would make it easier to add content and also when there needs to be changes in the current content. Just make sure you copy the starting key frame to the end of the video and repeat the same key frames in all subsequent videos and it all should play very smoothly. This will become your "master key frame."


IC: the advantage is Maintenance. If I ever need to change the model or put it on a different background or create another character with the same script or turn it into a "dragable" popwidget it will be a lot easier to do it once than 20 or 30 times. In my years in IT and software development they used to call it "maintenance nightmare". I've seen it too many times to count. Your suggestion would certainly be the simplest and probably the easiest to implement but it may not fit the bill very well in the long run. For a simple quick and dirty FAQ solution or for demo purposes, yes, but not in this case. Thanks, though.
By sjonesdc - 15 Years Ago
[I've attached a swf to see if this is what you're looking for. This was done in fla with little coding and the videos, in flv format are part of the compiled swf. If this is to be placed on a website, then the videos can be "streamed".]

It appears that I'm not able to upload the swf. I will be contacting you via PM before the end of the day.

Sorry for the delay