How to insert a flash file to your wordpress header?
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There are some clients of mine who are very keen on using flash files in their sites. It often end up in a rough debate with me, and both parties got to take deviation. (If you didn’t know, I’m not a fan of using flash.)
Most of the times, I allow them to use flash in a limited way throughout the site. If it’s a static page, we’ll go for small flash elements on each page and for wordpress users, I go for flash headers. Yea, it’s not a good idea actually, because it make you lose some valuable real estate for search engine optimization. But I’ve found a work around to this.
Generally when you use a flash file, these are the problems that you come across.
- Waste of real estate for SEO
- Cross browser compatibility issues
- Non indexability of text used in flash files
- Unwanted code in the html
But with the workaround you can actually, minimize the unwanted code in html, while the other issues will be there.
Alternatively, you can specify your header text instead of the flash file.
This work around should work for all wordpress themes, but I haven’t tested it on all themes, the Kubrik based themes with large headers seems to work.
It’s a simple plugin that we can use to get this problem solved. This plugin helps you to use a flash file anywhere inside your theme, on your header, posts, sidebars anywhere! Pretty cool isn’t it?
Download the plugin here. The credit goes to Michael Bester for developing this plugin.
To use this plugin, upload it to your plugins directory and activate it from plugins menu. Then go to your header.php file in themes directory and replace the header code with the following code –
[kml_flashembed movie="/path/to/your/movie.swf" height="value" width="value" /]
Of course, replace the values with the actual height and width, and the path to the URL where you've saved the swf file.
It works like charm and if you like it do drop a line to Michael.
Thank you
But How can i insert Swf File in Blogspot ?
Mohammad’s last blog post..????? ????? ??????
Though I have not tried this in blogger. You need to upload the swf file some where first . Then make the link to the swf object.
Something like this .
Let me know whether it works for you .
Oops the code is not displaying. You can check it out how to add flash from http://www.w3schools.com/flash/flash_inhtml.asp
Forgive me for being a retard, but what exactly is the “header code” that I am replacing? I’ve looked at the header.php file in the theme I want to put the code on, but have no idea where it goes.
First view the source code from browser . Then track where you need to place it. A quick search may find similar words in php file. Go and add some letters in html and try . If it works , you succeed. Else keep trying like this . You may spend some time , but will learn it , I am sure.
Oops the code is not showing . So let me add the link http://www.w3schools.com/flash/flash_inhtml.asp
worked nice for me, thank you very much.
“Forgive me for being a retard, but what exactly is the “header code” that I am replacing? I’ve looked at the header.php file in the theme I want to put the code on, but have no idea where it goes.”
Thats also my question.
Regards
jwqlb
That would be the Header image code.
It should start with this code –
< img src = >
Hi I am struggling with this too…
I’m very new and don’t understand where in header.php I should be putting the code. Could I have a little more info of whre it should be in context of the default kubrick file please.
It would be greatly appreciated
Many thanks
Hi,
i use the mandigo theme and it allows to have random and/or different headers per page.
I couldn’t find the tag, its only things like
if we find header with post tile name
if random header option enabled
if we find your dog in the street
etc…
how can I do?
I think the kubrik has this random header function aswell but maybe you found the img src tag in it.
I’d greatly appreciate if you’d shed light on this.
Thanks!
Hi, helpful tool to add flash to posts, but it’s based within wordpress code and cannot be used for headers, only for posts created in the wordpress control panel.
This code:
[kml_flashembed movie="/path/to/your/movie.swf" height="300" width="300" /]
is not html and therefore is useless in the header.php file.
Checkout this explanation:
http://www.igwebs.com/igblog/?p=32
Or this one:
http://www.igwebs.com/igblog/?p=57
thanks very much it is very useful info
Thanks for the great info and tip. Did not know that Flash headers are not SE friendly.
Thanks.
I’ve used a lot of flash both in css/xhtml standards sites (using the famous deconcept swfobject method, which the Kimli Flash Embed mimics) and in WordPress using the Kimli Flash Embed plug-in. However, I cannot get either system to work in the header.php.
I’m placing the code in the header div but nothing is displaying. I’ve tried changing paths to swf and still nothing. What might I be missing? Any thoughts?
Hi Mani . . . Hmmmm…. was using a transparent background over the header.div background (the background image is the same as the beginning of the flash movie so that whilst it’s loading, you can see the static version of the header). Anyway, to check if the Flash was even loading, I removed the transparent setting and got the white background that is on the swf. It seems for some odd reason that the swf doesn’t want to play. Have tried a few other swfs in the body/pages and I get the same result: a white background but no movie. Have deleted the plug-in and tried an older version – same problem. Have uploaded the newest version again and same problem. What do you think? WordPress issue?
This article is rather old. And likewise the reasons listed for not using flash are factually incorrect.
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!
Thanks for the tip dude! great way to add flash to wordpress – thanks a lot
thank you for sharing, it helps me alot
thanks, hop it will work
this is totally waste of time not working ,The author itself does not know where to insert in header.php,not giving full information
You’re great!
Very nice tip. Thanks for share and thanks for the plugin creator
well i tester this plugin in the latest version and it woul`d not install and let me login until i deleted it…
works like a charm!
thats was a good one Mani, but can u tell something on How to Insert CU3ER, instead of Header iMage. Im Using Wp 3.0, Theme Twenty Ten.