STEP 14 using the bandwidth PROFILER


How do you tell how effective your preload script is? Flash includes a utility called the Bandwidth Profiler for just such a purpose. The Bandwidth Profiler allows you to set the bandwidth most applicable . Moreover, both the streaming and the movement of the playhead can be viewed together so that you can quickly gauge whether an adjustment is necessary. The Bandwidth Profiler also gives you a great deal of detailed information about your movie: its file size , duration, and even the preload timea very important factor.

  1. Choose Control > Test Movie.

    Flash generates an .swf file and plays it within the authoring environment.

  2. Press Enter (Return) to stop the movie.

  3. If necessary, select a new modem setting from the Control menu.

  4. Select Control > Rewind to make sure you're at the start of your movie.

  5. Choose View > Bandwidth Profiler or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-B / Cmd-B.

    Flash draws a bar graph depicting the streaming assets. Elements that appear above the red line indicate a problem, where the assets weigh more (the file is bigger) than the streaming can comfortably support.

  6. Select Control > Show Streaming or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Enter / Cmd-Return.

    As the movie plays, the green indicator bar shows the state of the streaming, whereas the playhead indicates which frame is being played (see figure 03:32). Ideally, you want the streaming indicator to be just ahead of the playhead at all times, while invoking the shortest preload time possible. Avoid situations in which the playhead catches up to the stream and must wait for more material to load.


    Figure 03:32.

    graphics/03fig32.jpg


  7. If necessary, return to the Flash Movie Editor and adjust the placement of the preload loop (in this example, the "load" label) and then repeat steps 16 to retest the movie. The idea is to minimize the time spent preloading and still guarantee a smooth playback.



Flash Web Design The Art Of Motion Graphics
Flash Web Design oder: the art of motion graphics
ISBN: 3827256623
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 192

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