Converting Multiple Movies

If you have multiple Director movies and casts to save as Shockwave files, you can batch-process them instead of opening and saving each one individually. Because this procedure doesn't create HTML files, it's best used for movies that you want to compress and protect for distribution with a stub projector. (See "To create a stub projector with external movie files" in Chapter 16.) If you plan to use the Shockwave movies on the Web, you're still better off using Director's Publish command.

To batch-convert movie or cast files to Shockwave format:

1. Choose Xtras > Update Movies.

   The Update Movies dialog box opens ( Figure 17.58 ).

   Figure 17.58. The Update Movies dialog box can be used to convert multiple movies and casts to Shockwave format

   

2. Choose the Convert to Shockwave Movie(s) option.

3. Choose the Back Up into Folder option to copy the original files to a safe place.

4. Click Browse.

   The Select Folder for Original Files dialog box appears ( Figure 17.59 ).

   Figure 17.59. Select a folder in which to back up the original movie and cast files.

   

5. Select a folder and click Select Folder (Windows) or Choose (Mac).

   The Select Folder for Original Files dialog box closes , and the selected folder appears under Back Up into Folder in the Update Movies dialog box.

6. Click OK.

   The Choose Files dialog box appears ( Figure 17.60 ).

   Figure 17.60. In the Choose Files dialog box, select the files that you want to convert to Shockwave format.

   

7. Select a movie or cast file that you want to convert to Shockwave format.

8. Click Add.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to add additional files to the list at the bottom of the dialog box, or click the Add All button to add all the files in the current folder.

10. Click Proceed.

    An alert box confirms that the selected files will be converted to Shockwave format.

11. Click Continue.

    A progress bar shows you the filenames as they are converted.

Tip

• If you already have backups of the files you want to convert to Shockwave format, you can select the Delete radio button in step 3, and then skip steps 4 and 5.