BANNER ROTATOR with Auto Delay Time

This is an XML banner rotator with automatic delay time depending on the number of words used in caption. There are more features, around 35 settings parameters available in the xml file.

Features:
- Can load JPEG , PNG, GIF images and SWF files
- Resizable to any extent
- Auto Time delay according to number of words (length of caption)
- Fixed time delay also can be added
- 5 Different Transition Effects
- Supports both Embedded and non embedded fonts
- Usual HTML formatting can be added to the non embedded fonts
- Also some of the HTML options works for embedded fonts.(example: Color, hyper link, line breaks, font size and many more)
- Adjustable line spacing and letter spacing
- Choice for sequential and random order
- Adjustable transition speed (for the “move” transition)
- Enable / disable buttons
- Enable / disable Auto play

Source File: Fully editable Flash source in Flash 8.0 with AS2 . The buttons design and font can be changed easily through library symbols.

Here is the screen shot of the xml parameters:

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UPDATE [27 NOV 2008 ] :
- BACK button added which can be enabled / disabled through xml file
- Options provided to display the NUMBER BUTTONS permanently
- Options to randomize the order of images

UPDATE [04 DEC 2008 ] :
- 4 more Transition Effects added.
- Options to make the NUMBER BUTTONS to align horizontal or vertical.
- PLAY / PAUSE options on clicking the Timer Clock.
- Ability to display the numbers ascending or descending order.

UPDATE [10 DEC 2008 ] :
- Ability to set background color / transparency for the blur area behind the caption.
- Options for random transition effects
- Options to resize the image automatically to fit within available area.

UPDATE [22 DEC 2008 ] :
- The numbers on Button can be changed into any text through xml file (but only for vertical button version)
- The text area can be aligned to top or bottom of the banner through xml
- The buttons can be aligned left or right through xml

UPDATE [29 JUNE 2009 ] :

- Option to set corner radius in xml to make the banner as a rounded rectangle.
- Option to stop playing after desired number of loops.
- Option to set margin for buttons.

UPDATE [01 AUG 2009 ] :
Previously, this banner had 2 different set of files for Embedded font version and Non-Embedded font version. Now it is made to single file and you can choose to embed or not through the xml paramater.

FAQ :

1. How to set different font sizes for specific words:
You can change the font size by inserting usual HTML <font> tags with size value, but addition to that, you need to change the value of textSize parameter into blank:
textSize=""

2. If the content is an SWF , it doesn’t displays correctly:
Keep the first frame of the content movie without any Animations. This is for better performance at the time of transition and loading. The banner will play swf file from 2nd frame once the previous transition completes and swf completely loaded.

Also in the first frame, place a transparent rectangle having same width and height of the banner. This is to measure the height and width of the content properly.

3. Is it possible to remove the text and blur background?
Yes, to do so, simply remove the caption text from the xml file. (If you need to display text and not the blur bg, set textBackgroundBlur="no" )

4. After implementing my images through xml file, the banner stops when it reaches a particular image. Why?
This means something wrong in the xml code after that image. Check if the xml code is structured correctly near to that image details.

5. How to make the links to open through same window instead of new window?
In the XML file, below each link you can see the following parameter:
target="_blank"
Just make its value to _self:
target="_self"

6. The links with target value “_self” doesn’t opens. How to fix this?
Usually this happens when your html and swf files are located in different domains. This is a limitation of Flash player. In your html, If you set flash parameter “allowScriptAccess” to “always” it will work. Before implementing, go through
this technote released by Adobe.

7. How to remove the brightness effect on image that appears on Rollover ?
In the banner.fla you can see the following code in the first frame:
//disableRolloverEffect=true;
Just uncomment it.

8. The banner doesn’t works if the xml or image files placed under different folders:
If you prefer to place the xml file under different directory, you need to specify the path of xml file through the flashvars. It should be relative to your html file. Example:
so.addVariable("xmlPath", "myFolder/data.xml");

In the same way, specify the image paths relative to your html file. Ofcourse, you can use absolute path also.

9. The images doesn’t gets updated after editing the xml and always shows the data of old xml file. How to avoid caching the xml file?
A random query string at the end of xml path can avoid caching the xml. It can be done in 2 ways. If you are inserting Flash using swfobject method, you can just add a javascript in the following way:
so.addVariable("xmlPath", "data.xml?q="+new Date().getTime());

Instead of html, if you like to implement the same through flash, open the banner.fla and inside the movieclip “BannerMc”, replace the following line:
xmlData.load(xmlPath);
with this line:
xmlData.load(xmlPath+"?q="+new Date().getTime());

HELP :
If there are bugs or questions, contact me through my profile page with details and I will mail you the revised version if possible.
[ Please take a glance at the above FAQ section before contacting ]