Installing Flash Active Content Update extension

Internet Explorer refuses to play active content (such as an embedded Flash swf file) without displaying the now familiar restriction on running ActiveX content. Here's how to ensure your HTML page with swf content runs without this bullshit..

Does this look familiar? "To help protect you security, Internet Explorer has restricted this webpage from runnings scripts or ActiveX controls that could access your computer". Internet Explorer is a developers worst nightmare (any version, not just IE 6.0 monster). Here's how to cure this for your flash content webpage.

From http://kb2.adobe.com:

If you have custom HTML pages that include Adobe Flash SWF files or other interactive controls (for example, HTML pages created using Dreamweaver with embedded Adobe Flash or other interactive content within), you will need to update those web pages to address the changes made by Microsoft to Internet Explorer. To learn more about modifying the existing HTML to automatically activate ActiveX controls, see the Adobe Active Content Developer Center.

To install the Adobe Flash Active Content extension:

  1. Download the Adobe Flash Active Content Update extension from the Flash Support Center Downloads page.
  2. Download the extension to the desktop. The extension is packaged in a ZIP file.
  3. Extract the MXP file from the ZIP, and double-click the MXP to install.
  4. Read the Adobe extensions disclaimer and any third-party extension license that may be included.
    Select Accept to continue with the installation, or select Decline to cancel the installation.
  5. Restart the Adobe Flash application for the installation to take effect.

Publishing Adobe Flash content using an Active Content HTML template

  1. Open the Adobe Flash movie you want to publish for the new Active Content HTML templates.
  2. Do one of the following to open the Publish Settings dialog box:
    • Select File > Publish Settings.
    • In the Property inspector for the document (which is available when no objects are selected), click the Settings button.
  3. On the Formats tab, the HTML file type is selected by default. In the File text box for the HMTL file, either use the default filename, which matches the name of the document, or enter a unique name, including the .html extension.
  4. Click the HTML tab to display the HTML settings.
  5. Select an installed Active Content template to use from the Template pop-up menu. The Active Content templates are:

    _Active Content Update HTTP Basic HTML template to display Adobe Flash content.
    _Active Content Update HTTPS Displays Adobe Flash content in HTML and directs users who dont have Adobe Flash Player installed to a secure HTTPS server to download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.
  6. For general information on using Publish Settings, refer to the Adobe Flash documentation.
  7. Choose the Publish button to publish the HTML file.
  8. Run Apply Active Content Update from the Commands menu. This copies AC_RunActiveContent.js to the HTML output folder (the folder containing your published SWF file and the HTML template). You only need to perform this action once per folder.
  9. Upload the SWF file, HTML template, and AC_RunActiveContent.js file to your website.