Webmaster Forum / Flash / Flash Site Design / July 2004

I'm sorry man... you coulddd (5% chance.) recover a .fla file...  but convert a
swf back to a fla is impossible.. I know it's hell .. I lost 5 sites like
that...
Now I have 2 backups... 1 on my 2ndary HD and another one on my server (online
webspace)... and I backup everyday.. so now I'm shure I can't loose anything....
Swf's are compressed and only publishes the graphics and AS.. but no chance
for editing.. think of it as your .PSD file.. and you convert it to a .JPEG..  
try converting your jpeg back to a PSD..... :S

Greetz,
[Sprnv4]

Send or post a link to your swf and I will attempt the recovery if you want
me to.  It can sometimes be really easy and other times it can get a bit
involved but either way you can recover all the sounds, images, graphics
etc.
tralfaz

You can not recover a fla file entirely, but you can decompile important pieces
of it (images, actionscript, movieclips, ...) with some tools. Search on Google
for decompile swf file. I used a few times the Sothink SWF decompiler. Be aware
that you can not use pieces of swf-files from other designers without their
permission.

Sothink just announced their new version of SWF Decompiler, which can convert swf to fla now. Maybe you should try it yourself. FYI, here is the link: http://www.sothink.com/flashdecompiler/.