Webmaster Forum / Flash / General Flash Topics / July 2008

Hello there,

There's a class in Actionscript 2 called the FileRefence class.  This could be
what you're looking for.  Below is a script I used to download a PDF file from
a button.  Try it and see if it works for you.  
You should read more about the FileRefence class as there is a lot of
information not included in the following code.

Hope it helps

Hi Noelbaland

thanks for the response -

Where do I place the code so I do not get error messages - currently I have a
button and right clicked the button and selected actions then have the code
witin

on (release) {
    getURL("http://www.mysite.com/mysound.mp3","_blank");
}

when I replace the your code within mine I get all  kinds of errors - where am
I supposed to position the code you listed? Thanks!!!

...meaning do I place it within the on (release) code - I keep getting syntax errors and out of place { }

thanks~!

Hello again,

Leave your current button as is.  Create another button under that one. Attach
the following to the button.

on(release){
     downloadMP3("myMP3.mp3");
}

The rest of the code goes above it on a frame in the main timeline.  

import flash.net.FileReference;

function downloadMP3(filename)
{
     var listener:Object = new Object();
     listener.onComplete = function(file:FileReference) {
          trace("onComplete : " + file.name);
     }

     var url:String = "http://www.myflashwebsite.html/";
     var fileRef:FileReference = new FileReference();
     fileRef.addListener(listener);
     fileRef.download(url, filename);
}

I missed something in the previous code.  The filename variable in the
downloadMP3 function above allows you to download any MP3 file that you have.  
Just attach the same code to another button and call a different mp3 file.

Thanks a lot for the help Noelbaland - After I get home from work I will do this and let you know how it turns out

Hey Noelbaland,

So I just placed the code in my site and everything appears to be working with
no errors but when I click on the button online the download box appears and
the file name is correct but nothing downloads - In fact there is no status bar
or anything? Do you have any idea what I might be doing wrong - I feel so close
to getting it ! Thanks

here is what I put in

I placed the code on a random frame within the actions

import flash.net.FileReference;

function downloadMP3(filename)
{
var listener:Object = new Object();
listener.onComplete = function(file:FileReference) {
trace("onComplete : " + file.name);
}

var url:String = "http://www.myflashwebsite.html/";
var fileRef:FileReference = new FileReference();
fileRef.addListener(listener);
fileRef.download(url, filename);
}

then I replaced the button actions code with

on(release){
downloadMP3("myMP3.mp3");
}

and the button works, as I said it just doesnt download anything? Any
ideas????

Thanks!!

also the only thing i need to change from your code is the

http://www.. etc

and the action mp3 name correct?

Hi mattyfuse,

Ok, after some testing and a few changes in the script I've come up with a
version that works (well, for me anyway).
I've used a dynamic textbox called statusText to show me the download
progress.  You will need to create one for your movie (just for testing
purposes).
Here's the code

hey Noelbaland

Just wanna through out a HUGE thank you for your help with this - I really
really appreciate it and I finally got it working thanks to you - I still cant
figure out how to create the progress and finisehd downloading windows plus I
found out you can only download 1 file at a time, as the temporary flash file
gets overwritten when you click on another download while the other one is
still going.  I will keep working on making this all work - but thanks again
for all your help!!!!!!!

Btw Noelbaland

Not sure how much you have used the filereference code but I am finding a lot
of issues with it. For one - The user must STAY on the exact page while the
entire download finishes or it will cease and disappear.  There is no way to
tell how much the download has already done and there is no finished note to
the user. Normally in the mac the download folder appears and it shows progress
and will give me a warning that I am downloading files before I exit out of
safari. Do you have any idea of a work around or know and other suggestions or
better methods (the files I have for download are quite large so it would be
weird to ask the user not to close out of the page so the download can finish.  
Thanks!!!!

Hello mattyfuse,

Oh - OK - now I see what it is you're after.  This whole time I thought you
were wanting to create a way of downloading a file using the Flash player.  
You're actually after a normal download type situation like if you're in a
regular HTML page.  Where the browsers GUI is used to prompt you with panels
for progress and completion of downloads.

As far as Flash is concerned, the FileReference object is limited in it's
control of the GUI tools in the browser.  Apart from a few more commands, the
script I showed you above is basically it.  You are right that you have to
"STAY in the exact page" because that's how a Flash movie works.  You close the
page - you close the movie (and consequently, any downloads).

You can make the Flash movie behave like the browser tools by building your
own preloaders, info panels, and prompt boxes.  But this would require a lot
more work on your behalf and you would need a good knowledge of Actionscript.  
And again, you would still have to STAY in the exact page!

My only workaround is to perhaps zip your mp3 files and have a button that
points to it.  That way it'll behave like a regular file and trigger the
browsers default download functions.
You can use the same script that you use to open the mp3 file.  

on(release){
getURL("http://www.mysite.com/mysong.zip", "_blank");
}

Hope that helps

hey Noelbaland

thanks for all your help - I  am going to go with the zip technique you suggested as that will work best for the purpose of the site - thanks again I really appreciate it