SWFObject, even easier to use

The new 1.4 release of the SWFObject plugin for FCKeditor does add automatic detection of typical flash embedding code:

<object width="425" height="344"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj2hewPBQh0&hl=es&fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj2hewPBQh0&hl=es&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed> </object>

So pasting that line in the Url field of the flash dialog will parse it and the movie will be properly embeded in your page.

It also adds two configuration options to specify the minimum flash version for your movies and the path to the Express Install movie if you want to use it. Check the documentation of the SWFObject project to use those features.

 

What's new for GoogleMaps v2

Some people might want to hear about this.

Lately I've been working on the new version of the Google Maps plugin, there are several parts that I've wanted to improve for a long time, and finally I've decided that it's the time to start coding it.

New loading system.

The maps won't stop the rest of the page, the google js files are loaded only after the rest of the page has been loaded or it can be delayed until the user really wants to use the map.

Static preview

While the full map isn't ready a static preview will be shown. This means also that the map will be visible for thos with javascript disabled.

Colors.

Yes, different markers should have different colors. Ditto for the lines or areas. Also width, opacity...

Areas

Ups, did I said that?, yes, multiple lines and multiple areas. Note: the static preview doesn't show the areas, it's a limitation of the static API.

Html comments

Embedding an instance of FCKeditor in a dialog used inside FCKeditor? are you crazy? maybe, but it works.

Selection of features.

Select the controls that you want to show: zoom standard/small, area overview, scrolling...

Loading KML files

That way you can import external data or create a complex map in Google Earth and display it online.

 

Over 60% of that is already coded, at least the most complex features, so I am optimistic that it will be ready "soon", but testing and then writing the new documentation might be a stop point, it's boring and sucks, mostly because the people doesn't read it and ask basic questions over and over again.

I guess that it sound very good, maybe too good to be true, but there is one caveat: Surely it won't be free. It will be cheap, but it will require buying a license as coding all of that means a lot of work, and you might have heard that there is some economic crisis around there. The current version will be available for free and you can use it, but if you want the advanced features you'll need to spend a little money on it.

 

EasyUpload update and integration for Rails

You can find in the demo the download for the latest version of EasyUpload.

Meanwhile, Gastón Ramos has created a plugin for Ruby on Rails that integrates FCKeditor and the EasyUpload plugin (previous version)

Updated swfobject plugin

IE, what to say about it. The browser you love to hate.

If you want the SWFObject to run in it you'll need to get the updated plugin, hopefully there are no more bad surprises hidden there.

Goodbye embed, Hello SWFObject

When I first released the GoogleMaps plugin, I did mention that it included some code that could make "easy" the task to integrate things like SWFObject in FCKeditor, and it was just a matter of someone willing to code it or sponsor such development.

Recently I've been asked to carry that task for InControl Solutions, I've included also some extra code to allow editing of Flashvars and everything is available in the demo for the new swfobject plugin for FCKeditor.

What could be improved?

• The ability to edit the alternative content
• Using the static publishing method
• Development of additional plugins for specific Flash usage based on this one (I mean, reusing most of the code)

But for the moment I don't have plans to do any of those tasks, so just check that it works for you and use it.

 

Maps plugin with a nice preview

As I mentioned in my last entry, the recent update to the Google Maps static API menas that finally it was time to release the new version. As you can see in the version log the feature to use a preview inside the editor was added some months ago, but it only worked for hybrid maps, it was slightly confusing, so in order to avoid wasting the time replying over and over again (yes, there is people that doesn't read the docs and even ask how to install this plugin) I decided to not release it except for the people that had cooperated in its development.

There's still a difference between the final map and the preview: the static api doesn't allow to use encoded (compressed) paths, so until they fix this issue the path won't be shown. Yes, I could get the points and generate the path, but I think that it's more work that it is worth, after all this is just a preview inside the editor

Check it in the demo and upgrade your version, it's a drop in replacement.

The static GoogleMaps now allow to use all the map types

We have been waiting for it since it was launched, and now finally they have allowed to use all the map types with the static API.

I guess that means that I finally should release a new version of the GoogleMaps plugin :-)