Flash

Is it the way to go

[dcupp111]

I am currently working on the content of my site, but have a partner developing the look as I do not know code, and do not have the time to learn. The site will be functional and informative but do you see a big benefit of creating a site with lots of movement and interaction in Flash?

[traffik daddy]

Hello dcupp111

To tell you the truth I have always steered away from flash. I had a go at it once and I have since just recovered from a mental trauma ;)
I tried to learn it just as something to do. I hear all the time of new technologies that is going to be the next greatest thing. XML, XHTML, Flash, are but a few to name - but down the line people are still sticking to what works best - HTML.

My next desire is to learn PHP. I have heard many great things that you can do with this language so if you know somebody who can build you a PHP and HTML based site then I think you should go for that.

If flash is used correctly you can look back at your site with pride as it can look impressive if you get it right first time and user friendly, but I think it is by far over-rated.

As you say you don't know code then I would think (unless you get somebody to do it for you) that you won't be optimising for the Search Engines? If you are not then by all means use flash. If you want a search engine friendly and user friendly site then I would steer for a HTML coded site.

Regards
Terry

[choster]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld dcupp111!

The advantages and disadvantages of using Flash often devolve into theological arguments about the purpose of the web, technological advance, etc. etc. So first, let me say it is utterly impossible to say without knowing who your target audience is, what the purpose of the site is, and what kind of content you intend to deliver using rich media. The needs of an extreme sports portal and of a commercial bank are quite different, after all.

In general, I'd advise

• Give the user control of when the movie starts, and don't open or resize any windows without letting the user know
• Don't use it for primary navigation or essential elements like feedback or purchasing links
• Test sites thoroughly on the kinds of machines and connections that your target audience will use
• Whenever possible, provide the content in text or another accessible format

[hannamyluv]

I'd say steer as far from flash as possible for site building. It makes a pretty site, but too many times I have seen designers (and their bosses) go for the flash (ahem) and sparkle of the program while losing considerable usebilty. In otherwords, yeah, it looks cool, but can anyone use it? You will also run into problems with SEO, as search engines can't read flash.

If you are using flash for features on the site, that's a different story. Flash is great for add ons, just not for the basic design on the site.

[txbakers]

As long as you don't care about the search engines finding you (not everyone loses sleep over this), Flash only sites can be quite effective.

I was at one today, and I thought it was very excellently produced.

I personally don't use it - it's far too much work - but when done well it's very, very impressive and useful.

[yowza]

If you want some Flash, why not create the navigation bar with Flash and then have the rest of the site in HTML. If you do this, the links can still be read from Flash by search engines and you will have a Flash-y aspect to your site. However, at the bottom of the page I would repeat the navigation links in HTML to be sure that there are no search engine problems.

[PatrickDeese]

IMHO Flash = CEO eye candy.

[victor]

Flash can be a great add-on, but it's a bad foundation.

[Elyod]

I'm old to Web Design, but this is my first post at the site...just found it today. I like it!

I have tried everything available and love FLASH; however, you will only see it on the navbar in most of my sites.

I think the site should bring people in who are interested in content, not just to show their friends the neat graphics that run around the screen, or the neat movie (unless it furthers the site info).

Just my $0.02.

[txbakers]

If you can distribute the content by using Flash, by all means do so.

It it's just used as a toy then don't.

[gussie]

IMHO Flash = CEO eye candy.

LOL, very true. It is definitely eye candy, but not always just for the CEO. One of my favorite sites is a well-known, high-end jewelry and watch design company. They sell only through bricks and mortar stores, not over the internet. You and I cannot afford ANYTHING in the store.

They have a drop dead beautiful Flash site. It enables them to showcase their sparkly jewelry in very sparkly manner. They have very little written content, it is mostly visual. Flash is soooooo appropriate for them.

So, if your content is visual, if mood and emotion are what you are selling, if you need the glitz, if you're out to impress rather than inform, Flash might be useful. Otherwise, you can probably accomplish your goals without it. Whenever I have a choice between a Flash version of a site or a non-Flash version, I always choose the non-Flash. I also really hate Flash introductions where you can click the "skip intro" icon. If you can skip the intro that means it is unnecessary to the site so why bother having it? A waste of everyone's time and the company's money.
< end of rant >

Gussie

[shasan]

You're right, it depends completely on what you're trying to achieve with your website.

If your site is the type which you have to have one person work on the content and another person work on the presentation, then there is no comparison: Flash is a bad idea.

From my personal experiences with flash, it is hella time consuming. HTML is MUCH more efficient/easy, and can look just as good as flash. Just won't move around as much.

[Yardboy]

beware...flash has a strange way of convincing a novice that ANYTHING you put in an .swf looks good. the fact is, most flash design is subpar, to downright awful.

it's excellent for graphics-based interfaces, and as a multimedia tool, esp. with some of the compression tools you can get with MX. if your designer is good and it fits, go for it. just remember that a good designer can make a site look great with or without flash, but all the flash in the world won't help a poor designer.

[SlowMove]

There are a few sites like Joe Cartoon that do well with Flash, but they're the minority. Search engines can't rate the value of swf files any more than they can put a price tag on artwork. The way to manipulate the search engines is with text, and links(text on other sites). If you can code actionscript, you can learn to write perl, php and shell scripts. Once you learn how to script, you can manage database driven sites. imho, learning flash is no easier than any other programming.

[moltar]

Read this educating article: Flash: 99% Bad [useit.com] by Jakob Nielsen

[txbakers]

Flash: 99% Bad by Jakob Nielsen

Better yet, just skip the article and read this guy's name.

Of course the "usability guru" would hate flash. That's a given.

[g1smd]

A lot of Flash sites are badly done, very slow to load, hog resources on the client machine, and can't be spidered and indexed by search engines.

I would say to avoid flash.

Learn CSS and PHP first, and maybe mySQL too.