Today a new software is available – a flash interactive map. Someone might call it also a virtual tour or a virtual guide. The way how it works is simple:
1. you create your map
2. you define hotspots in a xml file
3. you define photos and their description in the same xml file
From developers point of view is this flash interactive map very flexible. The interface is loaded as external swf files, so you can customize the look and feel of your presentation. Also the parts of the system communicate via broadcasting events, so you can develop your own hotspot view (sourcecodes are available with the enterprise license) .
When writing this post, only the Free version is available to download and test. Later I will add the other versions together with a manual.
Click here to visit the interactive map homepage.
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Version 4.3.6. of the tool was released. There are quite many updates:
- flash zoomer offset bug fixed (if rotateTool theme was at other position than 0,0)
- reverse pan option added (image pans left when mouse moves right)
- it is possible to have the zoombar in vertical orientation
- API functions added (sponsored by Greg Gillespie, Australia)
- stopRotation()
- startRotation()
- disableControls()
- enableControls()
- zoomOut()
- getActualImage()
- images in config.xml can have now a dynamic url as source specified
- option to define a “blank” hotspot added, wha t is useful for:
- event dispatched when a hotspot is clicked
Changelog: changelog.txt
New features samples:
1. Hotspot Event
Clicking an hotspot dispatches an event. Hotspot xml can be accessed in the listener function. Download the hotspot event example.
2. API functions
You can use commands to start/stop rotation or fetch the current displayed image id. Adding this commands was necessary for making an example like this: download the rotate tool multiple 2 example.
The development of the functionality in this example was sponsored by Greg Gillespie.
Existing Customers:
If you purchased the 3D Rotate Tool no more than 1 year ago (2 years for Enterprise Customers) you are eligible for a free update. Please reqest the update by email (provide your orderId or email used when purchasing the tool).
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Update: a better resize tutorial is now avaiable here: http://www.yofla.com/flash/3d-rotate/tutorials/blackDiamondResize.html
The design of the 3D Rotate tool allows to position the UI elements freely. The downside of this approach is that a swf published to a certain size can not be scaled using the width and height parameters in html code.
Watch this video tutorial which shows how the Deuter example was resized from 500×375px to 640×480 px size using Flash CS3. You can download the deuter backpack example here.
