saving data to a local XML file

[Goo101]

I am seeing repeated comments on this discussion forum that it's not possible
to save data from Flash into a locally stored XML file . . . but there must be
a way to do this. Why is you can read data from a locally stored XML file but
not update or add data to it . . . how absurd a design would that be, it simply
wouldn't be logical!!!

Please someone tell me this is possible! This is, again, something with Flash
which is driving me mad!

[Motion Maker]

Answer: Flash (a 1.3 MB tiny player program) does not communicate with the
File System or the OS like ponderously sized client players such as Visual
Basic or Java might. Flash uses network protocols and thus a server handles
the file system and OS.

However there are Flash wrappers that can communicate with the file system
and for that matter the entire OS. Zinc is one, but there are many if you do
some googling.

--
Lon Hosford
[url]www.lonhosford.com[/url]
Flash, Actionscript and Flash Media Server examples:
[url]http://flashexamples.hosfordusa.com[/url]
May many happy bits flow your way!
"Goo101" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:ecekci$644$1@forums.macromedia.com...

>I am seeing repeated comments on this discussion forum that it's not
>possible
> to save data from Flash into a locally stored XML file . . . but there
> must be
> a way to do this. Why is you can read data from a locally stored XML file
> but
> not update or add data to it . . . how absurd a design would that be, it
> simply
> wouldn't be logical!!!
>
> Please someone tell me this is possible! This is, again, something with
> Flash
> which is driving me mad!
>
>

[Goo101]

Hey Lon,

I understand what your saying but it still doesn't make sense.

How come Flash can communicate sufficiently with the File System and/or OS to
read data in from a locally stored XML file but yet cannot write updates or
additions to the same file (even though it has already pulled the file into the
..swf file to read from it)!?

I find this absurd in the extreme and terrible design to boot! If anyone from
Macromedia ever reads this please take note!

Thanks for getting back to me on this one Lon, 'tis much appreciated!

[Darr_darshan]

Hi goo101

I have posted the same question about xml few weeks back here but there was no
positive reply.

it can be done using php or asp

but by my view there must be a way to do it directly using flash.

working on this yet

[Goo101]

Does anyone know how Zinc can be used to communicate with a locally stored XML file? I can only see options for communicating with a locally stored DB . . .

[MotionMaker]

>>How come Flash can communicate sufficiently with the File System and/or OS to
read data in from a locally stored

>>XML file but yet cannot write updates or additions to the same file
>>(even though it has already pulled the file into the .swf file to read from

it)!?

Security: I believe it is following the same rules a web browser follows in
this respect. You really do not want content or software that potentially has
internet access to write to the local file system without an added security
code for authentication. Event with the latest Flash players, reading from a
local drive has security restrictions if your movie is dealing with http as
well.

[MotionMaker]

>>Does anyone know how Zinc can be used to communicate with

>>a locally stored XML file? I can only see options for communicating
>>with a locally stored DB . . .

[url]http://www.multidmedia.com/software/zinc/features/01.php[/url]

[Goo101]

I understand the security issue involved in accessing locally stored files but I do believe Macromedia should leave this decision to the developer and not make it for us!

[Goo101]

Anyway, sorry, I forgot to say . . . "Thanks Lon" . . . your help and guidance on this issue is much appreciated . . .