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2 part question one Flash and another KBS

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:58 am
by alex.barylski
1) Flash menu - I want to use Flash for a menu or tool bar actually, cuz it ain't hierarchial...however likely not the most SEO friendly not good choice incase user doesn't have Flash installed.

Is it possible to determine if Flash is available on the end user computer using PHP? I don't suppose it's sent in a header or anything eh?

Do I have to resort to using client side detection and send that somehow to my server?

2) Know of a Kbase or search tool which uses advanced techniques as opposed to simple built-in FULLTEXT search? Most of what i've found seem to just use FULLTEXT, which is nice, but not the best it could be?

Cheers :)

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:52 pm
by John Cartwright
1) You already know PHP does not interact with the user's machine, and yes look's like you'll have to use something client side.
2) I don't know :(

Remember that you should ALWAYS include a non-flash version that the spiders can crawl.

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:15 pm
by alex.barylski
Jcart wrote:1) You already know PHP does not interact with the user's machine, and yes look's like you'll have to use something client side.
2) I don't know :(

Remember that you should ALWAYS include a non-flash version that the spiders can crawl.
Yes, but I figured maybe, I dunno...that info was sent in by the browser via headers maybe... ??? :oops:

Thats what I don't like about using Flash, but it's sooo coool :)

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:18 pm
by John Cartwright
I personally dont like seeing flash on websites, although I do find them much more fitting for videos, presentations, etc. Yes it is cool, I just have too many problems with it.

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:44 pm
by cj5

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:07 pm
by R4000
I seem to recall an header like: 'user-accepts' or something, that contains a list of mime types the client understands.

just do:

Code: Select all

<pre><?php var_dump($_SERVER); ?></pre>
to find out what its called, i doubt its reliable or usefull, but you could check if the shockwave/flash/or whateva, mime type is in there.

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:57 pm
by cj5
OK, maybe javascript can do it all. Just saw this on SlashDot http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/x ... 01AjaxSlid