Quark Forums

I've created a flash file for the web, but need to get it to "click thru" I have no clue how to do this, but was sent instructions of how to in FLASH. Can anyone reinterpret these instructions for Quark?




The main tag that we need to track the ads is:

Button Code:

on(release){
getURL(clickTAG,"_blank");
}

AND

Flash

If sending flash creative the following information must be sent:
SWF file or FLA file
Copies of fonts used on FLA file
Click-through URL
An indication that the clickTAG method has been used

Additional notes:
Invisible buttons must be placed on the topmost layer of the file. Buttons placed on layers below the invisible buttons will not respond to mouse interaction.

Click thru with flash

To track when a user clicks within the flash, a clickTAG variable MUST be embedded in the .swf file. Please follow this example and instructions.

Button Code:
on(release){
getURL(clickTAG,"_blank");
}

MovieClip Code:
on(release){
getURL(this._parent.clickTAG,"_blank");
}

This will embed the clickTAG variable in the SWF file. This allows the click-through URL to be modified at anytime during a campaign, as opposed to hard-coding the click command in the .swf file. Target=”_blank” is required in the “Basic Actions” to make sure the click thru opens in a new window.
The implementation is different for each version of flash please following this example and instructions for different versions.


Also reference: http://www.macromedia.com/resources/richmedia/tracking/

Flash MX / Version 6
A clickable flash object such as a button or hit area in the flash movie clip will require some actionscript attached to it.

Associate the on(release) event with that object.

The object will now listen for that particular event. When the event occurs it will trigger actionscript instructions.

Place the 'getURL(clickTAG);' actionscript as the instructions. The flash ad code generated will be programmed to pass in the 'clickTAG' as a parameter to that flash ad upon which clicking on the ad will direct the user to the click through Url value found in the clickTAG.

Make sure to check off the "Expression" checkbox for the URL field that is the variable for the getURL actionscript function.

You can use action Internet > Open URL > Select External Reference in URL drop down.

Type in the web URL in path field of External File Reference dialog > OK.

If you want to open the web URL in new window just check the Open URL in New Window checkbox.

Seems way too simple given the length of the instructions, but I'll give it a try. Thanks.

OK. The ad now clicks thru to a url which is great. Thanks. My last issue is that the ad needs to be tracked with the info: on(release){ getURL(clickTAG,"_blank"); } and I am not sure where to put this so that it works for the IT guys. Any ideas on that??? (a QID class is in my near future!) Thanks.

 OK. The ad now clicks thru to a url which is great. Thanks.

I'm in a bit of a bind since I upgraded to Q7 specifically to do banner ads and I need it to function and upload as well as Flash so I can avoid the mud in my face...

My last issue is that the ad needs to be tracked with the info: on(release){ getURL(clickTAG,"_blank"); } and I am not sure where to put this so that it works for the IT guys. Any ideas on that??? (a QID class is in my near future!) I've tried creating a box and putting it on a different layer, but where does the actual information go?? I've tried putting it in the same place as the clickTHRU info, but it starts to search my hard drive for the code. 

Any help would be great. Thanks.

Hi,

Please correct me if I am wrong in interpreting your query. Below is what i understood:

1. You have a clickTAG vaiable to pass on the information.
2. You want to pass information from clickTAG variable to button and open the URL (given in clickTAG) using the button.

To achieve this:

1. You need to have clickTAG variable in a text file. Text file should contain URL in following format
• clickTAG=http://www.quark.com, or any website URL starting with "http://". (Note: please do not insert spaces either side of '=' operator)
2. On Interactive Layout, you need to:a. Create a textbox object either Initially hidden or you can keep it on pasteboard.b. Create below script in script tab:
• Select action Internet > Get Variable. In URL dropdown select External Reference and input path of the text file having clickTAG variable definition in Path field. Input "clickTAG" in variable field and select textbox object in destination dropdown.
• Add another action and select action Delay > 0.5 seconds.
• Add another action and select action Internet > Open URL, Method > Text object, select text object name in Text Object drop down.
3. Create button or a basic object on the layout and assign it action Script > Run and select script created in step b.Kindly let me know if this is exactly what you wanted to do and if this script solves your problem.

 

 Warm Regards,Jyoti 

 

I have the same problem, and i´m new to this! I have tried yor description over, but doesn´t to get it to work. Can you make a step by step description to me? I also bought this package so i didn´t have to learn Flash from Adobe from the bottom. I am really stuck, and feel like a complete moron Kind regards Stefan

Hi, Stefan,

Stefan3636:

I have the same problem

 

Could you please clarify, which "same" problem you have, as there was several topics discussed her.

Thanks
Matthias

I have the same problem, and i´m new to this! I have tried yor description over, but doesn´t to get it to work. Can you make a step by step description to me? I also bought this package so i didn´t have to learn Flash from Adobe from the bottom. I am really stuck, and feel like a complete moron Kind regards Stefan My script should be: on (release) { getURL(clickTAG, "_blank"); } or for v.7 on (release) { getURL(_root.clickTAG, "_self"); } Hope you can help , couse i´m stuck. I hope i don´t have to go over to Adobe Flash..

Hi, Stefan,

Stefan3636:

My script should be: on (release) { getURL(clickTAG, "_blank"); } or for v.7 on (release) { getURL(_root.clickTAG, "_self"); }

 

remember, in Quark Interactive Designer you do not need to write ActionScript.

What you want to achieve is easy:
1. Select the object you want to tirgger the action, e.g. a picture box.
2. Name it (anything) in Object tab of Interactive Palette.
3. In Events tab select "Click up" (that's your 'release' event)
4. Underneath under Actions select "Internet > Open URL"

Done.

Best
Matthias

I need to insert a "clickTAG" to the banner AD. The clickTAG is to track how many cust. wich is interested in that particilar campaign. Kind regards Stefan:-)

Hi, Stefan,

Interactive Designer can open URLs. So I am not getting your problem. You call a URL and that URL counts your click and redirects to the page that has the product or whatever you are advertising. In that case it is not different to how you'd work currently (with HTML I assume).

Best
Matthias

OK, so if i understand this right... I do as you have sad: "Underneath under Actions select "Internet > Open URL", an under URL i type clickTAG ? Stefan:-)

Yes, and sorry if i´m explaining this badly! A traditinoal URL link is normally input to the hyperlink. By the IT guys this is called an hardcoded URL. This is not allowed here. Its alomst the same requirements on google and other websites, you have to hav an clickTAG if your going to advertise on their page. Stefan:-)

Ok, I think I get it now.

You want to build a banner ad that does not have a hardcoded URL in it but gets a URL passed dynamically from the outside when called. Yes, that is possible.

Prerequiste (you probably just need that to test):
1. Build a website (HTML) that calls the SWF like this:
<embed src="mybanner.swf?clickTAG=http://www.myurl.com" quality="high" wmode="transparent" name="8.swf" align="middle" height="240" width="320">

Build your SWF:
2. Go to "Edit > Variables…"
3. Create a new variable called clickTAG (careful! It is case sensitive, so create it exactly as required)
4. Make it of type "string". Press OK.
5. Create the object that will call the URL passed in the HTML.
6. Assign an event and action to it. The action is "Internet > Open URL", Method "Enter URL", "External Reference".
7. In the Expernal Reference Dialog choose "URL Expression" and as Expression "clickTAG" (case!).

I tested it and it works for me. However I do not know whether that works with your ad service provider, especially as I do not know their syntax of calling (from the HTML). You should check. Google allows pre-checking.

Hope that helps
Matthias