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effect

SWF Sound Info (swf_sound_info)

SWF Structure Info
Tag Flash Version: 
1
SWF Structure: 
struct swf_soundinfo {
	unsigned short		f_sound_id_ref;
	unsigned		f_reserved : 2;
	unsigned		f_stop_playback : 1;
	unsigned		f_no_multiple : 1;
	unsigned		f_has_envelope : 1;
	unsigned		f_has_loops : 1;
	unsigned		f_has_out_point : 1;
	unsigned		f_has_in_point : 1;
	if(f_has_in_point) {
		unsigned long	f_in_point;
	}
	if(f_has_out_point) {
		unsigned long	f_out_point;
	}
	if(f_has_loop_count) {
		unsigned short	f_loop_count;
	}
	if(f_has_envelope) {
		unsigned char	f_envelope_count;
		swf_envelope	f_envelope[f_envelope_count];
	}
};

Information on how to playback a sound effect. These are found in a StartSound and a DefineButtonSound.

The f_sound_id_ref is a reference to an earlier DefineSound tag.

SWF Any Filter (swf_any_filter)

SWF Structure Info
Tag Flash Version: 
8
SWF Structure: 
/* the filter type */
struct swf_filter_type {
	unsigned char	f_type;
};

struct swf_filter_glow {
	swf_filter_type	f_type;		/* 0, 2, 3, 4 or 7 */
	if(f_type == GradientGlow || f_type == GradientBevel) {
		unsigned char		f_count;
	}
	else {
		f_count = 1;
	}
	swf_rgba		f_rgba[f_count];
	if(f_type == Bevel) {
		swf_rgba		f_highlight_rgba[f_count];
	}
	if(f_type == GradientGlow || f_type == GradientBevel) {
		unsigned char		f_position[f_count];
	}
	signed long fixed	f_blur_horizontal;
	signed long fixed	f_blur_vertical;
	if(f_type != Glow) {
		signed long fixed	f_radian_angle;
		signed long fixed	f_distance;
	}
	signed short fixed	f_strength;
	unsigned		f_inner_shadow : 1;
	unsigned		f_knock_out : 1;
	unsigned		f_composite_source : 1;
	if(f_type == Bevel) {
		unsigned		f_on_top : 1;
	}
	else {
		unsigned		f_reserved : 1;
	}
	if(f_type == GradientGlow || f_type == GradientBevel) {
		unsigned		f_passes : 4;
	}
	else {
		unsigned		f_reserved : 4;
	}
};

struct swf_filter_blur {
	swf_filter_type		f_type;	/* 1 */
	unsigned long fixed	f_blur_horizontal;
	unsigned long fixed	f_blur_vertical;
	unsigned		f_passes : 5;
	unsigned		f_reserved : 3;
};

struct swf_filter_convolution {
	swf_filter_type	f_type;		/* 5 */
	unsigned char	f_columns;
	unsigned char	f_rows;
	long float	f_divisor;
	long float	f_bias;
	long float	f_weights[f_columns × f_rows];
	swf_rgba	f_default_color;
	unsigned	f_reserved : 6;
	unsigned	f_clamp : 1;
	unsigned	f_preserve_alpha : 1;
};

struct swf_filter_colormatrix {
	swf_filter_type	f_type;		/* 6 */
	long float	f_matrix[20];
};

struct swf_any_filter {
	swf_filter_type			f_fitler_type;
	swf_filter_blur			f_filter_blur;
	swf_filter_colormatrix		f_filter_colormatrix;
	swf_filter_convolution		f_filter_convolution;
	swf_filter_glow			f_filter_glow;
};

A filter defines how to transform the objects it is attached to. The first byte is the filter type. The data following depend on the type. Because each filter is much different, they are defined in separate structures. You can attach a filter to an object using an ActionScript or the PlaceObject3 tag.

The following describes the different filters available since version 8.

...
Value Name Version
0 Drop Shadow 8

SWF Gradient Record (swf_gradient_record)

SWF Structure Info
Tag Flash Version: 
3
SWF Structure: 
struct swf_gradient_record {
	if(f_tag == DefineMorphShape || f_tag == DefineMorphShape2) {
		unsigned char	f_position;
		swf_rgba	f_rgba;
		unsigned char	f_position_morph;
		swf_rgba	f_rgba_morph;
	}
	else if(f_tag == DefineShape3 || f_tag == DefineShape4) {
		unsigned char	f_position;
		swf_rgba	f_rgba;
	}
	else {
		unsigned char	f_position;
		swf_rgb		f_rgb;
	}
};

The first record position should be 0 and the last 255. The intermediate should use the corresponding value depending on their position in the gradient effect.

SWF Line Style (swf_line_style)

SWF Structure Info
Tag Flash Version: 
1
SWF Structure: 
struct swf_line_style {
	if(f_tag == DefineMorphShape) {
		unsigned short twips	f_width;
		unsigned short twips	f_width_morph;
		swf_rgba		f_rgba;
		swf_rgba		f_rgba_morph;
	}
	else if(f_tag == DefineShape4 || f_tag == DefineMorphShape2) {
		unsigned short twips	f_width;
		if(f_tag == DefineMorphShape2) {
			unsigned short twips	f_width_morph;
		}
		unsigned		f_start_cap_style : 2;
		unsigned		f_join_style : 2;
		unsigned		f_has_fill : 1;
		unsigned		f_no_hscale : 1;
		unsigned		f_no_vscale : 1;
		unsigned		f_pixel_hinting : 1;
		unsigned		f_reserved : 5;
		unsigned		f_no_close : 1;
		unsigned		f_end_cap_style : 2;
		if(f_join_style == 2) {
			unsigned short fixed	f_miter_limit_factor;
		}
		if(f_has_fill) {
			swf_fill_style		f_fill_style;
		}
		else {
			swf_rgba		f_rgba;
			if(f_tag == DefineMorphShape2) {
				swf_rgba		f_rgba_morph;
			}
		}
	}
	else if(f_tag == DefineShape3) {
		unsigned short twips	f_width;
		swf_rgba		f_rgba;
	}
	else {
		unsigned short twips	f_width;
		swf_rgb				f_rgb;
	}
};

The width of the line is in TWIPS (1/20th of a pixel).

The f_start_cap_style and f_end_cap_style can be:

  • 0 - Round cap,
  • 1 - No cap,
  • 2 - Square cap.

Round is the default, the way line caps looked before version 8. No Cap means that nothing is added at the tip of the line. This means the line stops exactly where you say it should end. The Square Cap is like the No Cap, but it has the cap which is about Width / 2.

The f_join_style can be:

PlaceObject2

Tag Info
Tag Number: 
26
Tag Type: 
Define
Tag Flash Version: 
3
Brief Description: 

Place, replace, remove an object in the current display list.

Tag Structure: 
struct swf_placeobject2 {	/* and swf_placeobject3 */
	swf_tag			f_tag;		/* 26 or 70 */
	/* NOTE: the following flags can be read as one or two bytes also */
	if(version >= 8) {
		unsigned	f_place_reserved : 5;
		unsigned	f_place_bitmap_caching : 1;
		unsigned	f_place_blend_mode : 1;
		unsigned	f_place_filters : 1;
	}
	if(version >= 5) {
		unsigned	f_place_has_actions : 1;
	}
	else {
		unsigned	f_place_reserved : 1;
	}
	unsigned		f_place_has_clipping_depth : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_name : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_morph_position : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_color_transform : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_matrix : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_id_ref : 1;
	unsigned		f_place_has_move : 1;
	unsigned short		f_depth;
	if(f_place_has_id_ref) {
		unsigned short		f_object_id_ref;
	}
	if(f_place_has_matrix) {
		swf_matrix		f_matrix;
	}
	if(f_place_has_color_transform) {
		swf_color_transform	f_color_transform;
	}
	if(f_place_has_morph_position) {
		unsigned short		f_morph_position;
	}
	if(f_place_has_name) {
		string			f_name;1
	}
	if(f_place_has_clipping_depth) {
		unsigned short		f_clipping_depth;
	}
	/* 3 next entries since v8.0 */
	if(f_place_filters) {
		unsigned char		f_filter_count;
		swf_any_filter		f_filter;
	}
	if(f_place_blend_mode) {
		unsigned char		f_blend_mode;
	}
	if(f_place_bitmap_caching) {
		/* WARNING: this is not defined in the Macromedia documentation
		 * it may be that it was part of the blend mode whenever the person
		 * who defined this byte was testing (I copied that from somewhere else!).
		 */
		unsigned char		f_bitmap_caching;
	}
	/* since v5.0 */
	if(f_place_has_actions) {
		unsigned short		f_reserved;
		if(version >= 6) {
			unsigned long	f_all_flags;
		}
		else {
			unsigned short	f_all_flags;
		}
		swf_event		f_event[<variable>];
		if(version >= 6) {
			unsigned long	f_end;	/* always zero */
		}
		else {
			unsigned short	f_end;	/* always zero */
		}
	}
};
  • 1. Assuming that this PlaceObject2 references a DefineSprite, this name becomes the name of this instance of the sprite. This feature enables you to place the same DefineSprite multiple times in your display list each time using a different name.

This tag will be used to specify where and how to place an object in the next frame. The PlaceObject is much different and is presented separately.

The f_depth field is used to indicate at which depth the character is inserted in the current frame. There can be only one object per depth value (thus a maximum of 65536 objects can appear on a single frame).

The f_place_has_move and f_place_has_id_ref flags are used to indicate what to do at the given depth. The following table presents what happens depending on the current value.

f_place_has_move ...

Protect

Tag Info
Tag Number: 
24
Tag Type: 
Define
Tag Flash Version: 
2
Brief Description: 

Disable edition capabilities of the given SWF file. Though this doesn't need to be enforced by an SWF editor, it marks the file as being copyrighted in a way.

WARNING: this tag is only valid in Flash V2.x, V3.x, and V4.x, use the EnableDebugger instead in V5.x and EnableDebugger2 in V6.x and newer movies.

Tag Structure: 
struct swf_protect {
	swf_tag			f_tag;		/* 24, 58 or 64  */
	if(version >= 5) {
		if(tag == ProtectDebug2) {
			unsigned short	f_reserved;1
		}
		/* the password is optional when tag == Protect */
		string		f_md5_password;
	}
};
  • 1. f_reserved must be set to zero.

The protection tag is totally useless. The SWF format is an open format, otherwise how would you have so many players and tools to work with SWF movies? Thus, you can pretend to protect your movies, but anyone with a simple binary editor can transform the tag and make it another which has no such effect. Also, swf_dump and some other tools (such as flasm) can read your movie anyway.

For the sake of defining what you have in each tag, there are the protection tags fully described.

According to Macromedia, you can find some free implementation of the MD5 algorithm by Poul-Henning Kamp in ...

SoundStreamBlock

Tag Info
Tag Number: 
19
Tag Type: 
Define
Tag Flash Version: 
2
Brief Description: 

A block of sound data (i.e. audio samples.) The size of this block of data is defined in the previous SoundStreamHead tag. It is used to download sound samples on a per frame basis instead of all at once.

Tag Structure: 
struct swf_soundstreamblock {
	swf_long_tag		f_tag;		/* 19 */
	unsigned char		f_sound_data[variable size];
};

The SoundStreamBlock tag defines the data of a sound effect previously defined with a SoundStreamHead or a SoundStreamHead2 tag.

WARNING: This tag requires you to save the swf_tag structure in long format whatever the size of the data (i.e. f_tag_and_size & 0x3F == 0x3F always true even if the size is 62 or less.)

The data depends on the SoundStreamHead[2] definition and is variable in size. Please, see the DefineSound tag for more information about sound data.

SoundStreamHead

Tag Info
Tag Number: 
18
Tag Type: 
Define
Tag Flash Version: 
2
Brief Description: 

Declare a sound effect which will be interleaved with a movie data so as to be loaded over a network connection while being played.

Tag Structure: 
struct swf_soundstreamhead {
	swf_tag			f_tag;		/* 18 or 45 */
	unsigned		f_compression : 4;
	unsigned		f_sound_rate : 2;
	unsigned		f_sound_size : 1;
	unsigned		f_sound_stereo : 1;
	unsigned		f_reserved : 4;
	unsigned		f_playback_rate : 2;
	unsigned		f_playback_size : 1;
	unsigned		f_playback_stereo : 1;
	unsigned short		f_sample_size;
	if(f_compression == 2) {
		signed short	f_latency_seek;
	}
};

The SoundStreamHead[2] tags define a sound effect which is to be loaded with a set of SoundStreamBlock tags. It defines the sound once and for all.

Streaming sound has a strong side effect when playing a movie: it will force a synchronization between the images and the audio. Thus some images may be dropped if the drawing isn't fast enough.

DefineButtonSound

Tag Info
Tag Number: 
17
Tag Type: 
Define
Tag Flash Version: 
2
Brief Description: 

Defines how to play a sound effect for when an event occurs on the referenced button.

Tag Structure: 
enum {
	DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_POINTER_LEAVE = 0,
	DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_POINTER_ENTER = 1,
	DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_POINTER_PUSH = 2,
	DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_POINTER_RELEASE_INSIDE = 3,
	DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_MAX = 4
};

struct swf_definebuttonsound {
	swf_tag			f_tag;		/* 17 */
	unsigned short		f_button_id_ref;
	swf_sound_info		f_button_sound_condition[DEFINE_BUTTON_SOUND_CONDITION_MAX];
};

The DefineButtonSound can be used to emit a sound when an event occur on the specified button. It is likely better to use sprites that you display using actions than to use this tag. You will have access to more events and conditions, plus this tag always includes four sound effect references.

The f_button_id_ref is a reference to the button given sound effects.

[un]signed

Tag Flash Version: 
1
Used by PushData Action: 
Not available in PushData Action

A signed or unsigned bit field which width does not directly correspond to an existing C type.

In structures, the width of the field is specified after the field name like in C bit fields. In case of Flash, it can be dynamic in which case a variable name is specified.

Signed bit fields have an implied sign extend of the most significant bit of the bit field. So a signed bit field of 2 bits support the following values: