v3.0.1

New caption source

Version 3.0.1 gives authors the ability to store their caption data internally within a text object residing in the same Flash movie as the CCforFlash component. The data is stored as a text string that must be structured in either DFXP or QTtext timed-text format.

New caption source type property

A new property, captSrcType, has been added to identify the type of source where the caption data is being stored. The values for the captSrcType property are:

• external (default)
• internal
• embedded

This property replaces the captEmbed property and appears as "Caption source type" in the Component Inspector. The captEmbed property will continue to be recognized in order for authors to incorporate the new version of the CCforFlash component into older projects. However, the "Captions embedded" property has been removed from the Component Inspector.

Caption source property replaced

With the addition of the internal caption source type, the captFilename property, listed as "Caption filename" in the Component Inspector, has been changed. This property now appears as captSource and has the following values depending on the type of source indicated:

• external – URL to external caption file
• internal – name of text object containing caption information
• embedded – no information needed

The captSource property appears as "Caption source" in the Component Inspector. Please note, the captFilename property will continue to be recognized, along with the captEmbed property until further notice.

Revised startCaptions() method

With the addition of the internal caption source type, the parameters for the startCaptions() method have also been updated. The first value, previously associated with the captEmbed property, now indicates the captSourceType property. The method is constructed as follows:

startCaptions(caption source type, caption source name [optional, if caption source type is embedded], language [optional], override style [optional])

Note: Any startCaptions() methods using the previous captEmbed value will still be recognized as follows:

• true = embedded
• false = external

Roll-up caption display options

Captions can now be displayed in either pop-up or roll-up mode. The property, captDispMode, has been added to identify the selected display option. This appears as "Caption-display mode" in the Component Inspector.

In roll-up mode, the caption display mimics line-21 captions on broadcast television. Each caption appears near the bottom of the screen and is rolled-up a line when the next caption appears. The pop-on mode was the default method of display in previous versions of CCforFlash, where each caption pops onto the screen overwriting the last one.

An additional property has been added to indicate how many lines of roll-up captions should appear within the caption display area. (The default is 3.) The property, captDispLns, appears as "Max number of rows (roll-up)" in the Component Inspector.

switchDispMode() method added

A new method has been added which allows authors to switch the display mode between pop-on and roll-up while the captions are being displayed.

switchDispMode(display mode, number of lines [optional])

• display mode values – pop-on or roll-up
• number of lines – indicates the number of lines to be displayed when using roll-up mode

stopCaptions() changed to clearCaptions()

The stopCaptions() method has been changed to clearCaptions(). The method itself remains the same, stopping the playback of captions and clearing the caption display area. However, the new name reflects another usage for this method.

In some instances, a Flash-based video player may be opened without a video or caption file loaded. When this happens, CCforFlash will display the sample text that is used in the authoring environment to show the current style settings. To remove this text when the player is initially launched, run the clearCaptions() method on the instance of the CCforFlash component.

DFXP filenames no longer required to end with .xml

While it is good practice to append the proper file-type extension to the filename, CCforFlash no longer uses the extension to indicate the presence of DFXP-formatted captions.

New method for checking the status of loading captions

A new method, checkFileLoad() has been added to check the status of the captions being loaded. This method returns the following:

• loading – CCforFlash is still in the process of loading and processing the caption information
• loaded – CCforFlash has completed loading and processing the caption information
• failed – CCforFlash was unable to load or process the caption information*

*There are a number of reasons a caption file couldn't be loaded or processed, including: the caption URI or text object name was incorrect, the caption source type was incorrect, the caption information was not properly formatted.

New methods for accessing caption content

Three new methods have been added to transfer the content CCforFlash extracts from external or internal caption sources. These methods will not work with the embedded caption source type.

• getCaptText() – returns an array containing the caption text
• getCaptStTime() – returns an array containing the caption start times
• getCaptEndTime() – returns an array containing the caption end times

Captions with missing begin times are not displayed

In previous versions, CCforFlash would use the previous caption's end time in place of a missing begin time. In this version, CCforFlash will not display any caption with a missing begin time.

Bug Fix – caption area background color

Previously, if the background color was changed for an individual caption, that color would remain until a new caption was displayed. With version 3.0.1, when a caption's end time is reached, the background of the caption area returns to the default color.

Bug Fix – search gets stuck in current caption

Previously, if a search was initiated (using findString()) for a term that is currently being displayed, the time returned would be the time for the current caption. In version 3.0.1, the findString() will proceed to the next instance of that term, if one exists.

Bug Fix – captColor return value

The captColor property returns the proper hex format of the current caption color (#rrggbb). In previous versions, the color would be returned missing the prepended hash mark (rrggbb).

Bug Fix – font names are lowercased

Previously, a test condition in CCforFlash altered all font names to lowercase. This caused a conflict with the release of an update to the Flash Player plug-in (9,0,115,0). Users who viewed the captions on a Mac would only see captions in Times New Roman. Since the CCforFlash font test was not needed, the code was removed.

v2.0.2

Bug Fix

Version 2.0.2 fixes a bug which occurred when the CCforFlash component was inserted into a Flash project at run-time using ActionScript. In previous versions, the component would automatically try to load a caption file, even if a filename had not yet been given, resulting in an unnecessary call to the server.

v2.0.1

Display captions synchronized to additional types of objects

CC for Flash is now able to display captions synchronized to sound objects, animated movie clips, or SWFs, in addition to Flash video.

Add CC for Flash at runtime

CC for Flash can be added to Flash movies at runtime using ActionScript. In addition, any of CC for Flash's settings can be changed during runtime using built-in properties and methods.

Recognition of path names

CC for Flash now recognizes video objects and components embedded in movie clips. In order to locate the object, the author provides CC for Flash with either the path relative to the CCforFlash component or the absolute path from the main level of the Flash movie.

Multiple instances of CC for Flash

Multiple instances of the CC for Flash component can reside in the same Flash movie. In addition, a swf containing the CC for Flash component can be loaded into a movie clip in another swf.

Note: If you have loaded an external movie that has a CC for Flash component, you cannot add another CC for Flash component. This is a know problem; NCAM is investigating a solution.

Padding

Padding can be added between the caption area background and caption text. The amount the author indicates is applied to each of the sides. If too much padding is applied, the caption text box may not be able to display multiple lines of the captions.

Override caption file style

Authors can choose to override global style settings found in the start of a QTtext file or in the body and div tags of a DFXP file. This does not override any inline styles found in the DFXP caption files. Settings are:

• true – override settings found in caption file
• false – do not override style settings found in caption file

Recognition of brackets in QTtext

In some cases, the brackets in QTtext are used for speaker ids. CC for Flash now determines which brackets are being used to indicate timecodes. All other uses are passed through seamlessly.

Style changes

The default font is Verdana (changed from Arial) and the default font size is 14 (changed from 12).

v3.0.1

CCforFlash component updated

ccPlayer has been updated with the current 3.0.1 version of the CCforFlash component.

ccPlayer color change

The color of the scrub bar, volume control, and sliding windows has been changed to #006699 (teal/blue) from the previous #00FF99 (green).

Video playback is initially paused

When ccPlayer is loaded, it now defaults to the video playback paused. In order to have the video started automatically, the ccVideoAutoStart parameter must be included and set to true.

Changes to parameters: ccEmbeddedCaptions and ccCaptionFilename replaced

Both the ccEmbeddedCaptions and the ccCaptionFilename parameters are being phased out. In their place, two new parameters are being added: ccCaptSourceType and ccCaptionSource. The original parameters will continue to be recognized until further notice. This will ensure that updating the ccPlayer SWF in older projects will not necessitate changes to HTML coding.

The ccCaptSourceType has been added to identify the type of source being used to store the caption information. The valid values are:

• external (default)
• embedded

The ccCaptionSource parameter has been added to identify the source of the captions. If the value of the ccCaptSourceType is external, then the value of ccCaptionSource will be the URI of the external timed-text file. If the value of the ccCaptSourceType is embedded, then the ccCaptionSource parameter is not used.

New rollup display option

The new 3.0.1 version of the CCforFlash component now allows for captions to be displayed in either pop-on mode (captions overwrite each other) or roll-up mode (captions roll-up a line as new captions are added). With this addition, two parameters have been added to the ccPlayer to make use of this setting:

• ccDisplayRollup – true, captions are displayed in roll-up mode; false, captions are displayed in pop-on mode
• ccDisplayLines – number of lines of captions to display when in roll-up mode (not used for pop-on display mode)

These parameters are optional. If the ccDisplayRollup parameter is not included, ccPlayer displays pop-on captions.

Search and language buttons available after captions have been loaded

The search and language buttons are now available as soon as the captions have been loaded and processed. Previously, the language button was not available until after the video began playback.

Tab order change

The instructions window button has been moved to the end of the tab order.

Contents of sliding windows

When any of the windows are open (instructions, language, and search), the tab and button selections are limited to the contents within the window.

Replaced language menu

A new language menu has been added, replacing the ComboBox component that was previously used.

Improved accessibility features

The contents of each of the windows are now accessible to screen-reader users. In addition, the previous issue where the focus appears to get trapped in the Flash movie has been resolved for IE users on the PC. Note: JAWS 9 users will notice that the level of the volume is now spoken when changes to the volume are made with the virtual pc cursor turned off.

Bug Fix – search gets stuck in current caption

Previously, if a search was initiated for a term that is being displayed in the current caption, ccPlayer would continue to display that caption. In version 3.0.1, the search feature will proceed to the next instance of the term, if one exists.

Bug Fix – search cannot find text until video begins playing

Searches can now be done prior to the start of the video playback, once the captions have been loaded and processed.

Bug Fix – text appearing in Times New Roman

The latest release of the Flash Player plug-in (version 9,0,115,0) in Mac Web browsers displays some text, including ccPlayer's captions, in Times New Roman. The new version of CCforFlash (3.0.1) provides the repair for the caption text (see above) and this update repairs the text which appears throughout the player's controls.

v2.0.2

CCforFlash component updated

ccPlayer has been updated with the current 2.0.2 version of the CCforFlash component.

v2.0.1

Full-screen video playback

The ccPlayer provides a button to switch to full-screen mode when the player detects the proper version of the Flash Player (version 9.0.28 or higher). In order to access full-screen mode, the allowfullscreen setting must be included in the object/embed tags of the HTML code. Unfortunately, none of the keyboard or screen-reader-accessibility features are available in the full-screen mode. However, closed captioning is available.

"Start Video" button overlays video region when auto-start is set to false

When the ccVideoAutoStart parameter is set to false, a button overlay appears over the video region which informs the viewer that the video is paused and needs to be started.

Repairs

• If the video is paused, moving the scrubbing pointer does not automatically restart the video playback.
• Video playback does not automatically restart when switching from the Language window to either the Search or Instructions windows.

Style change

The default font is Verdana (changed from Arial) and the default font size is 14 (changed from 12). The caption area, with the default style setting, provides up to three lines of captions. The default style can be overridden in the global style settings in external caption files.

Added Parameters

ccVideoAutoStart (default is true)

• true – start video immediately when page is loaded
• false – pause video when page is loaded

ccCaptionAutoHide (default is false)

• true – hide captions initially
• false – show captions initially

ccVideoBufferTime (default is 0)

• determines the amount of video buffered before playback starts

ccOverrideFileStyle (default is false)

• true – use the default caption style settings of the ccPlayer
• false – use the global style settings that may be included in the external caption files

v2.0.1

CCforFlash component updated

ccMP3Player has been updated with the current 3.0.1 version of the CCforFlash component.

ccMP3Player color change

The color of the scrub bar and volume control has been changed to #006699 (teal/blue) from the previous #00FF99 (green).

Audio playback is initially paused

When ccMP3Player is loaded, it now defaults to the audio playback paused. In order to have the audio started automatically, the ccAudioAutoStart parameter must be included and set to true.

ccCaptionFilename replaced

The ccCaptionFilename parameter is being phased out. In its place, ccCaptionSource will be used to identify the source of the captions. Its value will be the URI of the external timed-text file. ccCaptionFilename will continue to be recognized until further notice.

New rollup display option

The new 3.0.1 version of the CCforFlash component now allows for captions to be displayed in either pop-on mode (captions overwrite each other) or roll-up mode (captions roll-up a line as new captions are added). With this addition, two parameters have been added to the ccMP3Player to make use of this setting:

• ccDisplayRollup – true, captions are displayed in roll-up mode; false, captions are displayed in pop-on mode
• ccDisplayLines – number of lines of captions to display when in roll-up mode (not used for pop-on display mode)

These parameters are optional. If the ccDisplayRollup parameter is not included, ccPlayer displays pop-on captions.

Additional accessibility feature

JAWS 9 users will notice that the level of the volume is now spoken when changes to the volume are made with the virtual pc cursor turned off.

Bug Fix – text appearing in Times New Roman

The latest release of the Flash Player plug-in (version 9,0,115,0) in Mac Web browsers displays some text, including ccMP3Player's captions, in Times New Roman. The new version of CCforFlash (3.0.1) provides the repair for the caption text (see above) and this update repairs the text which appears throughout the player's controls.

v1.0.2

CCforFlash component updated

ccMP3Player has been updated with the current 2.0.2 version of the CCforFlash component.

v1.0.1

With the release of the CC for Flash component v2.0.1, authors now have the ability to provide captions for additional audio objects, such as sound clips. Along with the ccPlayer Flash video player, NCAM now provides a second player – ccMP3Player – which allows for playback of MP3 audio files with their corresponding caption files.