The Microsoft IE ActiveX Bandaid…
If you use Internet Explorer and you have Windows Update set to automatically download the latest updates then you may be noticing some of your Flash (and other ActiveX controls) no longer work without an initial click from the user.
Microsoft has released updates to Internet Explorer that will change how it handles active content such as that viewed in Adobe’s Macromedia Flash Player, Authorware Player, Shockwave Player, and Adobe Reader, as well as Sun Java, Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealPlayer and other ActiveX controls.
Active content that is embedded in HTML pages in certain ways will not be able to receive user input (for example, keyboard or mouse events) until the user clicks to either activate or continue loading the control. Instead, you will see a tooltip that reads, “Click to activate and use this control.” Once clicked that control will function as expected.
My question is, “Why didn’t Microsoft just create a fix that no longer uses the ActiveX control and uses a plugin, like Firefox does?” That would have fixed the problem seamlessly - why hold on to the ActiveX control? Why create bandaids instead of fixing the problem all together?
I’m not one of those people that hates Microsoft just for being Microsoft, but man this seems dumb.
The easiest way to fix the problem, not to mention that this is the way you should always add your Flash to your website anyways is to create an external JavaScript file that has your Flash code in it. See the webPod.js file as an example.
Next link to the .js file in your head: <script type=”text/javascript” src=”webpod.js”> </script>
…and finally, just add a function call in your page where you want the Flash to appear: <script type=”text/javascript”>webpod();</script>
This will eliminate all problems and your page will also validate now too.
