I've got several simple online "exams" that are flash files. I've tried several tips to save the files to my HD so I can extract the content....but w/o success. Can anyone help; I'm stumped.

TIA

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Posted by LSUWoodworker

St George "God's Country "

Member since Dec 2007

18839 posts

Posted on 8/6/10 at 1:54 pm to arrakis

LINK

FWIW some sites block "save as" and other methods to copy. You may want to also have your temp internet files open and perhaps catch a .tmp file as the Flash animation plays?

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Posted by LSUChicageaux

Member since Aug 2004

8278 posts

Posted on 8/6/10 at 3:03 pm to arrakis

I suggest using Firefox, if you aren't already. I believe there's a SWF downloader plugin, or alternatively, you can use something like Firebug (a developer plugin) to find the path of the Flash file, then load that into something like FlashGet, a download manager.

For example, ESPN has a "sign up for free Fantasy Football" Flash ad about 3/4 down the page. Using Firebug, I was able to find the exact path of the file:
https://adsatt.espn.go.com/ad/sponsors/ESPN_In_House_Marketing/Jul_2010/espn-300x100-1757.swf

I could then load that URL into a download manager and pull the SWF down to my machine. Once it's there, I can view it in any browser.

Actually extracting content from the SWF is more technical and requires a decompiler or a version of Flash. There are free decompilers and they may give you just enough functionality to get the content out of the SWF.

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Posted by arrakis

Member since Nov 2008

21168 posts

Posted on 8/6/10 at 3:35 pm to LSUChicageaux

Thanks for both tips....I'm all over it. I've tried a few FF add-ons,"Download it all" doesn't work.

The files I'm trying to extract content from aren't copyrighted, complex, or protected....just happen to be in Flash format.

I'll post what ends up working in case anyone else runs into the same problem.

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