FlashPaper 2 , part of the Macromedia Studio 8 ’s version of Contribute 3 ( , February 2005 ) , allows you to effortlessly convert Microsoft Office papers to Flash ( SWF ) file .

Incorporating FlashPaper 2 into Contribute get sense , especially for stage business environments where content developers who create documents can export them to Flash without jazz the program : Contribute produce HTML pages for citizenry who do n’t recognize HTML ; FlashPaper creates Flash file for masses who do n’t know Flash .

The ensue Flash data file support copy - and - paste to other applications , are text edition - searchable , and uphold function links from the germ documents . Content developer working with Dreamweaver - return templates can secure subject matter into both HTML and Flash document without coding .

The Windows version of Studio 8 include a stand up - alone adaptation of FlashPaper . But in the Mac version , FlashPaper live only as a Print dialogue option for instal software , which make using it like to printing a PDF file . While Macromedia tested FlashPaper only with Microsoft Office applications , FlashPaper show up as a Print option in many other applications programme as well .

There is no easier way to convert documents to SWF files than using FlashPaper 2 : I try jamming the FlashPaper driver by include trope , odd transmission line , paragraph , and word spacing , and multiple fonts in my Word files . FlashPaper stand up to the test , accurately incorporate links , colouring material , case , and images .

An obvious doubtfulness is , why not just apply the omnipresent PDF data format for sharing documents ? PDF allow more options ( for features like permissions , certificate , and interactive form ) , but if you do n’t need those feature article , the no - ruffle interface of the Flash Player 8 is clean and easier to read than a PDF .

I enjoyed searching and understand documents in Flash Player ; Reading in Flash seemed cleaner and less distracting than the endless options that appear when I open and understand PDF files in the Acrobat Reader . you could scale the document easy with a slipper that enlarges type interactively . And FlashPaper , combine with Flash Player 8 , bring home the bacon the crispest modest font type I ’ve ever see on my monitor .

FlashPaper 2 may be a more worthful addition to the Windows version of Studio 8 than it is to the Mac version , since Windows user also can habituate FlashPaper to convert Office file cabinet to PDF , as well as Flash ( SWF ) file cabinet . But Mac users , of course of study , can already yield PDF files from documents using the Print dialog . If you want to generate small , useful SWF files from your power document , FlashPaper 2 is the easiest way to go .

[ David Karlins is the writer of theComplete Idiot ’s Guide to Flash 5 ( Alpha , 2000 ) , and 20 other books on interactive Web pattern . He is also an teacher with San Francisco State University ’s Multimedia Studies and Digital Video Intensive Programs . ]