Why is Flash requiring an extra click in Internet Explorer, and how can I fix it?
The problem:
You may have noticed that in Internet Explorer, most Flash sites and Flash content, including navigational elements, do not work properly unless you "activate" the Flash element by clicking on it. When you put your mouse over the Flash content, you see an outline around it and Internet Explorer prompts you to "Click to activate and use this control".
This is due to a newly-released "fix" to Internet Explorer.
Microsoft recently lost a legal battle with a patent holder about the way Internet Explorer displays <OBJECT> or <EMBED> tags in webpages. Microsoft then decided to update its Internet Explorer browser with changes requiring user input to display and activate ActiveX based media. The change affects all Flash animations, movies, and web sites, as well as other file types using <OBJECT> and/or <EMBED> tags.
The Remedy:
In regards to Flash, there is an easy workaround called SWFObject, which we have implemented into all of our web sites (including this one), and we recommend it to all developers, not only because it bypasses the "Click to activate and use this control" issue introduced by Microsoft, but it is also includes Flash browser detection, and a very easy way to use alternate content for non-Javascript and/or non-Flash browsers.
- Download SWFObject.
- Add this code once in your page (usually between <head> and </head>)
<script language="JavaScript" src="swfobject.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
- Use this format to call in your Flash content instead of <OBJECT> and <EMBED>:
<div id="FlashContent">You can enter alternate text or graphics within this area.</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
var fo = new SWFObject("FlashFile.swf", "FlashContent", "100%", "100%", "6", "#ffffff");
fo.addParam("quality", "high");
fo.write("FlashContent");
</script>
- You can add in all other Flash parameters by copying/repeating this line and replacing the label and value.
fo.addParam("quality", "high");
- All variations on the instructions, as well as a FAQ, can be found here.
More Information:
» More about SWFObject, including download and instructions.
» More about the changes to Internet Explorer.
» Macromedia's page on the issue.
