Cascade Server Flash
& Data Integration
2009 Cascade Server User’s Conference
Justin Klingman
Manager, Web Design & Content Management
Beacon Technologies, Inc.
September 29, 2009
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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Introduction
Who am I?
 Beacon Technologies, Inc.

Automate, Grow, and Showcase Your
Business
 Cascade Server Consultation,
Development, & Hosting
 Custom Software Development,
Search Engine Marketing, Web
Design, Creative Media, Hosting

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Introduction

My Cascade Server World
Purchased in April 2005 as
“PublishXML”
 Official partner of Hannon Hill
 Participate on the Product
Advisory Council
 Conduct end-user training

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Introduction

About today’s session
Use XSL and XML to integrate Flash
projects within your site
 Provide easy ways for end users to
maintain Flash applications using
Data Definitions in Cascade Server
 Strategy for organizing files for Flash
projects

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Benefits
End user can update Flash
 Time & expense savings
 End user won’t be able to mess up
Flash code

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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30,000 Foot View
Flash player written to read its data
from an XML file
 Create Data Definition with necessary
data elements
 Data Definition attached to the
homepage
 Data Definition outputs data via XSL
into Flash player’s XML file format

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Step 1: Develop Flash

Design


Identify elements end user will update
Develop
Updatable elements read by Flash
from XML file
 Create XML file your way…Cascade
will adapt using XSL
 Get it working outside Cascade

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Step 2: Import into Cascade
Load files into Cascade
 Use separate directory for Flash files
(.swf, .js, .xml, etc.)



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Turn off write access for end users
Import images to be used to folder
editable by end user
2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Step 3: Data Definition
Include all updatable elements for
XML file from Step 1
 Can have data elements for other
functionality

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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Step 4: Embed Flash

Use XSL to embed exactly like HTML
file from Step 1


Flash does not display in Cascade

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Hidden from Cascade using CDATA
Develop way for end user to see what
they’re doing
2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Step 5: Enable Front End
Attach Data Definition
 Attach XSL



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Use current-page block if not using
<system-region name=“DEFAULT”/>
Edit homepage and fill out data
2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Step 6: Flash XML File

Convert Flash XML file to page asset
Output as XML using target
 Use simple XML template
 Indexes homepage Data Definition
 Will overwrite XML file created for
Flash in Step 1
 Not directly editable by end user
 Will need to be published by end user
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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Step 7: Publish
Publish to Web server to test
 You’re done
 Bask in your easy success

Thank your Flash developer
 Gloat to other developers
 Tell your boss it took weeks
 Don’t tell him/her that if it took one day
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2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
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Additional Ideas

Expand to pull in data from across site


Can use same technique for other
applications

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News, Student Bios, Calendar events,
Sports scores, etc.
Silverlight, Java applets, JavaScript,
.NET, PHP, etc.
Control full flash sites with Cascade
2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009
Questions?
Remind me to repeat the question!
 My Contact Information:


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Justin Klingman
Beacon Technologies, Inc.
http://www.beacontechnologies.com/
jklingman@beacontechnologies.com
336.232.5685
2009 Cascade Server User's Conference
09/29/2009