File Hosting
Configuring and Managing Your Files
Required Files
The following files are required to run an Interactive XML application:
- An .xml file containing the script for the application. Two demo .xml files ('80s Flashback Music Quiz* and Trivia Demo) are provided that contain many useful code examples and demonstrate best practices for coding Interactive XML. (Note: If you are using the Chrome browser, you'll have to go to View → Developer → View Source to see the code rendered correctly.)
- A .swf (Flash) file. This file is provided by Interactivation; to download it, right-click here. (Important note: You may have to append ".swf" to the end of the file name when you save it.) Each release of the .swf file will be set to expire in three months, requiring that you download the latest version. (A download link is also provided on the online Interactive XML testing page.) To see when the .swf file is scheduled to expire, use the <display_version/> tag.
- An .htm file to display the application on a web page. If you choose to have Interactivation host your application and media files for free (see File Hosting below), you will find a default.htm file pre-populated in your allotted directory.
File Hosting
Due to Flash security restrictions, the .xml file must be located either:
- in the same domain as the .swf file or
- in the same domain as a cross-domain policy file enabling the .xml file to pull the .swf file from a different domain. A generic policy file you can use for this purpose is available by right-clicking here. The policy file should be placed at the root level so that any .xml file in the directory structure can make use of it.
Free Hosting
In order to make it as easy as possible for you to build and deploy Interactive XML applications, Interactivation is offering free hosting of your XML code and media files.
In order to obtain free hosting from Interactivation, send an email to support@interactivexml.com with the following information:
- Your full name and email address.
- A user name for your account. The user name must no less than 5 and no more than 10 characters long. (Keep in mind that this user name will appear in the public URL for your application, so avoid personally identifiable information or inappropriate language.)
- Optionally, a brief description of the application(s) that you plan to build. We'd like to know what you're interested in and how we may best be able to support you.
- the URL you will need to access to upload your files,
- your confirmed user name and
- your password.
Configuring and Managing Your Files
When you're ready to deploy your application, you should rename your .xml file to content.xml. This is the file that the .swf file calls by default (when it is not present, the testing interface allowing you to paste your code directly into the Flash window is displayed).
File Obfuscation
You may want to obfuscate your .xml file before making it public. This will scramble the XML code so that anyone who navigates to the file location and views the page source will not be able to view it properly. This is especially useful if there are elements in your code that you don't want to reveal, such as answers to quiz questions.
To obfuscate your file, click here, copy-paste the contents of your .xml file into the window provided, and click "Encode." You will then be asked to download your code as a file with an .ivxml extension. Simply deploy this file as you would deploy your .xml file. The .swf file will correctly interpret the .ivxml extension.