Why isn't my Facebook embedded Flash form working?

July 1, 2008 7:15 AM

PHP gurus, Facebook nerds, lend me your ears: I'm having a problem with an embedded Flash object on a Facebook Page.

Here's the rub: I used to be Comp Sci, I decided I hated it and swapped out to English/Philosophy. Life being what it is, I'm a marketing guy now but my above-average know how lands me in a lot of tech-y marketing things.

So, we've got a Facebook Page. And we're running a contest. The easiest way to collect submissions and control the look was with an embedded Flash form. I brewed up a quick test: Flash form goes getURL onClick, submits via POST to a PHP, PHP e-mails my account with the info.

This works like a charm when I test it here: http://asilenttreatment.org/flashtest/testform.swf

It does not work when I test it here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Test-Lab/17009933723

The embedding code for Flash in FBML is:
fb:swf
swfsrc='http://asilenttreatment.org/flashtest/testform.swf'
imgsrc='http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/catImages/17010001_lg.jpg'

It embeds, it looks great, but when I click the button to Submit nothing happens. This is probably an obvious and embarrassing solution, but I'm stumped. Help a rusty tech guy flex his muscle!

posted by GilloD to computers & internet (6 comments total)

I should note that you'll also see an Embedded HTML Form on there that does the same exact thing which also doesn't work, but for a different reason
posted by GilloD at 8:11 AM on July 1

I fixed the HTML version by inserting an FBML tag, requirelogin=0. But I'd still rather use Flash to control the look- Any thoughts?
posted by GilloD at 8:33 AM on July 1

iframe?
posted by sleslie at 8:46 AM on July 1

As in this... http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Fb:iframe
posted by sleslie at 8:48 AM on July 1

I suspected it may have had something to do with that. Another piece of the puzzle! Thanks for the suggestion, I'll tinker and see what I can figure out
posted by GilloD at 9:18 AM on July 1

Just as reference to other MeFi-ites who come around:

-You can wrap this in an iFrame
-It's a documented issue, re:http://forum.developers.facebook.com/viewtopic.php?pid=16710#p16710
posted by GilloD at 9:53 AM on July 1