CoffeeCup - HTML Editor, Flash & Web Design Software

A Flash movie in a layer on a DHTML page containing several layers may display above all the layers, regardless of the stacking order ("z-index") of those layers.

By default, browsers place embedded plug-in content, such as a Flash movie or Java applet, on the topmost layer. In older browsers, attempts to place a DHTML layer on top of a Flash layer would fail. Newer browsers add the ability to layer Flash content with DHTML content and in some cases the ability to use transparent backgrounds in the Flash content.

Use the WMODE parameter to allow layering of Flash content with DHTML layers. The WMODE parameter can be 'window' (default), 'opaque', or 'transparent'. Using a WMODE value of 'opaque' or 'transparent' will prevent a Flash movie from playing in the topmost layer and allow you to adjust the layering of the movie within other layers of the HTML document.

You can normally add the WMODE parameter and attribute to the object and embed tags respectively:

<object ...>
<param name="wmode" value="transparent">
<embed ... wmode="transparent" ...>
</object>

but if you're using the SWFObject "Active Content Fix" for any of our applications, your code will look slightly different. Because the javascript dynamically replaces a div content, you only need to add a single line of code to the script:

so.addParam("wmode","transparent");

Note: The WMODE parameter is supported only on some browser/Flash Player version combinations. If the WMODE parameter is not supported, the Flash movie will always display on top. Refer to Adobe TechNote 14201 for details.