Been away 4 a while, noticed big...

User 2130925 Photo


Registered User
261 posts

Hello. Let me start off saying I love Coffee Cups products and think they do an excellent job :) .

I noticed today quite a bit of the programs I purchased in the past are now free. My questions is will they still be updated or enhanced or is that it? My second question is will Visual Site Designer be getting the updated new version that has been talked about for a few years?

Thanks again :) .
User 103173 Photo


VP of Software Development
0 posts

My questions is will they still be updated or enhanced or is that it? My second question is will Visual Site Designer be getting the updated new version that has been talked about for a few years?

For the free applications, probably not, especially if they are Flash based. As to VSD, that we do not know but my gut says probably not. Visual Site Designer builds websites using "absolute positioning". This means everything has a fixed place within your page and cannot adjust based on the viewer’s device size (desktop, tablet, mobile phone etc.). Absolute positioning does not allow for a fluid design. design.

Responsive Layout Maker solves one of the biggest challenges in responsive design, having a flexible core which can adapt based on the viewer’s screen size. In a nutshell, Responsive Layout Maker creates a responsive prototype website (called a layout). You build the structure of your website in Responsive Layout Maker and then export to any code editor to add your final content.

If your traffic statistics are leaning towards mobile traffic, we really suggest you dive into the responsive waters now. With Responsive Layout Maker along with the Quick Start Guide, some helpful videos and other tutorials will help you master this critical aspect web design. We recommend taking a look at it as it explains many different parts of Responsive Layout Maker. It will also allow you to hit the ground running when our Responsive Site Designer program is released (Responsive Site Designer will be able to import RLM layouts).
Learn the essentials with these quick tips for Responsive Site Designer, Responsive Email Designer, Foundation Framer, and the new Bootstrap Builder. You'll be making awesome, code-free responsive websites and newsletters like a boss.
User 1720804 Photo


Registered User
21 posts

If my flash based programs are no longer supported (Fire Starter and Photo Gallery), what do you recommend moving to?
User 2147626 Photo


Ambassador
2,958 posts

Well, there are many options. And welcome back!
Most FLASH based designs can now be emulated using pure CSS3/HTML5. So if you are into coding, you're all set.

Even though your FLASH options are no longer supported by CoffeeCup, they are still available and still work as they always have. But since web design is becoming responsive in answer to the growing 'mobile' community, and Apple will not support FLASH, HTML5/CSS3 is developing into a more compatible solution. Have you looked at the new RLM (Responsive Layout Maker) from CoffeeCup? It is used to create responsive website layouts that adjust to any device they are viewed on. Once you have the 'layout' the way you want it, you export to your hard drive and load all the content using an HTML editor. It's pretty slick!

If you have a 'paid' S-DRIVE account, then the Photo Gallery can produce an HTML gallery that can be viewed on any device. If not, there are many FREE photo gallery utilities out there and most Web Hosts provide at least one for FREE. Hopefully CC will develop a new photo gallery and media player. But I'm not holding my breath...

Hope this all helps, if not, well, it's early where I am. Just post back and someone will give you more input I'm sure . . .:cool:
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User 2690718 Photo


Guest
2 posts

Not able to find where to post this (the Firestarter forum doesn't have a "start new thread" link), but since you're discussing Flash and HTML5: the joy of Firestarter is that it helps to make the .swf movie, which I now convert to HTML5 with a separate program (SWF to Video from iPixSoft); it converts the .swf to mp4 and WebM and gives the html code to embed them. But wouldn't it be great if you made a new Firestarter that did this for us? So that when Flash dies (or at least for those mobile and Apple users who can't see Flash) we still have a tool to create neat videos! It's not the coding that worries me, it's the actual creation of the movie in the first place.
User 2147626 Photo


Ambassador
2,958 posts

First, you won't be able to post in any forum except this one, until you buy and register a product from CoffeeCup. If you have made a purchase, perhaps you signed on with a different email than the one you purchased with?

Second, FLASH is going out. But I agree with you on one point, Firestarter was cool. Have you checked out the new Animation Studio ? http://www.coffeecup.com/animation-studio/
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User 1720804 Photo


Registered User
21 posts

Gunsmoke, Thanks. I'm not coding, just using VSD and waiting for RLM VSD. Should I invest in Animation Studio at this point?
User 2147626 Photo


Ambassador
2,958 posts

Depends on if you have a need for it I guess. Makes great banners and animated icons and pictures. Saves in GIF format. The 'Living Pictures' option is pretty wild too. I'd say download it and run the fully functional trial and see what you think. :cool:

Thing is, it's animation (GIF) and not FLASH, so it'll show on all devices. :D
Graphics for the web, email, blogs and more!
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https://sadduck.com
User 2690718 Photo


Guest
2 posts

Gunsmoke wrote:
But I agree with you on one point, Firestarter was cool. Have you checked out the new Animation Studio ?


Thanks for the quick response. That's fine for simple animation, but i'm talking about full Flash projects with text and high-quality graphics and effects. Like Firestarter. I'm good for now since I can convert to HTML5 using mp4 and WebM (not sure I understand which is for what!) but thought it would be a great direction for Firestarter to go in, as slowly .swfs are replaced.

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