One of the most popular posts on BloggerDesign is how to get Flash (swf) into a WordPress post. The previous post is about three years old so I thought I’d write up a follow-up post, as embedding Flash is much easier now as it’s all built into WordPress.
With the newer versions of WordPress there is a button to embed media.
Embed Button
Once clicked, all you have to do is enter in the Flash (swf) file URL, set the dimensions, hit ‘Insert’, and WordPress will do the rest.
Embed Window
It’s that easy. No plugins, no confusing code, just provide WordPress with the URL of the Flash swf file and it’ll write the code to embed the Flash file into your post.
As a bonus, the embed option also works with Shockwave, Quicktime, Windows Media, YouTube URLs, and Real Media if you need to embed those media files as well.
But this button doesn’t seem to be there on WPMU?
Unfortunately I don’t know much about WPMU, but I thought all WordPress WYSIWYG editors were the same.
Oh. My. God. This is horrible. I’ve been looking for HOURS for a solution that’ll play .swf files and keep them in their proper freakin dimensions, and then I find your post which tells me the solution has been there the WHOLE TIME. I’m going to go cry in a corner now.
Thank you for saving me a million more hours over something so stupid. 🙂
I am using the WordPress kit online, so i don’t have my own hosting.
I can’t find the button you described above on the toolbar of the wysiwyg editor.
Did WordPress disable it for security reasons?
If the only solution is, to export the WordPress blog to a hosted environement, then this would likely make me migrate to Blogger :S
I’m not as familiar with the hosted WordPress offering, but it should still be there. Did you hit the ‘kitchen sink’ button at the end of the first row of icons? That will make the second row appear. And you need to be sure you’re on the ‘visual’ tab.
Hello Thomas, the kitchen sink button does not display the embed media button in the free version of wordpress. Just a heads up, thank you.
You’re right. WordPress.com blogs don’t appear to have this button. Strange.
Yes, it is a great tool to insert SWF. HOWEVER, what about controlling the parameters? For example, one of the most annoying issues is controlling autoplay, and whether you can click the image to play the button, and whether it loops or not. Any tips?