Some of the files on our site (mainly the exciting Animated Texts) are saved as swf zip or exe zip files and contain animation, colour and sound.
They have been created using a program called Flash (hence the exe/ swf)
Once created they are then condensed/ zipped using a program called Winzip (hence the zip) in order that they are small enough for you to download.
What is the difference between the exe and the swf files?
You will see that there are two different versions of the Animated Tales/ Facts: e.g. Thad exe zip or Thad swf zip.
The Thad exe zip file is much bigger and will take longer to download. It contains FLASH PLAYER, which means you do not need to download Flash yourself. The Tale will automatically open and play as soon as you double click on it.
The Thad swf zip file is much smaller but you will need to download Flash in order to access the tale as the Flash player is NOT built in.
Flash is available to download FREE from www.macromedia.com. You need to install Flash once you have downloaded it by first locating the file on your desktop called install_flash_player.exe. Double click on this file. A box should open asking 'do you wnat to run this file?'. Click 'run' and follow the instructions. Once you have installed Flash on your PC, you will always be able to open swf files.
How do I access the files?
Part One: Downloading the file to your computer
Choose the Animated Tale/ Fact you want to view and choose the swf file.
Right click on the document name and choose Open, OR left click on the document name.
A box will appear offering you the choice to either ‘Open this file from its current location’ or ‘Save to disk’. Choose ‘Save to disk’ and then click OK.
A Save As window should now open from which you can locate the folder on your PC where you wish to save this file.
Click Save.
Part Two: Opening the file by un-zipping it – using Winzip
Locate the folder on your PC where you saved the swf file.
Right click on the document name and choose Open or Extract, OR double left click on the document name.
A WinZip window will appear thanking you for ‘trying Winzip’. Click I Agree to the terms and conditions.
A new window will now open in which you should see your extracted file, e.g. Thad swf zip. Click on the Extract button in the top menu.
Another window will open from which you can choose the folder on your PC in which to place your newly extracted file. Once you have located your folder, click Extract.
Close the Winzip window and then relocate your folder on your PC from where you can now access the Animated Tale. Let the excitement begin!
I do NOT have Flash on my computer. How do I access the files?
Follow the exact same instructions as above but choose the exe file, not the swf. Please note, it will take longer for you to download these exe files and longer to extract them.
