flash to html5

Over the years, Flash has been the most prominent media plugin used in cyberspace. It was also successful in creating a place for itself in the creative domain of video and animation. Before, all the major internet users opted for Flash to play any kind of video, including the games. Flash-based eLearning was also a preferred option at that time for online training purposes. Soon, its popularity was at the highest peak as there was not even a single system where it was not installed. However, the scene got entirely changed when it started incurring certain problems, and then, HTML5 came into the picture. It eventually led to the beginning of Flash to HTML5 conversion.

Smarter companies that have already incorporated HTML5 stood ahead in the competition by creating interactive, engaging, and scalable content. Now, they no longer needed to use GIFs or Flash as HTML5 was doing the job of both. HTML5 also brought a wave of relief as it did not incur any issues which were continuously experienced by the Flash users. Besides, HTML5 was an open-source technology and was supported by all the popular web browsers. It has also been thoroughly tested, which made it capable of overcoming any major issues. Since Flash was not meant for advertising, companies running the Flash-based ad campaigns needed to use a distinct platform for serving the purpose. It led to an increase in overall costs. Furthermore, financial resources were also needed for using reporting and tracking tools. Nevertheless, processes became much simplified with the inception of HTML5. Today, many platforms have been developed for the purpose of display advertising.

Why converting Flash files to HTML5 has become a necessity?

There were a lot of problems associated with Adobe Flash, which led to its saturation point. Some of those issues are discussed below:

  • It needed constant updates to allow access to its features, which resulted in unexpected crashing.
  • It was not compatible with mobile browsers, so it was kind of compulsory to access it only through desktops.
  • iOS users were not even able to run Flash in the first place and resulted in numerous malfunctions.
  • It lacked a number of security and efficiency features.
  • It was vulnerable to malware attacks, which was a serious security threat to many users.
  • It failed in updating itself with the upcoming and trending technologies.

Apart from the above-mentioned problems, HTML5 became a necessity in 2011 when Google decided not to support Flash-based files and it will be completely phased out by the end of 2020. It clearly indicated the downfall of Flash, and everyone was conscious that they need to get ready for the Flash to HTML5 migration.

Why HTML5 is considered as a better option than Adobe Flash?

Since our way of communication is gradually becoming more mobile, Adobe Flash is trailing behind because of its incapability to meet the demands of the modern business. Soon, the debate regarding HTML5 being better than Flash will fade away globally. However, if we are still going to make the comparison, we can clearly see that HTML5 is undoubtedly a better option than Flash.

HTML5 was successful in incorporating eLearning and enabled easy access to online courses. New elements were added for allowing users to manipulate the layout for greater SEO capabilities. Certain CSS qualifiers were removed to facilitate the ease of use. Besides, HTML5 functions had the capability of including video and audio features and reached the interoperability state. With the increasing use of mobile devices and tablets, it was more focused on developing content that would be supported on multiple devices. So, in terms of accessibility, it was far better than Flash.

Sometime when users tried to open a video without installing a Flash plug-in, they could only see a black box. However, HTML5 does not need any such plug-ins for functioning. Flash also needed more processing power, which resulted in decreasing the speed of content delivery, whereas in HTML5, content delivery speed is more. Another major advantage was that it facilitates online access to the stored data. Thus, with the integration of HTML5, companies can reduce the necessity of having separate platforms for reporting and technology stacks. They can have more time to focus on creative aspects and plan the campaigns more strategically and efficiently. Apart from that, both existing and upcoming companies can get numerous opportunities to explore diverse solutions for display advertisements.

Advantages of Converting Flash-based documents to HTML5

Flash to HTML5 conversion can provide a lot of fresh opportunities for business firms. As the conversion process is somewhat unavoidable, it is better to go on with the migration as early as possible. Because of the increasing hype of the Flash to HTML5 transition, there are a lot of digital conversion companies offering services for the same. So, take advantage of the situation and seek assistance from those companies. Many companies still wait and hope for some software to arrive that would save them from the conversion process. However, it is not going to happen. As the process is also a bit longer, it is advisable to start the transition process as soon as possible. Now, don’t try to take any shortcuts. It might complicate the process further and create more problems in the future. The sooner you are ready to embrace HTML5, the better it will be as you can enjoy several benefits. Some of the benefits that you would definitely receive are as follows:

  • Content can be mobile-compatible

    One of the main benefits of converting Flash files to HTML5 is that you can achieve compatibility with mobile or tablet devices. Usually, the Flash documents have the inefficiency to resize themselves to fit the screen of the mobile phone or tablet. On top of that, they need separate plug-ins for allowing users to view the content on the devices. So, the conversion process will help in offering a responsive design output that will ensure device compatibility. It will help users to access the desired content on multiple devices ranging from laptops to mobile phones. They will also have the advantage of accessing it on their preferred devices or at a time they feel convenient. The responsive outputs can be achieved with the help of authoring tools and can support various gestures on mobile screens such as zoom, tap, swipe, etc. to offer a better user experience.

  • New learning trends can be easily capitalized

    Conversion allows you to incorporate all the newest learning trends in your HTML5 documents for enhancing its features. For example, social learning, gamification, micro-learning, and scenario-based learning are a few of the techniques that can be included there. It can help in boosting the engagement activities of the learner by collaborating and increasing the fun element of the training courses. It will also offer flexibility for updating and modifying the content as per your requirement.

  • Lengthy courses can be converted into micro-learning modules

    When it comes to converting the Flash-based courses, you can first carry out an audit so that you can identify and retain only the necessary ones. Once you are done with it, you can explore the different possibilities of converting the lengthy Flash courses into micro-learning modules. Usually, the time limit of those courses ranges from 1-2 hours. It might not appeal to the new generation learners as they mostly prefer learning from mobile devices. That is why it is advisable to redesign the courses into micro-learning modules while migrating the content. You can also change the content and convert it into micro-learning nuggets. These modules can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and on any device, thereby offering new possibilities for transforming the old content.

  • Content will be capable of reaching more learners

    It is very difficult to translate the Flash files into multiple languages. However, the benefit of using HTML5 is that there is no need to refrain from executing translations. With the help of authoring tools, you can translate the contents easily and reach a wide range of learners within different geographical locations. Lectora Inspire, Adobe Captivate, and Articulate Storyline are some of the best authoring tools that can support your translation needs. The Lectora tool supports multi-language publishing in which a single content can be published in various languages. Adobe Captivate supports the geolocation feature, which can be used for creating and delivering content to specific locations. Articulate Storyline supports Text Label features where messages, buttons, and other onscreen elements can be localized for multiple languages. So, select the desired tool depending on your needs.

  • Learning content and approaches can be revamped

    The conversion process is a great opportunity for companies to re-evaluate their content and identify the ones that need revision or restructuring. It will help them to cope up with the user expectations and meet their learning and training goals. Delivering the content as per their expectations can boost their learning experience and will keep them motivated to finish up the courses. Besides, the migration process can also help in modifying the structure, instructional design, and delivery methods of the content.

  • Content can be retained without any source files

    Mostly, the Flash content does not have source files, and even if they do, it might not be very useful. In that case, retaining the content is next to impossible. However, it can be possible if you take the aid of HTML5.  You can convert the Flash files into MP4 format so that it could be accessible on multiple devices. Once it is done, you can play the existing file and record it using a screen capture program in the MP4 format. Now, you can upload it to your LMS. Some of the reliable screen-capturing tools are Adobe Captivate, iSpring, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline, etc. However, for retaining content without any source files, you first need to check if there are any storyboards available. If it does, you can use it to recreate the content using an authoring tool. You can also enhance it more with the interactivities and visuals.

  • Old flash interactivities can be replaced with new ones

    While carrying out the Flash to HTML5 conversion, one thing that may concern you is the interactivities of the Flash contents. Earlier, the developers created more interactivities than it was needed because it was quite easier to create. However, conversion can provide you the second chance to eliminate the interactivities that are redundant or are not needed. There is no point in keeping those interactivities in your files as it might tend to become a distraction for learning and retention. You can replace the complex interaction in your Flash files to simple and standard ones that can engage the users. Similarly, the non-intuitive interactivities can be replaced with the more intuitive ones by using the HTML5-based rapid authoring tools. Try using Articulate Storyline as it consists of various features like built-in dials, triggers, variables, sliders, etc. to create interactivities.

Converting Flash to HTML5 has become an inevitable necessity for businesses worldwide as Flash has almost faded away. Since the conversion process is a complex endeavor and demands expertise, many prefer seeking assistance from a reliable digital conversion company. It can also be carried out in-house by using the authoring tools that can offer a responsive design; however, there will always be a risk if the team is not having the required experience or qualification for transitioning. In that case, you have to invest money for hiring new staff. Securing specialized resources can also become a problem.

On the contrary, seeking the support of an experienced company offering high-quality flash to html5 conversion services can provide good results as you will be having plenty of advanced technology and resources to back you up. Still, there is a possibility that communication and coordination issues might show up because of the language and time zone differences. It can lead to project delays and your expectations won’t be met. So, consider your current business scenario and carefully weigh the benefits against the risks before going for an option.