# Need a utility to convert Flash map into image on web site. Please help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693 "2007-04-11T20:11:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/1 "2007-04-11T20:11:36Z")
My company’s website has a feature that generates a map of the US with states shaded different colors based on certain search criteria. This map is in Flash and is dynamic with links, etc. How do we offer an option for the user to get the map as either a static image file, or as a PDF document? Is there a utility that takes the Flash map and converts it to an image so people can save it and insert it into reports or use it in a PowerPoint presentation? (I know people can do a ctrl+print screen to get a screenshot, but our clients are not that savvy…) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/2 "2007-04-11T20:17:25Z")
[Here is a screenshot of what one of the maps looks like.](http://brookenelson.com/flashmap.gif) Keep in mind that the map is in Flash and is dynamic, you click on a state and it generates a report for that state. People want to be able to just get the map as an image to insert into reports, etc. THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/3 "2007-04-11T20:53:38Z")
Flash can’t do this by itself, but it can with some sort of back-end programming, like via .NET or PHP or something similar that CAN generate variable based images. Closest you’ll get is Flash being able to print… Can you include instructions on how to install a PDF printer, then have the Flash file print to that and output the PDF? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/4 "2007-04-11T21:17:58Z")
[QUOTE=wasson] Closest you’ll get is Flash being able to print… Can you include instructions on how to install a PDF printer, then have the Flash file print to that and output the PDF? [/QUOTE] We could do that, but the people who we would be doing it for would never be able to figure it out. We need something as simple as “click here to output this map as an image or PDF”… ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/5 "2007-04-12T04:32:18Z")
These people might get you some or all of the way. [http://www.flashmagazine.com/735.htm](http://www.flashmagazine.com/735.htm) ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/6 "2007-04-12T04:33:57Z")
actually on checking while what they are doing is nice it is not useful for you ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/7 "2007-04-12T04:38:20Z")
last post hehe this seems more like it [Flash tools and utilitys, Flash Development, Flash Movies, Create Screensavers, Convert SWF to PDF - FlashJester.](http://www.flashjester.com/index.php?section=tricks_flashhandout) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/8 "2007-04-12T04:44:05Z")
How much control do you have over the Flash map itself, and do you have any programmers that can code if need be? Or are you limited to pre-made utilities and (I assume) HTML editing? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/9 "2007-04-12T04:48:26Z")
Hmm… if scm1001’s link doesn’t work, maybe take a look at this: [Make screenshots, filter and output as jpg from Flash 8](http://www.flash-db.com/Tutorials/snapshot/) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-utility-to-convert-flash-map-into-image-on-web-site-please-help/399693/10 "2007-04-12T05:01:28Z")
[QUOTE=Reply] How much control do you have over the Flash map itself, and do you have any programmers that can code if need be? Or are you limited to pre-made utilities and (I assume) HTML editing? [/QUOTE] I am not sure exactly what they’re using to generate the maps, but I do think they are customizable, and we do have programmers who can code (although I am not sure if they have the exact skills that would be needed to do this). I will send our IT guys the links to the two utilities. Thanks you guys, I knew if I posted here that someone would have an answer! Dopers are awesome!