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[SOLVED] Flash program functions differently for different domains to same iBay

Offline LANMonkey

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This is a really peculiar problem. I have an iBay that has three different domain names passed to it by way of Domains under Server Manager's Configuration section.  My Flash program is a data driven directory that uses PHP constructed XML files to create the directory. I have been successfully using this Flash directory for some time using one particular domain, ictytranscripts.dyndns.org. I've since added a second domain name, www.ictytranscripts.org, that I want to replace the first with, but for some reason the Flash program cannot read the XML files, or something. Whatever it is, the directories are not showing up.

There is nothing in the Flash program that has any reference to the old first domain name. All the PHP/XML files are accessed by way of directory references like "../my/directory/" I cannot imagine what is making the difference. Here is a test page showing the Flash program working successfully (I assume):

http://ictytranscripts.dyndns.org/indexTEST.html

And now the same page from different domains that direct to the same page:

http://www.ictytranscripts.org/indexTEST.html

http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/indexTEST.html

Notice that in the first the Flash program comes up, but there is no data displayed and in the second, there is no Flash program displayed at all.

The XML files seem to be generated without any problems. Here is an example:

http://ictytranscripts.dyndns.org/XML/TrialDtTree.php

http://www.ictytranscripts.org/XML/TrialDtTree.php

http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/XML/TrialDtTree.php

I am completely mystified. If anyone is seeing displays that do not appear as I suggest, let me know.

And any suggestions, tips or clues would be appreciated.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2012, 07:10:16 PM by LANMonkey »

Offline cactus

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Here is a test page showing the Flash program working successfully (I assume):

http://ictytranscripts.dyndns.org/indexTEST.html

And now the same page from different domains that direct to the same page:

http://www.ictytranscripts.org/indexTEST.html

http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/indexTEST.html

Notice that in the first the Flash program comes up, but there is no data displayed and in the second, there is no Flash program displayed at all.
It appears to me that the latter is also showing the flash plugin, although it might not run properly, because when I right click I get the Flash context menu and not my browser's.

The XML files seem to be generated without any problems. Here is an example:

http://ictytranscripts.dyndns.org/XML/TrialDtTree.php

http://www.ictytranscripts.org/XML/TrialDtTree.php

http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/XML/TrialDtTree.php

I am completely mystified. If anyone is seeing displays that do not appear as I suggest, let me know.

And any suggestions, tips or clues would be appreciated.
Did you already check the log files of your web server for error messages? Perhaps it fails to find or access some files as the flash plugin might be expanding url's to their FQDN (just a wild guess, though)?
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth ~ Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Offline cactus

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OT: These seem to be cases for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, right?
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth ~ Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Offline LANMonkey

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OT: These seem to be cases for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, right?

They are the transcripts for the trials.

I will check my log files.

Offline LANMonkey

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OK, using Server Manager and View Log Files under Administration I searched the httpd/error_log using filter pattern "/Flash/" and the found the following:

Code: [Select]
[Sun Apr 15 09:47:50 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Sun Apr 15 09:58:14 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Sun Apr 15 09:59:22 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Sun Apr 15 09:59:58 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Sun Apr 15 10:13:21 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Sun Apr 15 17:53:29 2012] [error] [client 66.249.67.196] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/Flash/ICTYDirectory
[Sun Apr 15 22:06:47 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 11:30:54 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 11:30:54 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 11:31:36 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 11:40:01 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.symbiota.net/icitydb/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 11:54:30 2012] [error] [client 192.168.0.239] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/Primary/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Mon Apr 16 21:55:34 2012] [error] [client 71.235.88.10] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf
[Tue Apr 17 07:05:54 2012] [error] [client 82.141.207.83] File does not exist: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/icitydb/html/crossdomain.xml, referer: http://www.ictytranscripts.org/Flash/ICTYDirectory.swf

I did a quick Google search and found the following article:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14213.html

Quote
....

For security reasons, a Macromedia Flash movie playing in a web browser is not allowed to access data that resides outside the exact web domain from which the SWF originated.

As an enhancement to Macromedia Flash Player 7, domains must be identical for data to be read. With this change a sub-domain can no longer read data from a parent domain and vice versa.

Cross-domain policy files

Another change to the Flash Player 7 framework is the use of cross-domain policy files. A policy file is a simple XML file that gives the Flash Player permission to access data from a given domain without displaying a security dialog. When placed on a server, it tells the Flash Player to allow direct access to data on that server, without prompting the user grant access.

The server can be in any location available to the Flash movie and does not have to be in the same domain. Cross-domain policy files, named crossdomain.xml, are placed at the root level of a server. When using a policy file you can use a wildcard character (*) in a domain name. For more information on policy files see Why Use Policy Files below.

....

I think this is the problem.  I will attempt a correction and post results.

Offline LANMonkey

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Problem Solved
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2012, 07:09:55 PM »
That did it.  I created the file:

Code: [Select]
<?xml version="1.0"?>


    <!DOCTYPE cross-domain-policy SYSTEM "http://www.macromedia.com/xml/dtds/cross-domain-policy.dtd">


    <cross-domain-policy>

    <allow-access-from domain="ictytranscripts.dyndns.org" />

<allow-access-from domain="www.ictytranscripts.org" />

    <allow-access-from domain="ictytranscripts.org" />

<allow-access-from domain="www.symbiota.net" />

    </cross-domain-policy>

Named it crossdomain.xml and placed in my HTML directory and a reader will notice that all the directories work now in the above links except for the one from www.symbiota.net.  But that is a different issue and I am confident the solution is at hand.

Thanks to cactus for your simple suggestion.  That's the first time I've ever been able to apply the logs to any solution.


Offline cactus

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Re: Problem Solved
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2012, 07:58:05 PM »
That did it.  I created the file:
Sweet! Nice to know my guess has solved your problem.

Thanks to cactus for your simple suggestion.
You're welcome.

That's the first time I've ever been able to apply the logs to any solution.
Really? You must be good. :-) I have used the log files many times to and can not imagine a live without them.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth ~ Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)