Flash CS3 Documentation

Learning ActionScript 2.0 in Adobe Flash > Understanding Security > About local file security and Flash Player > Testing content locally with Flash local file security restrictions > Specifying trusted files using the Settings Manager

Specifying trusted files using the Settings Manager

You can specify what Flash content on your computer may always use the older security rules by adding the location of the content to the Global Security Settings panel in the Flash Player Settings Manager. After you add a location on your computer to the Security panel, content in that location is trusted. Flash Player won't ask you for permission and is always allowed to use the older security rules, even if Always Deny is selected in the Security panel. The Always Trust Files in These Locations list overrides the options in the Settings panel. That is, if you select to always deny local and web content the right to use the older security rules, the local files in your trusted list are always allowed to use the older rules.

The Always trust files list at the bottom of the panel applies specifically to Flash content that you have downloaded to your computer, not content that you use while visiting a website.

The following example shows how to specify that a local SWF file can communicate with the Internet. When you test a file in a browser locally (File > Publish Preview > HTML), a security dialog box might appear. If you click Settings, the Settings Manager Global Security Settings panel appears

To specify that a local SWF file can communicate with the Internet and local file system:

1. In the Global Security Settings panel, click the pop-up menu and select Add Location.

   The Add Location box opens.

   
   
   

   If you arrived at the Settings Manager by clicking the Settings button in a dialog box, the Add Location box contains a path that is similar to C:\directoryname\filename.swf or /Users/directoryname/filename.swf; this path tells you which file tried to communicate with the Internet and was stopped by Flash Player security. If the path contains the content that you want to let communicate with the Internet, copy and paste the path into the Trust This Location box. Or, click one of the Browse buttons and find the content yourself.

   You can add an individual file or an entire directory. If you add an entire directory, all the files and subdirectories in that directory are trusted. Some Flash content consists of multiple related files, and you might need to trust the entire directory where all the related files are located. In general, avoid trusting top-level directories.

2. Click Confirm.

   The location is added to the Security Settings panel. Locations listed are always allowed to use the older security rules, even if the Always Deny or Always Ask options at the top of the Security panel are selected.

   After you add trusted locations, you must restart the local Flash content by either refreshing the browser or restarting the player.

If you click Always Allow, it only applies that setting to always allow legacy content (Flash Player 7 and earlier). The setting does not "always allow" Flash Player 8 and later content. It is recommended that you specify the Flash applications and directories on your computer that can communicate with both the Internet and the local file system.

Flash CS3