How to write valid XHTML code to embed Flash

Embedding Flash to XHTML is a big challenge. The old method is dead years ago even though still a lot of people use. For XHTML validation there are some techniques existing but they are complicated from who looks for a simple solution. Using Java Script is not a smart way either.

So while I was looking a simple solution I have found a Flash XHTML validator. It's simple enough to use. But not perfect! It gives me code as below;

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="banner.swf" width="300" height="200">

<param name="movie" value="banner.swf" />

It needs some tweak, so I simply added an image of my banner in case the visitor has no flash and adding a text for search engines. And the code end up as below;

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="banner.swf" width="300" height="200">

<param name="movie" value="banner.swf" />

<img src=”banner.gif” width=”300” height=”200” alt=”banner”/>

<p>A text for search engines.</p>

</object>

I might have add a link to Adobe's website for download flash plug-in, but it's fine.

I tested the code and it works in Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5, 6.0, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox (former Mozilla Firebird), Opera and Konqueror and is fully XHTML Strict valid. No <embed> tags needed.

Related useful stuff;

·         Flash Satay: Embedding Flash While Supporting Standards

·         Embedding Macromedia Flash in XHTML

·         XHTML Validation & Flash Movies