| Swift
Optimizer 
 |
Swishsoft |
 |
[pc]
Swift
Optimizer reduces the size of swf files making
the users experience a more immediate and satisfying
one. |
Website: http://www.swishsoft.com/
System
Requirements: PC using Windows
Intel Pentium
or AMD processor
400 Mhz or more
8MB Video Card - 1024x768
64MB RAM
Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or NT4 SP4
8M free hard disk space
Swift
Optimizer Features
| General
Features |
| Optimise
swf files in a selected directory |
| Optimise
all swf files in a selected driver, (including
hidden directories) |
| Identify
bad files; optimised files; normalise files;
and show them with different icons |
| Reduce
the swf file size without affecting their performance |
| Optimised
files need not be unzipped and can be immediately
published |
| Compress
Flash files by 5% to 80% |
| Add
protection to the swf files |
| View
swf files with the built-in player, or with
your Shockwave Flash player |
| Advantages |
| Supports
Flash MX 2004 |
| Uses
little system resource |
| Does
not generate temporary files |
| Retains
original file attributes |
| Identifies
bad files, optimises files, normalises files
automatically, and shows them with different
icons |
| The
optimised size is smaller than that zipped by
winzip |
| Use
the optimised file directly and without an unzip
tool |
| Add
protection to swf file in batches |
| Program
retains the original directory if you do not
select overwrite |
| Control
the progress of a movie by dragging the player
trackbar |
| The
position and size of the 'viewer window' will
be saved automatically |
| Swift
Optimizer can avoid linking to the internet
when the movie is playing |
Overview
Swift
Optimizer is a Windows based program with the core
function of reducing the size of .swf files. This
is particularly useful to web authors who publish
Flash presentations on the Internet as a reduced
file size can lead to significant benefits in download
speed and user retention. Although the Swift Optimizer
interface is straightforward there are some usability
issues that could be improved upon that will be
highlighted later in this review.
Installation
The
program is simple to install and requires the input
of a registration key to unlock the trial mode.
Program
Launch
Swift Optimizer launches in a reduced size window
and is immediately ready for 'Normal optimizations'.
Although the program window can be resized or maximized,
the left tree column width is fixed.
Program
Layout
Several
options are pre-selected in the first Window like
'Add Protection' and 'SWF', and a familiar document
tree is presented in the left column with the right
column reserved for selected files (see screenshot
above). Large buttons are provided for the commands
'Rename', Delete'; 'Copy to...'; 'Move to...'; Optimise
Selected Files', and Optimise All Files'.
Swift Optimizer has two other main Windows that
are selected via a tabbed menu at the top left shown
in the screenshots below:
The second Window is titled 'Driver Target Optimization'
which allows the user to target all swf files at
once in a particular drive to be optimised (Hard
Drive, Movable Drive, Floppy, or Disk Drive). The
third Window is reserved for 'Multi Task Optimisazation'
where the user can select a number of files to be
optimised that can be then treated as a 'batch'.
Configuration
There
are very few configuration options available in
Swift Optimizer which may be a surprise to the first
time user.
 |
The
lack of a standard drop-down text menu that
links to program functions (usually found at
the top of an application window) can be somewhat
disorienting as can the unconventional placement
of the '?' help icon (top right). |
Swift
Optimizer provides a 'Magic Control Channel' which
allows the user to hide the tree view by clicking
a 'nail' icon (see 1 below). When the mouse is past
over the thin control column (see 2 below), the
column will reappear. In practice the user needs
to click the 'nail' icon then move their mouse away
from the tree column area before that area is hidden.
First time users may expect the area to be hidden
immediately upon clicking the nail icon.
General Usage
Swift
Optimizer has an attractive although unconventional
interface. The selection of swf files and optimization
is a simple matter of selecting the appropriate
folder in the left tree view. Any swf or exe file/s
will appear in the target window on the right panel.
The user then clicks the appropriate check box to
select the files they'd like to optimise, then click
the 'optimize selected files' button and the process
begins.
The optimization process is fast for single files,
however, optimising batch files can take a considerable
time depending on the volume of files. The developers
have addressed this issue with the implementation
of a background mode.
Documentation
The
main weakness of Swift Optimizer is its documentation
which has errors in its spelling and grammar and
requires considerable improvement. The developers
inform us this is well underway and should be addressed
in a forthcoming update.
Folder Paths
When
a folder is moved or deleted using the Windows Explorer
or another program, the only way of refreshing the
tree view in Swift Optimizer is to select from the
pull down 'Recently optimised folder' field (other
than quitting, then relaunching the program). A
refresh button would therefore be a welcome addition
to the interface.
 |
An
added problem is that if the folder is in a
deep location on your drive, the path will not
be visible as the drop down window has a fixed
width (even if the main program window is enlarged).
|
This
fixed width issue is also apparent in other areas
of the program like that shown in the 'Quick saving'
dialogue window below:
Conclusion
Swift
Optimizer carries out its main duties successfully
by reducing the size of standard swf files significantly.
This is invaluable in making the browsing experience
faster and more enjoyable from a users perspective,
and reduces file space that's required on the web
server. The personal license represents outstanding
value for money, although the site licence for commercial
companies does require a significant investment.
That said, if your Flash files are a core part of
your Internet business and they haven't been optimised
or protected, you may enjoy significant advantages
from this program.
The ability to add protection to Flash files and
process entire drives or define batch files to be
optimised are useful features for Flash developers
and web designers who should consider it as a valuable
addition to their arsenal of applications. The program
interface however is not as intuitive as it might
be and there are some minor issues relating to user
feedback and weak documentation that should be addressed
in the next upgrade.
Mike de Sousa, Director, AbleStable
(link
above opens new browser window)
Rate this software
|
Development
Software 
