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Designers use the Macromedia Generator authoring extensions (Generator Objects) to create templates that contain variable elements (graphics, text, and sound) to be replaced with content provided by a data source (text files, databases, and so on). Then JGenerator reads the template, performs all substitutions and commands, and generates a Flash player movie which can be played back in the clients browser. The JGenerator frees designers from the tedium of updating Flash movies each time they make a small change to the content.

The JGenerator can work in two modes: online and offline. In online mode JGenerator runs under a web server and generates Flash movies by request from the clients browser. In offline mode the JGenerator runs in command line and generates static (.swf) movies which can be played back or used in any other possible way.

The JGenerator provides Java-based API which can be used by software engineers to dynamically build Flash movies either from a standalone program or from a servlet. The API fully covers and supports all versions of Flash file format (.swf, .swt) up to current version 5. The product is constantly evolving, if now it does not provide all the functionality which the Macromedia Generator does, it will do it shortly.

It emulates the Macromedia Generator behavior and functionality, but it is NOT the Macromedia Generator, it is a completely different product inside which was written from scratch. It has its own unique features in addition to those from Macromedia Generator.

The JGenerator is an open source project and is covered by Apache style license. It means that the source code is free and everybody can get it and do whatever she wants to do with it providing that all the license requirements are met. It also means that you can and you are encouraged to participate in the developing of this project.

Major Features:

1. You don't have to learn it if you know the Macromedia Generator. The JGenerator emulates most of Macromedia Generator commands and its behavior and adds some additional useful features. You can even use the Macromedia Generator documentation when you use the JGenerator.
2. Support XML datasources unique feature which cannot be found in any competitive product. You can use almost ANY kind of XML data to generate your Flash movie using very powerfull and flexible XPaths expressions.
3. Full support for Flash movies up to version 5. Flash 5 actionscript, text layout, shared libraries, clip actions etc.
4. Generates smaller than Macromedia Generator files, sometimes several times smaller!
5. Substantially faster than Macromedia Generator. On some templates in up to 20 times!
6. Supports sofisticated server side caching. The feature that you only can have in Macromedia Generator Enterprise Edition (provided you paid a lot of money for that!).
7. Provides servlet context for your Java datasources, so that you can easily customize a content of your site for every and each of your user.
8. Collects statistic on number of templates processed, types of queries etc and stores it on disk for later retrieval.
9. Very well scallable. If you are running JGenerator on multiprocessor server and your servlet engine does not have any restrictions on number of processors used, number of simultaneously connected users etc, then the JGenerator will use all the servers power. You also have an option to restrict number and amount of resources JGenerator is allowed to use. You can fine tune the JGenerator for your exact needs!
10. Very well customizable and configurable.
11. Advanced error handling, all errors directly displayed in generated Flash movie.
12. Supports all Flash-native text formatting and variable substitution.