Converting a PDF to a Flash FLA file without converting to an image first?

[clere]

Basically, I'm building a digital catalogue that runs off a CD and uses a Flash 'page turning component' to display the pages. Certain pages will have links that use Flash's Fscommand call to open Word and Excel documents.

Has anyone got any bright ideas of how to Convert a PDF to a Flash FLA file without converting to an image first?

I know I can open a PDF in Photoshop, save as a PNG or JPG and then import this into Flash, however the quality isn't brilliant. If you use a hi-res image, then you get a hi-res file size...

Currently, the best way I have found, is to open the PDF in Illustrator, then export it as a SWF. Illustrator converts all text to shapes and you end up with a small SWF, yet great quality when displayed in larger sizes. As I'm currently using a page turning flash component that loads SWF files, I need the quality to be good for the 'Zoom' function.

I've found an Illustrator script that will do the hard work via a 'batch' process, so I can take a 100 page PDF and convert the whole lot to 100 SWF files while I drink tea and 'look busy' and read a magazine, but the problem I have is that I need to add a layer of buttons to several of the SWF files to add a little functionality....

I do have a SWF to FLA decompiler which does a good job, however because Illustrator turns everything into shapes, the decompiler does the same and you end up with thousands of files in the library.... Plus there are a lot of error messages when the file is first loaded...

Many layers are masked, (for some reason without a fill), so if you publish the decompiled file straight away, you just get a blank file. Once you go through and fill the masks needed, it shows when you publish, but this really is a lot of work and I've had a few pages that show when you open the SWF file, but don't show when the SWF is called into the page turning file.... Hmmm....

So in short, I'd like to take a PDF and convert it to a FLA file, add a layer of buttons and publish as a SWF file....

Anyone got any 'Pearls of Wisdom'?

http://www.clere.uk.com
http://www.clereprint.co.uk

[Acuity]

Photoshop save for web?

[Website Design Perth]

I'd try opening the pdf in Illustrator and saving as .swf. I've had reasonably good results with this in the past but more complex layouts may need re-jigging. If fonts cause probs try to convert to outlines before exporting.

[MARZY]

flash can read pdf data. I'm not sure about the compressed for web view kind however illustrator ai files can be save to contain a pdf version of themselves that flash can import.
Open the file in illustrator sort out all your layers labeling etc then save as an illustrator file with the pdf compatible file checked.
Then in flash import to stage (the illustrator file). import options 'convert pages to:' KEYFRAMES (checked) leave 'convert layers to:' as LAYERS
leave the rest as is, and your illustrator file will appear as intended when setting up in illustrator with layers labeled etc.
probably won't save alot of time however i think this is the best way to get illustrator artwork into flash as as close as the to the illustrator design. great if you setting up a site design, and much better than the illustrator export function.