How can I detect if Flash is installed and if not, display a hidden div that informs the user?
If swfobject won't suffice, or you need to create something a little more bespoke, try this:
var hasFlash = false;try { hasFlash = Boolean(new ActiveXObject('ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash'));} catch(exception) { hasFlash = ('undefined' != typeof navigator.mimeTypes['application/x-shockwave-flash']);}It works with 7 and 8.
@Drewid's answer didn't work in my Firefox 25 if the flash plugin is just disabled but installed.
@invertedSpear's comment in that answer worked in firefox but not in any IE version.
So combined both their code and got this. Tested in Google Chrome 31, Firefox 25, IE 8-10. Thanks Drewid and invertedSpear :)
var hasFlash = false;try { var fo = new ActiveXObject('ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash'); if (fo) { hasFlash = true; }} catch (e) { if (navigator.mimeTypes && navigator.mimeTypes['application/x-shockwave-flash'] != undefined && navigator.mimeTypes['application/x-shockwave-flash'].enabledPlugin) { hasFlash = true; }}
Use swfobject. it replaces a div with the flash if it is installed.see: http://code.google.com/p/swfobject/