Firefox opens a new empty tab each time I try to open a shockwave file.
 

Just upgraded to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Firefox 31.0 with Shockwave Flash 11.2.202.400. When I open a .swf file now, Firefox opens a new blank tab instead of playing my file. It worked before I upgraded Ubuntu. How do I make the adjustment to get it to work again ?

On my system firefox opens a new tab when I click on links within the window/tab that is open, which is great for viewing the post where the link originated from.
Not sure if this will help your problem, but play around with the settings in "Edit>>Firefox Preferences>>Tabs".

i think op meant a shockwave file as in something on a local hard drive.
i have a similar behavior. right click .swf file => open with => firefox
just opens a tab and a dialog "what do you want to do with this file".

i'm pretty sure it was possible to watch these little japanese hentai swf's straight from the browser, and now it's not anymore.
maybe adobe's flash plugin doesn't allow playback of local media anymore?

anyhow as a workaround you can install gnash (but it's tricky - opening from the file manager doesn't work) or try to find an older standalone flashplayer version.

Try opening with vlc http://www.ehow.com/how_7370013_open...lc.html#page=0
Maybe you set defaults to vlc.

EDDY1, is this ehow link supposed to be an insult?

it also doesn't work that way.
vlc cannot decode those aforementioned .swf's.

maybe a "small web format" is not the same as "shock wave format" (what i always thought .swf stands for).

For 1 life is toi short to insult people & make enemies, my objective is ti make new friends & return the favor to this forum for helping me.
So to answer your question , no it wasn't meant to be an insult.
When I have problems I use google even when answering questions here, sometimes they work sometimes they don't. I haven't tried it.
Please accept my apology as I don't mean to offend.

Edit did you see the arrows on the page?

apology accepted.
the related ads? not sure what you mean.

as i said, i have vlc installed and it is NOT able to play .swf.

To the right side of screen there's an arrow to click on, which tells how to install to windows, but also tells how to view .swf files with it.

I see what you mean now I'm on computer but the instructions are farther down the pagHow to Open an SWF With a VLC thumbnail Open an SWF With a VLC