On a previous post I talked about the basics of XML so I thought I’d show some examples of how to incorporate XML with Flash.
Since XML is primarily used to store and transfer data, it makes for a nice flexible way to store data that Flash applications can use. Since it’s external to your SWF file, it can be easily updated. So whether your Flash application pulls in data for a News Reader or a Slide Show or Music Juke Box, any change will be dynamic and ready to go.
These examples use ActionScript 3.0, which allows for easier manipulation of XML data compared to previous versions of AS. I broke up the three examples into three parts so you can see the evolution of each example and can follow it better with a gradual change in the AS code (saved as Flash CS3).
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With the recent release of Flash CS4, I’d thought I’d cover some of the highlights of the new features.
Interface
The user interface has been overhauled to match all of the adobe creative suite tools. It may take some users a little while to get used to it, but it seems to be for the better.
Tweening Engine
The timeline’s tweening engine now supports object-based animation with motion tweening. What this means is that you do not have to create a new keyframe, modify your symbol then create the motion tween (“Create Classic Tween”).
All you have to do now is create your symbol and then add a motion tween to that object. The containing layer becomes a “tween layer” which has a unique layer icon and ending keyframe (diamond). The motion tween includes a motion guide giving you full control of the animation itself (even with the free transform tool).
Motion Editor
The Motion Editor gives you a graph of all the properties of your object (symbol). This allows for a great overview of your animation properties (rotation, easing, etc) and allows for fine-tune control. A neat feature is the added options of Easing for each of the animation properties.
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Events are things that happen that Flash can recognize and respond to. A mouse click is an event, as are mouse movements and keypresses on the keyboard. Events can also be things that the user doesn’t initiate. The completion of a sound, for example, is an event.
Anytime an event happens, an object of the Event class is created. When the mouse button is clicked, a MouseEvent object (a subclass of the Event class) is created. When a key on the keyboard is pressed, a KeyboardEvent object (another subclass of the Event class) is created. It may seem a little strange that an object represents an event, but remember Flash objects can be very abstract.
With all these events happening, you need a way to detect and respond to them. You detect an event by creating an event listener (or event handler).
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The key to successful manipulating graphics on the Stage is to understand what is known as the display list. The display list is the hierarchy of visible objects on the Stage. The display list lets Flash keep track of what the user sees, the visual relationships between objects, and the stacking order (or overlapping) of the objects.
Conceptually, it’s much like the folder structure on your computer desktop, and can be represented as a tree structure. The top-level element is the Stage. Each time you play a Flash movie in a Web browser, the Flash Player opens your SWF and places it on the Stage. So the Stage is the container that holds your main SWF.
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Like any language, ActionScript evolves over time. ActionScript 3.0 is simply the latest version of the Flash programming language that lets you control graphics, animation, sound, and interactivity. However, ActionScript 3.0 represents a significant change (some may say revolutionary) from the previous versions because in many ways it is conceptually and architecturally different.
Key differences from ActionScript 2.0 include:
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As I am cursed with no artistic talent whatsoever, I am amazed at what people can do with Flash. From simple animated banners to truly beautiful interactive web sites. I do not use Flash on a regular basis, but am knowledgeable of the scripting language ActionScript and what it can do for Flash.
As an adjunct faculty for a local community college, I ocassionally teach weekend classes on Flash. One of the classes I teach is on the basics of ActionScript.
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Learning Flash by watching videos is a very efficient way to learn specific techniques without going through books or online tutorials. As I mentioned in a previous post about online learning, there are many website that offer video tutorials on different web technologies including Flash.
LearnFlash.com is one of them and they offer one of the largest selections of Flash video tutorials.
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Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a security update to Internet Explorer that changes the way it handles web pages that contain ActiveX controls. This would affect any control (Flash, video plug-in, etc.) that uses the APPLET, EMBED, or OBJECT tags. Basically the control’s user interface is blocked until the user activates it by clicking on it or hitting the space bar when it has focus.
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