Tutorial 7 Planning and Creating a Flash Web Site

XP Objectives Review the structure of a Flash Web site Plan and create a Flash Web site Review Web site accessibility Create a Flash template and use the template to create Flash documents Make a Flash Web site accessible Work with external libraries Create a navigation bar with complex buttons New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS42

XP Objectives Load external SWF files into the Flash Player using levels Learn basic ActionScript 2.0 commands Use the Actions panel Load external image files into the Flash Player using a movie clip Use the Behaviors panel New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS43

XP Understanding the Structure of a Flash Site Items included in HTML and XHTML documents (Web pages): – Text, graphics, hyperlinks, multimedia elements Flash Web site may consist entirely of SWF files – SWF files are referenced from an HTML document – Referenced SWF files play in Flash Player plug-in Navigation features in a Flash Web site – Navigate SWF files using buttons or other graphics – URL of Web page does not change as SWF files change Developer tools: Adobe Dreamweaver or Flash New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS44

XP Understanding the Structure of a Flash Site New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS45

XP Creating a Navigation System Navigation options in a Flash Web site – Click a button to play current SWF file in Flash Player – Click a button to load another SWF file in Flash Player An SWF file plays on top of another using levels – Home page is usually loaded at level 0 – Other SWF files can be loaded at higher levels; e.g., 1 – Files loaded at higher levels play on top of those at lower levels – Newly loaded SWF file replaces another at the same level New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS46

XP SWF Files Loaded at Different Levels New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS47

XP Planning a Flash Web Site Identify the site goals and objectives Determine the target audience Develop the site contents Create a storyboard, and design the navigation system and the site pages Build the site and test it New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS48

XP Making a Web Site Accessible The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is a standard that helps Web designers and developers create Web sites with the needs of users with disabilities in mind – Screen reader New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS49

XP Jackson’s Youth Sports Web Site Outline and Storyboard New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS410

XP Creating a Web Site’s Contents First step: create a home page for the Web site Home page elements: background, banner, navigation Other pages have components related to their focus Pages will be uniform in size and background – Provides consistent viewing experience for the user Documents will play on top of main document Use the Property inspector to make page accessible New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS411

XP Creating the Main Document Components for Jackson’s Sports Web site banner – Text displaying the store’s name – A background picture – A navigation bar consisting of a set of buttons Specifications for background – Use a rectangle to cover area not covered by banner – Rectangle will be colored with a gradient fill New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS412

XP Creating the Main Document New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS413

XP Using a Flash Template to Create Additional Web Pages Templates: pre-built documents aiding development Advantages: consistency, flexibility, speed, quality Flash developers can create their own templates – Create a document and then save it as a template New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS414

XP Using External Libraries External library has symbols from another document Opening a document’s library as an external library – Point to Import on the File menu – Click the Open External Library and select target FLA file Add external library symbols to Stage or Library panel New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS415

XP JSports External Library New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS416

XP Team Names on Separate Lines New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS417

XP Creating a Navigation Bar Navigation buttons used in a Flash Web site – Analogous to hyperlinks in a non-Flash Web site – SWF files are loaded into the Flash Player when clicked – Created like buttons used to control an animation – ActionScript specifies which SWF file to load Navigation bar: a set of related buttons New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS418

XP Adding Animation to a Button Frame Rollover effect: visual cue emphasizing click event Animations can also serve as visual cues Animations are added to Up, Over, or Down frames Adding an animation to the home button – Animation will be a motion tween of a small circle – Animation will be added to the Over frame Other buttons will be derived from the Home button New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS419

XP Buttons on Navigation Bar New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS420

XP Using ActionScript Navigation system comprises of a set of buttons Button click causes Flash Player to load SWF files ActionScript instructions make buttons operational ActionScript: programming language within Flash Two latest versions of ActionScript are versions 2.0 and 3.0 New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS421

XP Using the loadMovieNum Action Format: loadMovieNum(“filename.swf”, level) – Parameter 1: name of SWF file to be loaded – Parameter 2: level number at which file will be loaded Example: loadMovieNum(“services.swf”, 1) – Services page will be loaded at level 1 Event handler determines when to execute an action – Example: button click-release event loads a movie – Code: on (release) {loadMovieNum(“Services.swf”, 1);} New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS422

XP Using the Actions Panel Adding a script without using Script Assist mode – Select button instance on the Stage – Open the Actions panel – Type required code – Click the Check syntax button A frame action is not controlled by an event handler New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS423

XP Script Pane with the Event Handler New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS424

XP Loading External Image Files Images may be stored within or external to FLA file Advantage to storing an image externally – External file can be replaced without FLA document edits Preparing external images – Use image-editing program; e.g. Adobe Fireworks – Save file with non-specific name, such as Photo1.jpg – Ensure that image files are in same folder as SWF file New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS425

XP Using the loadMovie Action loadMovie action: loads image into a movie clip – Image file needs to be in the standard JPEG format Format: movieclip.loadMovie(“filename”) Behaviors panel: an alternative to Actions panel Including two pictures in the Photos page – Items needed: movie clip, new set of buttons, actions – Utilize loadMovie action within buttons – Use Behaviors panel to add loadMovie action New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS426

XP Assigning a Name to the Movie Clip Instance New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS427

XP Using the Behaviors Panel Behaviors: pre-written ActionScript code Behaviors can be used to control an object Behaviors are assigned to movie clips, video, audio Assigning a behavior to an object – First select the object – Display the Behaviors panel – Click Add Behavior button to open the behaviors menu – Select behavior and then select appropriate options New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS428

XP Adding a Behavior New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS429

XP Photos Page Previewed in The Web Browser New Perspectives on Adobe Flash CS430