1. Flash ActionScript Thomas Lövgren – Flash developer HUMlab & Kulturverket thomas.lovgren@humlab.umu.se Introduction to “What is Flash?" At first, said it was hard to sum that up in just a few words. Then I thought for a moment and replied that Flash was a "powerful animating and programming tool...”

2. Course structure ActionScript Lectures w. 37-38 ActionScript Lectures w. 37-38 Project w. 39 – 40 Project w. 39 – 40 Lectures – introducing concepts Lectures – introducing concepts Exercises – following lectures Exercises – following lectures Discussions – following lectures & exercises Discussions – following lectures & exercises Course literature: Internet & Flash documentation etc Course literature: Internet & Flash documentation etc Flash video - tutorials (in Swedish) Flash video - tutorials (in Swedish) http://www2.tfe.umu.se/systemteknik/webbteknik/flash/content.html

3. Why learn Flash & programming? (as a designer) Flash is the leading tool/technique for creating multimedia, presentations, games on Internet – and a platform for developing prototypes, desktop applications and mobile systems Flash is the leading tool/technique for creating multimedia, presentations, games on Internet – and a platform for developing prototypes, desktop applications and mobile systems Examples of general usage for a designer: Presentations / online portfolio Presentations / online portfolio Video applications for design-projects Video applications for design-projects Prototype development (usability tests) Prototype development (usability tests) Working in project-teams (communicate with/understand programmers) Working in project-teams (communicate with/understand programmers) Wii Remote control (WiiFlash), sensors, webcam etc. Wii Remote control (WiiFlash), sensors, webcam etc. and more…. and more….

4. Script overwiew ActionScript 2.0 (Flash 7 MX 2004) ActionScript 2.0 (Flash 7 MX 2004) Objectoriented, objects, classes, inheritance, components etc. ActionScript 3.0 (2006) ActionScript 3.0 (2006) Expands Flash Player API (The Flash Player API is the set of classes, objects, functions, and properties that come built into Flash Player Faster, cleaner, more powerful, easier to debug, and more feature rich.

5. Program workspace

6. ActionScript Panel 1. Add a new item to the script window 2. Find code 3. Find and replace 4. Insert target path browser 5. Check syntax 6. Auto-format code (you can change formatting preferences from the Options menu) 7. Show code hint (when at a relevant point) 8. Options menu (useful in configuring code hinting, code colors etc.) 9. View options (line numbers, word wrap, Esc shortcut keys) 10. Debug options 11. ActionScript reference 12. Pin active script within Actions Panel 13. Actions toolbox 14. Script navigator 15. Script pane

7. General & tip (1/2) Quick export of flash movie ”ctrl + Enter” Quick export of flash movie ”ctrl + Enter” Check syntax: or with ”ctrl + t” Check syntax: or with ”ctrl + t” Use suffix (_mc, _txt, _btn…) Use suffix (_mc, _txt, _btn…) Suffix give ’Codehints’ Suffix give ’Codehints’ Separate layer for ActionScript – easier to locate code! Separate layer for ActionScript – easier to locate code! Name your layers Name your layers Layers can be locked Layers can be locked Use folders in the library for better structure Use folders in the library for better structure Save your work often! Save your work often!

8. trace(”message”) trace(”message”) Print message in the output window Print message in the output window Comment! Comment! // – a single row // – a single row /* … */ – piece /* … */ – piece Use frames instead of scenes (ev. scene for ”preloader”) Use frames instead of scenes (ev. scene for ”preloader”) Colors and Workspace settings could be saved Colors and Workspace settings could be saved Publish settings: Export, Flash player version Publish settings: Export, Flash player version Simulate downloading: Export: View/Simulate Download Simulate downloading: Export: View/Simulate Download Framerate: fps, frames per second Framerate: fps, frames per second General & tip (1/2)

9. Information & help Flash documentation (Internet) Flash documentation (Internet) ActionScript Language Reference http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flash/ Flash ’Help file’: Local on computer (if installed)Flash ’Help file’: Local on computer (if installed) Webbsites: Flashkit.com, actionscript.org etcWebbsites: Flashkit.com, actionscript.org etc Forum: Flashkit.com, Flash-db.comForum: Flashkit.com, Flash-db.com Download and study exemplesDownload and study exemples BlogsBlogs Internet (googling )Internet (googling )

10. Links ActionScript Language ReferenceActionScript Language Reference http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flash/ http://livedocs.adobe.com/flash/9.0/ActionScriptLangRefV3/ Flashkit.com - movies, tutorials, forum etcFlashkit.com - movies, tutorials, forum etc http://www.flashkit.com/ Actionscript.org - movies, tutorials, forum etcActionscript.org - movies, tutorials, forum etc http://www.actionscript.org/ AccessibilityAccessibility http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/flash/ SoundSound http://www.kennybellew.com/tutorial/index.html#index.html VideoVideo http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/video_guide.html Components (external)Components (external) http://www.flashcomponents.net/