Solving technology problems, one at a time
The trace() function in flash is used much like alert() in Javascript. You can use it to print the contents of a variable or the result of an expression. For example var theNumber = 2
Continue readingI’ve been building a simple flash video player based on the one here and had the idea to use dynamic text to easily toggle the play button between the play and pause states. The Webdings font character for the play state is “4” and for the pause state is “;”
To avoid problems with fonts not displaying on some machines, click the “Embed” button on the text properties panel when creating the dynamic text, and embed the numerals.
Continue readingThere are several examples of drawing methods that draw a cubic bezier line that can be changed interactively by moving two control points and two anchor points, which is exactly what I needed for a project. An example of one is HERE. This one is by Robert Penner, from his book: Robert Penner’s Programming Macromedia Flash MX”
I couldn’t figure out why I could not get these functions to work in my own pieces, even when I exactly duplicated the structure of his flash movie. They would work in his, but not in mine.
The first frame of the movie has two “include” references in it, to two actionscript files containing all the common functions for his drawing methods.
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#include "drawing_api_core_extensions.as"
#include "bezier_draw_cubic.as"
Some examples of using a motion-tweened shape as a particle. Click here to see some variations. This is based on a particle fire example created by Anton Volkov To use, simply drag the symbols from
Continue readingI have a flash file which loads an external SWF (call it external.swf) into the main timeline, on level 10. In this case, using _root or _parent to call the symbols on the main timeline will not work, since _root or _parent would refer to items on _level10.
The main timeline also contains a movie clip called “swapColors_mc” with two frames called “red” and green”.
To control the color change of swapColors_mc by clicking a button in external.swf once it is loaded, open “external.fla” (the original flash file from which external.swf is created) and add this actionscrip to the button:
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on (release) {
_level0.swapColors_mc.gotoAndPlay("green");
}
I’ve been working on a simulation of a fire extinguisher in Flash. One necessary feature is the ability for the viewer to aim the end of the hose at different targets. I had seen plenty
Continue readingNewbie Flash Tip #2: you can only test and play your movies after saving them. Why Flash isn’t consistent with Dreamweaver and Fireworks on that point (previewing using a temporary file) I don’t know.
Continue readingFlash experts can skip this, for sure.
OK – this is so I don’t forget again!
The key to getting things to work in Flash is simply: Everything MUST be named!
Every instance, scene beginning, significant frame, movie clip, etc. must have a name, and hopefully one that makes sense to you a week after creating the project.
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