Flash Actionscripting Not A Big Deal

This is by far the most difficult thing to grasp when it comes to building a Flash website. Is it the end of the world? Nah, the truth is that you can build a full fledged Flash website using minimal Flash actionscript. Is it a must to use this Flash action scripting? Absolutely, you cannot escape this even if you build the most simple website or even super basic things like banners.

Scared Yet?

Don’t be. I am a designer and not too well versed in Flash actionscripting and I get by just nicely without learning moderate or advanced actionscripting. In fact, I probably know approx 5% of whole grand scheme of Flash coding. Once you decide to connect to databased or configure MP3 or Video players, it’s a must to either reverse engineer an existing .fla or learn code from scratch. When I say “reverse engineer, I don’t mean decompile other people’s work but to download existing free examples and learn from them.

Essential Flash Actionscript

So what are the most essential flash actionscript codes? I believe the following to be the most important actionscript functions in Flash.

- goto
- stop
- getURL

I won’t get into what those actions do in details but take special note on these actionscript modes. You can build a full Flash website using these functions. What will all be including using just these functions? You can build a Flash website with unlimited amount of pages, and add hyperlinks and email. This will be more than enough for 80% of people wanting a Flash site. Of course, these are the bare minimums and learning other variables would be especially helpful.

We recommend this book to get you started with Flash Actionscripting

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Building Flash Better Than HTML? - The debate whether to build a Flash or HTML is always ongoing and you be asking yourself the same question when building your new or redesigning a clients website.

I have been to conferences and been around design houses to find a common trend, and that trends points to how the older generation always defend HTML and generally hate Flash. Is it because this “older” generation are stubborn and don’t like change? Is it because they don’t know how to create a Flash website? Perhaps it’s a little of both.

I find that the new generation of web designers embrace Flash alot more, why? I think it’s because they entered an age where the first program they start to learn is Flash. Flash has such a larger learning curve than HTML, but designers now in days are picking it up faster than before, who know’s it may be the Redbull.

Flash or HTML

Back to the subject of creating a website in Flash or HTML. Here is what it comes down to, what is your target audience? If you are creating a website about quilting, consider your target base and the demographics. Chances are your age target is 40+ so creating a Flash website will be overkill for sure. Also, if you need a webpage that needs to have simple content, like a news style site then HTML is the ticket.

Why Flash Then

On the other hand, if your building a game website you need to realise the target age your reaching . Times have changed from the traditional static HTML world, and we live in a place when sound, video, and multimedia is taking the front seat of website attention. There is a reason why when a new game is released, you most always see a Flash based website promoting it. But if you think Flash is for gaming sites, think again. Websites such as Adidas and Mercedes Benz use full Flash websites to convey messages on the web.

Do I Hate HTML

Absolutely not! I believe there will always be HTML , and I know it will always be here as long as the www exists. I do however chuckle when the Flash haters express how Flash is evil and is a total waste of time if you want to convey a message. Flash is part of the ongoing future whether you like it or not, and you can’t stop the flood of the new generation jumping on broadband like it’s free money.

It’s All About Target Marketing

So again, Building a Flash website should be influenced greatly by your target market. If your building a site that is about communication, entertainment, art, or other high impact type of media, Flash has become the King of all placeholders. If it looks good, sounds good, and moves you…chances are your viewing a Flash website.

Popularity: 7% [?]

So you want to make a Flash website, well we will give you some tips on how to start to build one. The first thing I have to tell you is that you must have patience when building a flash website for the first time. It is definately much easier to build a html website than it is a Flash website.

First Thing Is First

You will need Flash Software, you cannot build a Flash website using programs like Dreamweaver or any other html based programs. If you dont want to buy a copy (since it is pretty pricey) of Flash right away, you can download a 30-day fully functioning demo here.

You can scroll down to quickly view the How To Build A Flash Website Youtube video, it covers the basics on building a flash website without getting into the super technical issues of Flash. In the video you will learn :

- The Difference between the stage and timeline
- Using The Rectangle and Text Tool
- How to create a backdrop
- Create buttons that direct to different sections
- Accessing the properties and action panels
- Stop Actions
- Goto Actions
- Testing Your Flash Website

Building A Flash Website

To upload your newly built flash website you will need to upload your site using FTP software.

View Our Your Tube Video ” How To Make A Flash Website”

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Yes, more free stuff! Take a look at a growing collection of free flash files including a flash clock, password, flash fonts, etc.

Download Free Flash Files Here

Free Flash Templates

Have yourself 3 free Flash templates, these clean style templates are a perfect starting point for your project . Each template has a different color theme and has 5 active sections ready to go. The download includes the source fla.

Download Your Free Flash Templates

Keep Us Alive.

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What Apple needs to do is get in gear and release an update with the Flash player enabled within the Safari Browser. From what I have heard through the grapevine is that Apple is finally listening to everybody and is finalizing Flash Lite 3, maybe it’s because Adobe decided to push forward to develop it with or without Apple’s wishes.  It’s not like Flash on a mobile phone has never been done, there are Nokias with the Flash player installed making video a better experience. Flash Lite 3 although is NOT a full blown plugin, we would like to see a FULL flash plugin for the web, now that would be dandy! We do see however some select full flash apps being used with Windows Mobile…Thanks Microsoft.

Flash is part of the web experience whether your a fan of Flash or not, so it’s not a matter of Apple or Adobe’s ego, time is the only essense here. Flash, like Java are virtual machine runtimes that have fancy code compiled for their respective platforms, so there may be a few bugs to be worked there as far as power consumption.

It’s overdue guys, but it’s coming.

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So you want to insert flash into your Myspace profile eh? Well it’s actually pretty simple if you have mastered the copy and paste technique, here is a step-by step tutorial how to embed flash into Myspace. First thing will need to do is have your Flash file hosted.                                                            

Step 1.  After the swf file is hosted somewhere, get the url where it’s hosted, example:  (http://www.hostingcompany/yourflashfile.swf)

Step 2. Log into your Myspace account and go to the section where you want the Flash to appear, copy and paste this code:

<embed
allowScriptAccess=”never”
src=”http://www.yourwebsite.com/mediaplayer.swf” quality=high pluginspage=”http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”
width=”300″
height=”300″>
</embed>

Step 3. Make sure that you replace this default line of code (src=”http://www.yourwebsite.com/mediaplayer.swf ) with your own.

Save and view your Myspace profile with your new Flashy insert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MreAXRX8KyE

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 How To Edit Flash Templates

Download your flash template manual here, this manual will cover how to edit flash. Here are some of the bases being covered in this flash manual:

- How To Edit Images
- How To Edit Text
- Explaination of Flash Timeline
- Organize Movieclips
- How To Insert Email Links
- Publish Flash Movies
- FTP
- Resource List

This manual is a general flash manual and not product specific. Great for beginners that need some early tips in setting up a flash website.

Download Flash Manual

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