Flash :: Flash For Dummies?

Actionscript For Flash 5 Dummies: Scrolling A Text Box II
Hello,

I'm new to Flash and was working my way throught some tutorials to get the hang of it. However, I'm having a bit of difficulty with this particular one: http://www.flashkit.com/tutorials/In...-640/index.php

More specifically, "Step 1:Loading an external text file"
It calls for the following code:

onClipEvent (load){
this.loadVariables("text.txt");
scrolling = 0;
frameCounter = 1;
speedFactor = 3;
needInit = false;
}
onClipEvent (enterFrame){
if( needInit ){if(daTextBox.maxscroll > 1){//Text is loaded!
needInit = false;
}
}
if( frameCounter % speedFactor == 0){
if( scrolling == "up" && daTextBox.scroll > 1){daTextBox.scroll--;
}
else if( scrolling == "down" && daTextBox.scroll < daTextBox.maxscroll){
daTextBox.scroll++;
}
frameCounter = 0;
}
frameCounter++;
}
onClipEvent (data){
needInit = true;
}

I'm sorry if the wrap is wrong!
The following is the code I've inputted to Flash:

onClipEvent (load){
this.loadVariables("text.txt");
scrolling = 0;
frameCounter = 1;
speedFactor = 3;
needInit = false;
}
onClipEvent (enterFrame){if( needInit ){
if(textarea.maxscroll > 1){
//Text is loaded!
needInit = false;
}
}
if( frameCounter % speedFactor == 0){
if( scrolling == "up" && textarea.scroll > 1){
textarea.scroll--;
}
else if( scrolling == "down" && textarea.scroll < textarea.maxscroll){
textarea.scroll++;
}
frameCounter = 0;
}
frameCounter++;
}
onClipEvent (data){
needInit = true;
}

The only thing I've changed is "daTextBox" to "textarea" (just the name I've given it)

My problem is that it wont display the contents of the txt document.

If anybody knows the solution to this problem, please let me know. I'm still pretty much a Flash newbee so I'm sure it'll be something stupid on my part

Thanks,
Steve

BTW: If someone wants to see the fla email me: steve@revfans.com

Flash For Dummies Tutorial By Patrickmineault@sympatico.ca
Hi Guys,

My first post so here goes. I am by no means an expert or even intermediate with Flash although I do design web pages for a living!

I am currently re-designing my site in Flash which is proving a little tricky.....I'm sure we've all been there!!

I wanted to get a scrolling text box so I used the excellent tutorial by Patrick Mineault from this website. It works great until.............

It recommends that you simpy paste the text into the text box area then run the movie. Then if you go to debug/list variables you get the text in html format.I've then pasted that into the correct line of the action script for the text box however, when I run the movie for some reason it doesn't seem to recognise any font size smaller than 11pt. I've tried different fonts and sizes etc but no joy.The text displays fine but cant seem to change to a smaller size for some reason!

Any thought on this would be appreciated, I've even tried to email the author of the tutorial using the contact details in the the subject line but seems the address is invalid!

I would also be keen to hear of other ways of doing this.

Thanks in advance

Peace

Beggining Flash Game Programming For DUMMIES
I just got this book today and its helping me not post so much spam and stupid questions that it fills up this forum. I really like it and its great learning book=P

just wanted to say that

Flash5 For Dummies
I got in trouble cause of this book. I went to a site that said in the book at had tutorials and downloads. But wow to my surprise it is full of porn. The site is http://www.flashmaster.nu

Pshhhh

Ok my Question. What is the best 3d program for flash?

Key+Sound For Dummies (me)
Hi

How can I associate a sound to a key action? Let's say, I press SPACEBAR and I get a sound effect. I was trying to understand the
"mysound.start" thing but couldn't get to it and I don't even know if I was doin' the right thing.

Thanx

Uploading For Dummies
Hello,

Can someone tell me how to upload my website(done in Flash MX) to a server?
Do i need to break apart the text and graphics? If so, does that include dynamic text?
How do i make sure a browser(IE or Netscape) fits perfectly around my 640x480 website?

Uhhhgh...so many questions.

Warm regards, Roy Thank You for replying

Components For Dummies
I am trying to find a reference that shows me step by step how to use the different components Flash offers. Every thing I find shows me how to modify the component but I simply want to learn how to getting working first. Any suggestions for us novices please?

Sliders For Dummies
Can someone please help me with a super simple slider?
I can't seem to figure this out on my own.

I want the track to be a black rectangle and the slider to be an orange rectangle of the same width.
When it slides, a masked image moves up and down.
That's simple, right?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Help With Geturl For Dummies
I have purchased a menuclip.fla and within the actionscript I see the following code:

What am I doing wrong? I'm a nubbie with flash, so I need help.

thanks in advance
~Linuxchik

Attach Code

function butnClick(event:MouseEvent):void {
if (event.target.num == 0) { For the 1st button:
// Add your button click actions here
} else if (event.target.num == 1) { For the 2nd button:
// Add your button click actions here
} else if (event.target.num == 2) { // For the 3rd button:
// Add your button click actions here
} // repeat this for however many buttons you have
}

.....................................
So I added the following where I was supposed to, or So I thought! but it is not working.

function butnClick(event:MouseEvent):void {
if (event.target.num == 0) { on(release)
{
getURL("http://www.mishgallery.com/salonbordello/testindex.html", "_blank");
}

Preloaders For Dummies?
Hello.

I have read so many tutorials for how to create a preloader from scratch, Im about to pull my hair out. Not because I have read so many tutorials on how to do it, but because I don't understand any of them. Im not asking for help on how to create a "certain" preloader from scratch.

What I am asking is help with understanding the different code elements that make up a preloader, such as:

Math
Loader
URLrequest
and so on. There are other key words I have seen but dont recall them. Basically I am asking if anyone can walk through the process of coding a preloader. I understand the basics such as naming objects, creating objects, etc., I just need help with understanding the AS 3 code counterparts (yes, I am the dummy in this instance).

Is there anyone out there knowledgeable enough to help?

I am asking if someone can take the general work flow (concerning the code involved), and break it down step by step in detail as to what the code does and why it does what it does.

It doesn't do any good for me to create something from a tutorial if I don't understand what I am doing. Thanks for any and all effort. It is greatly appreciated.

-Kind regards, Tex

Actionscript Help For Dummies?
I've been scouring the net for a site that offers actionscript (specifically variable) tutorials/explanations for someone who is....well, a retard like me I finally ended up at actionscript.org, which is a great site, but even in the beginner tutorials that say there is no required previous knowledge to understand get me lost.

Is there a site that could give me some help with actionscript? Something that explains it simply and clearly?

Math For Dummies
Hi everybody,
I have a question for Math champions..which i'm not obviously.
I want to make a 3d carrousel, classic stuff. I won't be able to explain what i want so i uploaded 2 pictures. The first picture attached is what you can usually see and the second one is the effect i want...a little bit more 3d. Hope you'll understand what i mean.
For now here's the code i use onEnterFrame :

PHP Code:

this._x = Math.cos(this.angle) * radiusX + centerX; this._y = Math.sin(this.angle) * radiusY + centerY; var s = (this._y - perspective) /(centerY+radiusY-perspective); this._xscale = this._yscale = s*100; this.angle += this._parent.speed; this.swapDepths(Math.round(this._xscale) + 100); blur.blurX = Math.round(Math.sin(this.angle - Math.PI) * 10); blur.blurY = Math.round(Math.sin(this.angle - Math.PI) * 10); this.filters = [blur];

Thank's for the one who can help me a little bit.

Guestbook For Dummies.
This sound stupid.

Can you use a .wsc to create a guestbook that will work with flash. I tried one of the tutorials (PHP) and it didn't work I then asked my provider they said 'If the file isn't .wsc it will not work.'

Why does stuff just noy work!!!!

PS. I am crap at most script.

Help - In Need Of 'movie Loading' For Dummies
OK, I have a main movie that loads another movie a couple of levels down. (here's some of the script to give u an idea of the depth)
---------------------
_level0.earthport_ani.gotoAndPlay(2);

_level0.earthport_ani.earthport.gotoAndPlay(2);
stop ();

loadMovie ("design/earthport4.swf", earthport_load);
stop ();
---------------------
Now, the new movie loads fine EXCEPT the preloader part of it. I can't get the tellTarget part at the bottom to work. Is this something to do with paths or what? The preloader section works fine when not loaded into the parent movie. Here's the code from the 2nd movies preloader.
---------------------
earthportloadedbytes = getBytesLoaded();
earthporttotalbytes = getBytesTotal();
earthportloadedkbytes = Math.ceil(earthportloadedbytes/1000);
earthporttotalkbytes = Math.ceil(earthporttotalbytes/1000);
if (earthportloadedbytes == earthporttotalbytes) {
gotoAndStop ("earthport_scene1", 1);
}
earthportframe = int(earthportloadedbytes/(earthporttotalbytes/100));
tellTarget (earthportloader) {
gotoAndStop (earthportframe);
}
---------------------
Any help and I'd owe u a beer... I can attach the files if this helps?
Also is there anyway to test preloaders that are within parent movies - from flash - or do you need to publish both?

Actionscript Mode For Dummies
hi all,
i haven't been using flash for some time now, and just started making a website for a band i know.
i have one small 'problem', since i am not that good with actionscript i used to select the 'simple mode' (or something like that) which made the scripting a bit easier. Now i am using MX 2004, and i can't seem to find the option, is it gone or am i just overlooking the option?
hope someone can help me out here, it'll save me some hours of work

kind regards
tijs

Creating Masks With AS3 For Dummies
I have a slide show currently working the slides thumbnails by inc their x value.

I would like to place the slide "stage" in the middle of the screen but hide the first slide as it is moving.

I tried playing with the alpha but that has a pop effect.

So if some one could give me a quick mask example that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Adam

Targets - A Dummies Question
Hi!

I'm making a flash site for a furniture company and I would like to have a pop-up window (movie clip) for each product, for the customer to be able to view the product in a larger format.

My problem is that the target mc I'm loading the 'pop-up' mc into is smaller than the 'pop-up' mc - I tried to load it into _root, but then everything else disapears. How do I load it into a bigger target without loosing the background. I don't know how to load into levels (is this what I should do?) - I hope I'm making my self clear.

I would be really greatful if someone could help me or maybe come up with an idea for another solution. I tried making a normal pop-up window (java script), but it doesn't work in IE for some odd reason.

Thanks!!!
Marie

Actionscript For Creative 'dummies'
Hi,

I'm a designer and I never really programmed (scripted) anything, but the most basic like stop(); and play();. I still love Flash, but I feel so restricted sometimes. I tried some basic actionscript totorials, but I don't get it intuitively (I'm a creative with capital C, that is 'poor sense of logic'!).

Would anyone be able to recommend a tutorial or a book for real actionscript 'dummies' - where e.g. "functions" are explained step by step and with usefull examples?
I'm using Flash MX2004

Thanks!!!
Marie

Actionscript Book For Dummies...recommendation
Can anyone help suggest a really good book on actionscripting that will discusss targets, layers, preloading, functions, etc.

Thanks,
Andrea

ActionScript For Dummies: Scroll A Textbox
Hi guys!

I have a website that consists of a template with scrolling textbox in which when different buttons are clicked, new text loads into the box for the "new page."

Everything works fine, it is even online. But there is one thing I don't like about it I need help figuring out. If a user were to scoll down to the bottom, and then click on a new link to load the next "page," then the scoll would be stuck where they left it.

How would I make it load to the top of the page, regardless of where the user left off??

Thanks for the help!!

Here is the link: http://www.blackhillsvcf.com

Loading For Dummies: A Quick Question
When you export a movie with a loading bar, it appears to load instantly. When you view the .swf file, it still appears to load instantly. The only way I can view the movie actually loading (the bar is moving), is by pressing ctrl+enter AGAIN, after pushing it once.

What I want to know is if I were to export the movie, and upload the .swf file to a site, would it show it loading, or load instantly?

Looking For A Mouse Over Menu FOR Dummies Tutorial,,
Any help will be greatly appreciated,,

SZ

Isometrics For Dummies---Kinda Complicated Stuff (for Me At Least)
i am looking for a tutorial for using isometrics in flash. I am currently looking at others works (such as binaryHit's and FlashGuru's) but i dont understand it enough to write it myself or even use theirs. I dont know what the code does. I am looking for a very heavily documented Isometrics .fla or a tutorial on isometrics in flash.

i understand what i am doing is complicated, but i would really like to learn what it takes to make something lke this. And if i have the *guts* to take onthis kind of project.

[Edited by Anti-Matter0 on 07-21-2001 at 11:01 PM]

Making Movies For Dummies "talk"
this is where newbs and experienced flash users put questions and answers to any and all questions (i'm a newb) (how degrating i just called myself a newb! lol ) spamming is welcome in moderation don't be a potted meat head!

Flash Script? Is Writing Flash Code Possible? Without A Flash Builder Like Flash MX
I want to get into flash programming on my website, but i do not have thecash to buy flash MX 2004, it is 499 US thats a lot of money.

Basically what i want to know is, can flash be written as code, like HTML or do i need to buy a flash builder. And if so, what can i do about learning this code

Thanx from Fenton Multimedia Designs

Flash Versions Order Of Sequence : Flash 5, Flash MX, FlashMX 2004?
some questions on FLash versions

After Flash 5 was FlashMX then followed by FLashMX 2004 ???

which means Flash MX is version 6??

thanks for answering.

Can You Open A Flash File Made With Flash Mx, Using Flash Mx 2004?
Hi,

I have recently purchased flash mx 2004. However when I go to open my old flash mx flies in flash mx 2004 all I get is unexpected file format! Why is this? Also when I open flash mx 2004 and try to open one of the sample files it comes up with the same message!

Also when you download and install an extension from macromedia exchange, how do you then use the extension feature in flash? Were do you find it?

Any help on these matters would be appreciated?

Thank you

How Do You Update A Flash Object Without Flash? Selling A Flash Site.
I am wondering what may be a large wonder. If I create a website with flash etc for somebody else, how can they update their own site? For example, if they have an 'updates' page, I don't want to have to keep on redoing it for them in Flash. I heard words like 'strings' and 'XML' kicking about, but don't really understand it. Thanks,

Alex

Making A Flash Website (flash In A Flash In A Flash Etc...)
I am working on a flash "database" as it's called and to make this possible I will need to have multiple flash documents that load within a flash to keep the loading time down, otherwise the filesize would be astronomical!

To see what I am working on go to http://www.axeldesigns.com/h2/helpdatabase then click "menu button" to open the project. Hopefully then you can get a good sense of what I am trying to accomplish...So when you click on the individual links, I want a flash within the main flash to load completely on top with it's own load bar and everything.

I'm not very experienced with action scripting, but I am quite experienced with the animation side of flash and drawing tools etc...

So, if anyone knows of any tutorials or examples that I could work off of, please help me out.

Alex

Will An Swf Made In Flash MX That Is Exported As Flash 4- Play On Flash 4 Cpu's?
Will an swf made in Flash MX that is exported as Flash 4- play on Flash 4 cpu's? How do I get my mx movies compatible with people who only have Flash 4???? I ask this because I exported a movie made in Mx to Flash 4, so I am just wondering if it will play on all Flash computers that have Flash 4, eventhough they may not have flash 5 or mx. Thanks...

Updating Flash 4 Code To Flash MX 2004 Or Flash 8
Can Flash MX or Flash 8 automatically update old flash code or update depreciated code? I have a flash 4 project that when resaved as Flash MX 2004, obviously starts to throw errors.

Flash 8: Button For Flash Paper In A Flash Presentation
I am new to Flash. I have a presentation I am putting together. I need a button to open a Flash Paper (Flash Papers 2) .

How do I do this?
Does anyone sell premade buttons?

Thanks!

Flash Over Html, Hide Flash Access Html After Flash Movie Ends
We've got a green screened video playing in a flash movie over top of our html content.

when the movie ends, flash uses external interface .api to call a javascript function which swaps the flash movie out with a 5 x 5 pixel flash movie (rewrites the <div>).

this works and you can interact with the html content after the flash movie in all browsers except firefox...!

anyone know of any work-arounds or is there a better way of handling flash over html in this fashion?

any input would be greatly appreciated!

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE BG OF THE FLASH THING ON FLASH KIT W/OUT USING FLASH?
Plz tell me because I am making a little kid's website and they'll b sad if doesn't match the flash.

Yikes, Can I Go From Flash MX To Flash MX 2004 To Flash MX?
I have flash MX on my computer here at home, I went on campus to edit a file in a class in Flash MX 2004, now I am trying to reopen the file in Flash MX here at home again and it won't allow me to open it, saything there is an unexpected format error.

Is this caused from opening it in Flash MX 2004? Is there a way to revert the file back to Flash MX? Yikes!

Flash/CSS Question: Can Flash In A <div> Overlay Another <div> Containing Flash?
I'm guessing this answer is no but thought I'd ask anyway.

With the "wmode" set to transparent I can get my top div to overlay text/background images no problems but not on top of another flash movie.

Can it be done?

Flash 8 Function Not Working In Flash 8 But In Flash 9
I use this piece of Code from Senoculars Matrix Tutorial:

Code:
import flash.geom.Matrix;
function duplicateMovieClipImage(from, target){
var pics= new flash.display.BitmapData(from._width, from._height);
pics.draw(from);
target.attachBitmap(pics, 1);
}
duplicateMovieClipImage(this.viewer.picHolder, doubleSize.bigpic);
var my_matrix2 = doubleSize.bigpic.transform.matrix;
my_matrix2.scale(1, 1);
my_matrix2.tx = -2;
my_matrix2.ty = -2;
doubleSize.bigpic.transform.matrix = my_matrix2;

duplicateMovieClipImage(viewer.picHolder, normalSize.bigpic);
var my_matrix = normalSize.bigpic.transform.matrix;
my_matrix.scale(0.25, 0.25);
my_matrix.tx = 0;
my_matrix.ty = 0;
normalSize.bigpic.transform.matrix = my_matrix;
When I play this in a Flash 9 Player everything is made correct (A Pic generated in its Original Form and one in its 0.25/0.25 Size.

But when I watch this in a Flash 8 Player (8.0.22.0 that is)

the Script is ignored

any1 know why???

Firefox Recognizes Quicktime As Flash Player Instead Of Flash As Flash Player
I don't know why when I go to websites and all those old Flash sites don't work anymore, but I get the "Quicktime Question Mark" logo. I've tried reinstalling Flash Player so many times but the quicktime logo keeps coming up. I've tried this both with Firefox and Safari and it just doesn't work.

Nested Function Locks Flash On 2nd Frame. Cold Fusion Problem Or Flash MX ? Or Me?
It's been three days I don't sleep. Anybody,please,.....

// Flash MX code 2nd frame

stop();
validatePackage = new LoadVars();
validatePackage.onLoad = function() {
if (validatePackage.success == "0") {
setPackageCheck = new LoadVars();
setPackageCheck.onLoad = function() {
_root.packageCheck.text = setPackageCheck.packageCheck;
_root.unlockCheck.text = setPackageCheck.unlockCheck;
_root.gotoAndStop("exPrep");/* without this line
everything works perfectly !!!!!. WHY ! I mean I have other functions sending time line somewhere else accordint to if statments and it works fine!*/
};
setPackageCheck.accountID = _root.accountID.text;
setPackageCheck.sendAndLoad("setPackageCheck.cfm", setPackageCheck, "POST");
} else {
_root.packageCheck.text = validatePackage.packageCheck;
_root.unlockCheck.text = validatePackage.unlockCheck;
_root.vdDays1.text = validatePackage.vdDays;
_root.vdHours1.text = validatePackage.vdHours;
_root.vdMinutes1.text = validatePackage.vdMinutes;
_root.gotoAndStop("exPrep");/* without this line
everything works perfectly !!!!!. WHY !*/
}
};
validatePackage.accountID = _root.accountID.text;
validatePackage.sendAndLoad("validatePackage.cfm", validatePackage, "POST");

<--- "validatePackage.cfm"--->

<cfquery name="validatePackage" datasource="dsn">
SELECT packageCheck, unlockCheck
FROM accounts
WHERE accountID=#form.accountID#
</cfquery>
<cfif validatePackage.packageCheck lt 1>
<cfoutput query="validatePackage">
&success=0&
&unlockCheck=#urlencodedformat(validatePackage.unl ockCheck)#&
</cfoutput>
<cfelse>
<cfset vdDays=#DateDiff("d",#validatePackage.packageCheck #, now())#>
<cfset vdHours=#DateDiff("h",#validatePackage.packageChec k#, now())#>
<cfset vdMinutes=#DateDiff("n",#validatePackage.packageCh eck#, now())#>
<cfoutput query="validatePackage">
&packageCheck=#urlencodedformat(validatePackage.pa ckageCheck)#&
&unlockCheck=#urlencodedformat(validatePackage.unl ockCheck)#&
&vdDays=#vdDays#&
&vdHours=#vdHours#&
&vdMinutes=#vdMinutes#&
</cfoutput>
</cfif>

<--- "setPackageCheck.cfm"--->

<cfquery name="setValues" datasource = "dsn">
UPDATE accounts
SET packageCheck= #now()#
WHERE accountID=#form.accountID#
</cfquery>
<cfquery name="setPackageCheck" datasource = "dsn">
SELECT packageCheck, unlockCheck
FROM accounts
WHERE accountID=#form.accountID#
</cfquery>
<cfoutput query="setPackageCheck">
&packageCheck=#urlencodedformat(setPackageCheck.pa ckageCheck)#&
&unlockCheck=#urlencodedformat(setPackageCheck.unl ockCheck)#&
</cfoutput>

[MX04] Open A New Link In Html By Clicking Button In Flash (no Code In Flash).
Hi,

I'm facing problem while opening a new html window by clicking button created in flash.

For this i don't want to write single code in flash but want to handle this through the html only.

For this I have used <embed> tag to add swf file in html. but could not add click code in HTML on that button.

Could any one help me out?

Get Variables Inside Flash 9 Movie With Action Script 3 Using Flash Selenium And Sele
Dear All,

I use Selenium RC and I want to do automated flash testing. I am using Flash Selenium.

Web Application has Flash content (SWF file) and is Version 9.0 and uses Action Script 3.0.

I cant use the functions like flashApp.Getvariable(varName) or flashapp.TotalFrames() as mentioned http://code.google.com/p/flash-selenium/

I see documentation and functions listed at ( http://www.adobe.com/support/flash/p...h/scriptingwit hflash_03.html functions for Flash 5 ), i cant use them . I get exception all the time.

I am trying to access the varibales in the flash movie which is loaded using GetVariable but Selenium throws an exception but no information message.

I want to ask can I use functions listed on above adobe site with Flash 9 movie with Action Script 3.0 ? If not is there any way to get variables inside Flash movie using Flash External Interface and Selenium RC ?

Best Regards !

/ Yogesh