Flash :: I Guess I Must Be Stupid Or This Book Isn't At The Right Level

>>best Book To Buy For Actionscript (intermediate Level) ?
I want to buy a book that teaches flash actionscripting...any suggestions??

I don't know programming, except a very basic knowledge javascript and intermediate with flash actionscript. Basically I'm looking for a book to go through each code and explain it with examples and more importantly, what is it used for.

thanks

Mid To High Level Book Suggestions?
I just got the Sam's "Teach Yourself Flash MX in 24 Hours" book, and it's a pretty good starter book. Basic drawing, animation, sound, and some actionscript.
I think I'll be able to get the basics from it.

But VERY soon I'm going to need to be able to create a Web interface very much like what's here:
http://qd.modernpostcard.com/cgi-bi...d9Xpo9Y8Vxyhjz0

(If the link doesn't work, it's an interactive postcard creator using Flash to allow the user to select postcard size, alignment, insert text, etc. It then sends a copy of the completed postcard to the printers, and stores the card in the user's account.)

What are some book/help sites out there that will help me learn what it takes to do something like that?

Then, I'm also going to need help developing my skills in a more aesthetic way, in order to do animations like:
http://www.absolutionz.com/projects/devprojects.asp
and
http://www.2advanced.com/flashindex.htm
or at least start out with
http://winnovate.com/index.htm

Less animated movie type stuff, which it seems all Flash how-to books I've seen seem to focus on, and more Flash that's incorporated into a site's design.

Anyway, any recommendations for books that focus on functional Web applications mainly, and secondly books that help with creating Flash for integral site design.

Thanks for any replies!!
Liam
druid@NOSPAMcelticbear.com

Level 0 Loads A Movie Into Level 1 - Buttons On Level 0 Still Appear To Be Active Underneath
I am working on an interactive cd. My main movie plays in level 0 and clicking on an option loads the relevant movie into level 1.

The problem I have is that the main movie's buttons are still active underneath and if you click on the wrong place in the movie on level 1 it jumps to a new movie because of the button below.

Is there a way to somehow deactivate these while there is a movie playing above?

Stupid Question Coming From Stupid Newb...
Yeah, I know this is probably the stupidest question you're ever going to here, but I'm desperate and I can't find out anywhere, so as embarassing as it is, this is my last resort.

How do you increase or decrease the thickness of lines in Flash MX?

Stupid Workspace Changing After I Save It (Or Stupid Me)
I have a dual-monitor setup and I have my timeline, stage, and properties panel on one monitor. That's all fine.

On the other monitor, I have the actions panel in one group and about 3 panels grouped into another group. The actions panel takes up the left 2/3 of the screen and the other panels take up the right 1/3 of the screen. That works fine.

I want to switch the actions panel with the other group of panels, so that the actions is on the right 2/3 of the screen and the other group of panels are on the left 1/3 of the screen. Problem is when I save my workspace layout, it somehow defaults the actions to the left side of teh screen and the other panels to the right side of the screen! It's driving me crazy. Anyone have any tips? Run into similar problems?

Suggest A Good Book Thread...any Book
Hey!
Here you can post any program book!
Just a few examples:

1) Flash

2) PhotoShop (or any photo editing program)

3) Other

Thanks in advance!

OK, I Guess I'll Try Again......
I guess my post that i posted yesterday was deleted or moved so i guess i'll try again with a little more details.

I read a tutorial on how to make a feedback form. Now, i got it all set up and added a preloader and all and have all the action script set up but i don't know how to create a perl file to run the rest of my script. My flash movie sends the info that the user types in to a perl file and the perl file is supposed to send it to my email. I don't know how to create perl or use cgi yet. I only understand the basic consept of cgi/Perl, not the language.

I am using Flash 5 too if that helps. If anyone could help it would be more than appreciated. To take a look at the movie, go to http://www.geocities.com/reterdz . If you really want to help you could download the movie, http://www.geocities.com/reterdz/download/tut.fla , look at what i have done and see if you can make a perl file that will work.

Another thing i was to do with this movie is make a simple error message so that if a field is left blank, it will send you to the error message frame in the Thank you scene instead of the thank you message frame. The message just has to say "orry, you need to fill out all the information. Click "here" to return to the form." then make "here" a different color and make it a link which will send you back to the form on the scene "form".

One more thing. I don't want anyone navigating through the movie without using my navigation in the movie itself. How can i get rid of the forward, back, options when you right click in the movie? Or how can i make it so that they don't work. I tried making new scenes and all but i don't know what else to do. Please help. I'm desperate.

Peace

flash Rulez

P.S. Please don't move my post anymore . Can't fine the post i posted yesterday

Guess What......
I'm stuck with Email from flash....

I've downloaded every FLA I can find, I Tryed every possible option and still it don't work...

I can't even get HTML form to email me....

I am DUMB !!!

Please have pitty on me and help....

I Guess No One Can Help?
I posted here about a problem I am having with Flash, but only got one response.

I am not sure if thats because, no one cares or no one knows.
Either way I could realy use some help.

Does anyone one if there is a maximum number of layers with motion tweens assigned to them on the stage together at one time?
Sounds wierd I know, but my original post will help:

orignal thread

Thanks if you can offer any help...

I Guess No One Knows How To Do This...?
Hello, thanks to everyone for all the help. you guys have been a big help! I have another problem. I'm very new to this, and I'm trying to work with an .XML playlist. I actually need it to do a lot of things that I can't figure out how to do.. I'm sure there are tons of you out there who know exactly what to do.. http://www.kirupa.com/web/xml/examples/MP3playlist.htm I'm tried this, and it works, only I can't load album artwork using this. I also want to add a few other data fields, I would like when you click on the song title to play the audio track, but also show the Artist name, the song title, the artist record label, a link to the artists website and a short section for comments from the artist about the song. Is it possible to do something like this, using this tutorial? again, I'm so new that I can't figure this out.. I'd appreciate the help! thanks How would I add an image to this? I want to display album artwork in the audio player.

Not An Easy One I Guess ...
hello all!

what i need to establish:
- i've got a square (graphic symbol)
- i put the square into a movie clip
- i place my movie clip on the main timeline

- i want to transform the movie clip instance so that the sqare no longer appears as a sqare but perspectively scaled.

i know that this is not possible by scaling and only is possible by shaping the suare graphic symbol. but there has to be a way using action script to manage what i need to.

any suggestions?
thanks, elo.

I Guess Noone Knows The Answer
I know you're not all ammatures here..
So somone please help me out..

I need to know how to set an action on a button so it will run a differant program (exe file)

Can someone PLEASE help?

I Guess I Need To Reword This....
What i'm wanting to do is create a menu system out of an image. The image is going to be composed of 4 - 5 images in a row. I know how to make buttons and all that jaz. But I know everyone has seen the menu systems in which when you rollover them they move from left to right. This is basically what I wish to do. The only difference being... I dont want it to go but so far and I only want it to happen on a mouse event/ mouse down. The mouse event thing is no problem but I don't know what code to put on the button to get the images to slide to a certain position. I'm going to try and find an example to refer to but till then please for the love of god help me out here. lol
PAT

Toughest One I Guess
hi guys,
i had posted similar one in another section too, but i guess it was the wrong one to place, anyway this time i have a very challenging job to do, and i have no clue where and how to begin, let me explain:
its gonna be a clothing and accessories site, where the user will be given choice of his color or could be predetermined color or both, the cloth is gonna have a texture which will not change with the change of color like supposing, a shirt has folds with shadows, this will stay with the change in color, before i say anything, have a look at:

http://www.truespectra.com/demo/suitandtie/

amazing isint it, but i believe it can be done in flash too, am i right?

and yes, the main problem is that this will be admin based too, like he scans a models image saves as jpeg or gif or whatever and marks some points saying that this area is for suit or tie or shirt and specify the colors,(i am really confused myself) which inturn will reflect on the website and the normal user will be able to make selections of colors etc,

like another image has a model with a pullover and a trouser only, and he can change the color of these two only, so obviously he will be able to see only two color select options.

but the question is how and where do i begin,

this is going to take time i know,
if u have seen a site like what i need, let me know !

waiting for someone to reply
thanx
rex

I Guess There Is No Answer
I'll repost because I've searched this site and there isn't a clean answer, but I'll keep trying:

This has to be a simple problem, but I've tried every combination known to man.

I have three frames. One is for the "control panel". This is in one .swf file. One is for the returned data through a Cold Fusion file. The last is for the activex program mapguide (not important for this question).

I have a text box called atest and the variable is owner_name. I want the user to be able to insert a last name, hit the submit button, and the variable be sent to a cfm file that populates a flash file.

When I attempt:
on (release, keyPress "<Enter>") {
set (owner_name, owner_name);
getURL ("javascript: open('http://gisserver/manassas/cfdocs/owner_result.cfm?owner_name=' + owner_name,'dataframe')", "dataframe", "POST");
}
nothing is pushed through.

If I put in:
......owner_result.cfm?owner_name=smith', 'dataframe...... I get my answers. The flash result would work if the variable could be pushed through.

How Many Mb Are These Jpegs, Best Guess?
I'm trying to figure out how optimized these images are.

How big of a file do you think they are on average?

http://www.twinphotographie.com/

Thanks.

Dont Guess Anyone Knows
This is my 3rd post without a reply. I want to know if there are any sites out there that have practice exams for Flash MX. My 3rd post. I know there is some out there cause I had them before my pc crashed. I cant find them now though.

Variable? I Guess?...
ok, here is the deal.
i am making these presentations in flash. while it's preloading there is some text at the botom that as the presentaiton's revision number. i would also like the presenter to be able to hit the "r" key on the keyboard to get the revision number to show up at any time durring the presentation. i know i will probably have to just create an invisible button or something that has the revision number as the over state, but how can i get it to where i only have to change the revision in one place?

would i set up blank text fields or something and get tehm a name or make variables or give up?

no idea how to do what i want to do. any help would be great.
thanks

Senocular Guess What
lil help please?...cant implelemt it (whats new)

im a cry now

... Question... I Guess...
Usually I do something on Swish 2.0, and am satisfied with it... but I do not know how to enter it to play in Flash MX...
So I was curious if it is possible to use the two together, and if yes, HOW?

THANKS for all your help, even if it was just viewing the post

oooh... and help with preloaders would be great... i know the commands and all... but i dont know which go where, and after i do one, i dont know if it works or not.

Thanks again

Guess The Number
hi,

could anyone help me to crate a simple "guess the number" game..in which computer select =random(100)+1 (invisible)and I try to guess the number typing my number in a"input box"
I only wnt to know how the script-coders are used...

thanks

I Guess This Is Impossible Help Pls
I am new to this pls help
I am using flash 4

i know the basics
i am an on air designer trying to show my low res. quicktime (10)
on my web page
what i want is several buttons and when yo click on one
it uploads, transfer, or opens my movie in a small window of its
own over the same page.

i have made the buttons but can't figure out how to tell it what to do

what do i do?

do i have to bring in all 10 .mov into flash (hope not)?
or do i ftp them?
or do i use an action?
or is it html (which i dont know how to do)

thanks
lc

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Tell Target... I Guess Not
hi there folks, could someone please help me as i am a little confused and deadline around the corner...

i have a movie clip that plays but at the end of the movie clip i want it to stop on that frame but then go up to the main time line where it is on and play the rest of the time line from there...

could someone please help... i would've used tell target but i don't think that is used anymore...

many thanks

tasvino

Anyone Dare To Guess?
This is kicking my ass.

Why wont both of these function in the same movie.. only the Card List Lister will work...

// Card List Listener//
var listListener:Object = new Object();
listListener.change = function() {
loadMovie(cardList.selectedItem.data,"loadCardMain .loadCardInside")
}
cardList.addEventListener("change", listListener);

// Animation List Listener//
var animationListener:Object = new Object();
animationListener.change = function() {
loadMovie(animationList.selectedItem.data,"loadCar dMain.loadAnimationInside")
}
animationList.addEventListener("change", animationListener);

Guess I Confused Y'all
Is this any better...

I have a main movie which calls preloader swfs into a loadarea on the main stage.

The preloader swfs load the main content of each section i.e.
portfolioloader.swf loads portfolio.swf

Problem is, my preloaders load into the right area but my loaded swfs pop up into a seperate window, I have tried messing with _parent etc but then it just loads it over the top of my main movie.

like this: www.motionlab.co.uk/newsite/newsite.html (click on portfolio)

If you need it, here is the code on my preloaders...

// Hides displayed elements
this.reelmc._visible = false;
this.loadbar._visible = false;
percent_display = "";
//create a new movieclip to load
//the external movie into
this.createEmptyMovieClip("container",this._root.l oadarea);
//load the external movie into the new movieclip
container.loadMovie("portfolio.swf");
//check the download status of the external
//movie once every frame
this.onEnterFrame=function(){
//trace the percentage of the movie that has loaded
percent=(this.container.getBytesLoaded()/this.container.getBytesTotal())*100;

if(!isNan(percent)){
// trace(percent+"% loaded");
if (percent == 0) {
percent_display = "";
} else {
percent_display = Math.ceil(percent) + "% LOADED.";
}
this.loadbar._visible = true;
this.loadbar._xscale = percent;
if (percent > 1) {
this.reelmc._visible = true;
}
container.stop();
} else {
// trace("0% loaded");
}
if(percent == 100){
delete this.onEnterFrame;
this.reelmc._visible = false;
percent_display = "";
this.loadbar._visible = false;
loadMovieNum("portfolio.swf",this._root.loadarea);
}
}
stop();

I Guess Im 1/2 N00b
I'm pretty young so I guess I have a little ways to go. I'm decent at flash actionscript but the design I've never really been all that good at. It there anygood websites that offer tips or tricks on how to design good flash website, or templates I could look at and get ideas from? I've had some luck with trying to "duplicate" a website I see online for practive, but I want to come up with something on my own.

Flash Bug(i Guess)
this is not working

var keyObject:Object = new Object();
keyObject.onKeyDown = function() {
if (Key.isDown(Key.DELETEKEY))
{
trace("is working");
}

};
Key.addListener(keyObject);

this is working:

var keyObject:Object = new Object();
keyObject.onKeyDown = function() {
if (Key.isDown(Key.SPACE))
{
trace("is working");
}

};
Key.addListener(keyObject);

And I don't think that my keyboard is broken!

Usefull I Guess...
Sorry if wrong forum but i just read a book and learned all the diffrent controls flash has...Some of these controls can be done in action script and can also be done in normal flash which is weird...What would you choose?Scripting it Or Using A Behavior Or Somthing Method?

Simple I Guess But ...
Hello

For my image gallery I put this actionscript on the first frame but it doesn't work:

Code:
var i = 1;
while (i<12) {
this["knop"+i].onRollOver = function() {
this.gotoAndPlay("over");
};
this["knop"+i].onRollOut = function() {
this.gotoAndPlay("out");
};
this["knop"+i].onRelease = function() {
gotoAndStop(i);
};
counter;
i++;
}
stop();
- The rollovers work, but onRelease doesn't bring me to the next frame but directly to the last frame and there I cannot click anything anymore.

- My pics are on frames 1 to 11
- I use 1 MC (knop) that I place on the stage several times to use as a button with the instance names: "knop1" and "knop2" ... etc. They are all on the first frame.

Anyone plz?

XML Not Loading, I Guess
Hi. I've been working on this website:

http://www.ritabotelho.com/index04.html

The main .swf gets a bunch of info from an .xml file, and only after it successfuly loads all that info does it show the site's contents. What I'm getting are very inconsistent results. Sometimes everything works, sometimes something, I'm not sure what, doesn't.

See the attached code. When the xml loads correctly the .swf should go to the next frame, where authoring-time menus should be visible. I placed a visible MovieClip on the 1st frame as well and whenever the site fails, it doesn't however, remain on the 1st frame, because the MovieClip disappears. It doesn't go to the 2nd frame as it is supposed to, however. So where does it go? Any ideas on what might be causing this? I'm quite new to XML so I'm guessing it might have something to do with it, but it works flawlessly when I test the movie in Flash. I included a sample of what the XML looks like.

Thank you for your help.

Attach Code

//1st frame
stop();
var myRoot:MovieClip = this;
//* * * * * XML * * * * *
var xmlObjects:XML = new XML();
xmlObjects.ignoreWhite = true;
xmlObjects.load("xml/myData.xml");
xmlObjects.onLoad = XMLcorrect;
//* * * * * FUNCTIONS * * * * *
//Adapted from "Flash 8 ActionScript Bible" (Wiley).
function XMLcorrect (success:Boolean):Void {
if (success && this.status == 0) {
myRoot.nextFrame();
} else {
trace("Error: "+this.status);
}
}
//
//XML file (myData.xml)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<person>
<name>John Doe</name>
<age>99</age>
</person>

Guess Game
Hi,
Could anyone help me create a simple GUESS GAME in which computer selects randomly(1-100) and let us guess what the correct number is...thus I will learn the usage of "if....text-field...inputbox...

thanks

I Guess It's About Easing...
Hi all

I built http://www.betsytaylor.co.uk.

Fine and good.

However, the menu doesn't work quite the way that it should. When the mouse leaves the trigger aream the menu stops dead in it's tracks. I'd really like to gently come to a halt.

This is the code that moves the menu:

PHP Code:

mask_mc.onEnterFrame = function ()
{
    if (_root._ymouse>235 && _root._ymouse<500) {
        this._y += (_root._ymouse-this._y)/6;
        menu_mc._y = this._y;
    }
};

Everyday there's something new to learn - for me, today, I think it's easing!

I'd appreciate any help to get this done.

Many thx.

Cello

Please Guess The Font?
i am working on some work for the mag i work for at home and on my home pc i do not have the font. i was curious if anyone knows the name of this font? i think its a pretty popuilar one.

http://www.ohiou.edu/perspectives

the font that under any of the stories that the title is in, and i think its the same one the title of the mag is in.

thank you,
Dave

oh yeah, and if anyone knows it, also do u know where i can get it?

Localtoglobal I Guess
ok, a brief sketch.

level0 holds a swf scaled at 100% height and width
level1 holds a swf at a fixed size

now when i load the movie in level1 it gets scaled along with the level0 movie.
anyway to prevent this from happening? think it should have to do with globaltolocal positioning but can't get it to work.

any help is greatly appreciated.

XML Encoding I Guess
hi,

i'm loading an XML into my flash text fields.
as an exemple i have this word : St?dter. in Flash if i trace the value i have this. St�er...

what's the matter with letters like : ?,Caf?,?..
i tried encoding <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> but the values are returning bad again.

visit : http://www.flashmedia.mxhost.ro/time to see my file
thanks

On Mouse Press Load Movie To Level 5 And Unload Movies From Level 6.7.8.9 ?
on mouse press Load movie to level 5 and unload movies from level 6.7.8.9 ???

Ok here is the deal
I have 5 Music files I created 5 seperate flash movies for them

As it stands now I have

Track1 load to level 5
Track2 load to level 6
Track3 load to level 7
Track4 load to level 8
Track5 load to level 9

The problem is how I script that if I press track 1 to unload level 6,7,8,9 so only level 5 track playing

Or if I press Track 5 to unload movies level 5,6,7,8

This is what I done so far
http://eclipse.ebportal.com/bluenotejazz/index.html

If u press on track1 and after on track 2, Track 2 will just upload new flash file on top of track 1.

Now I am not good with this but, this is what I tried
This is as code stands

on (press) {
stopAllSounds();
loadMovieNum("flash/track1.swf", 5);
play();
}

This is what I was trying to do for TRACK 1

on (press) {
stopAllSounds();
loadMovieNum("flash/track1.swf", 5);
play();
}
on (release) {
unloadMovieNum(6,7,8,9);
}

---------------------------------

Of course for Track 2 this would be

on (press) {
stopAllSounds();
loadMovieNum("flash/track2.swf", 6);
play();
}
on (release) {
unloadMovieNum(5,7,8,9);
}

ETC

Pls some help need it here and its URGENT !!!

Stupid Question,,, But Feeling Stupid
why wont " ' " show up in my text which is dynamically imported from an html formated text file.

i know that " means " but what is a single quote?

helllppp

Stupid Employer, Stupid Question
hey there. my current employer currently has a header on an html page with a banner inside it. it looks like crap but his "web guys" have told him that the banner must stay in the exact place that it is otherwise it will destroy his flux capacitor or something along those lines. so im stuck trying to design a flash header for this guy with an animated gif banner inside of it. kinda like the gif banner is the hole in the donut. i guess my question is how do i leave the hole in the donut blank for the gif to be tossed into it without having to make 8 "sliced" flash movies that work together? sorry and i know theres an easy way to do this, i just havent touched flash in a few months and im rusty as all tarnation. thanks in advance

Stupid Question Hopefully Not Stupid Answers
I have put a trace on a variable that i use as a counter in a loop.
Everytime the loop in initialized it shows "undefined" before counting.
Can I ignore this or will it have some future impact on my work????

Load A Movie To Another Level And The Buttons In Base Level Still Work..
Hello,

Ok Im loading movies into level 95. The problem is the movie at the base has buttons in it and they are still active through the movie that is loaded at lvl 95. So to fix this I made one large button and made the movie at lvl 95 dragable. The only issue with this method is now your cursor looks like it is always active. So has anyone figured out a way to block buttons that are at the base level if you load into a upper level?

Thanx
Robert

Why Are Buttons On A Lower Level Still Active In A Loaded Higher Level...?
hi, i'm very new to flash and am in the midst of trying to figure out the loadMovieNum feature. I have the one swf loading into a higher level (say 10) but the buttons on the level below it are still active (ie you get the little hand if you roll over them) even though they are no longer visible. I tried loading all levles into 0, but that means the page below goes away entirely and i like having the preloader of the next page pop up over the current page. I've tried just loadMovie into an empty MC but get the same result. Can anyone help?

thanks in advance!!

[F8] Quiz Template Not Computing Score When Loaded Into A Level Other Than Level 0...
I have created a 10 question multiple choice quiz from the quiz template, and it works perfectly as its own .swf. But when I use the moviecliploader object to load the quiz .swf into another .swf in level 5 (or any other layer other than 0) I am able to go through all of the questions and get the correct feedback, but when the results frame shows up, nothing gets computed. Does anyone know what I should do to allow this to work? Thanks.

Quiz Template Not Computing Score When Loaded Into A Level Other Than Level 0...
I have created a 10 question multiple choice quiz from the quiz template, and it works perfectly as its own .swf. But when I use the moviecliploader object to load the quiz .swf into another .swf in level 5 (or any other layer other than 0) I am able to go through all of the questions and get the correct feedback, but when the results frame shows up, nothing gets computed. Does anyone know what I should do to allow this to work? Thanks.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Question
But I need to know.

I'm learning actionscript.

How come sometimes the script is placed in ( ) and sometimes in [ ] what does each mean?

ex. (if move ==1)

or _root.Array [_root.arraysize]

thank you

I Guess I'll Put All 3 Things In The Same Post...
aight look... first of all, i am in need of voice actors. anybody who is interested should send me an email w/ them say "i want to be a voice actor"... i will reply to those who i believe should take part in the series.

secondly, i need a music artist that can create loops for different scenes such as fight scenes, normal talking scenes, and different dramatic situations. anyone who is interested please send me a sample of any of your work that could be appropriate for a series (there can be more than 1 artist)

third and foremost, i need some help... i have seen in some flash movies that it is possible to surround the screen with black so that no matter how it was resized, anything that is not on the actual workspace is not seen (such as using a 2:1 wide screen on a normal television, there are two black bars on top and bottom)... how would i do this?

Easy Question I Guess... Please Help..
I have 2 layers (with images) which is ready to be the background of my movie, but please help me how to do that?

or, alternate question; is there any way to make a layer or more exist in the whole movie automatically, as long as the movie runs?

One more question, is there any way so that if the movie is being played, the area outside the workspace is not visible? Because what i got here, is when I maximize into full-screen mode, the area outside the workspace is filled with the background color..

hope i wrote my questions clear enough for you... thanks for the reply.
[Edited by aquanova on 07-08-2002 at 11:42 PM]