ART279 - 3D Computer Graphics Design II
Spring 2002 - NVCC - Giulio Porta
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Unless you are using Macromedia's Dreamweaver
to create your web page, you will have to include the following code to
place your flash movie on your page. I used MS FrontPage 2000
to create this page. You will need to change the highlighted file name to
your flash movie file name. NOTE: Be very careful using FrontPage, it is
known to modify/expand/messwith the code. Also, be sure the width and
height reflects your file size.
I obtained this information from the Flash Support
Center page on the Macromedia web site. I used the Publish command under File to create my movies. It generates an html file in addition to the movie file. You can open the html file in your browser to see your movie. This also makes it easy to obtain the necessary HTML code to insert your Flash movie into a web page. You simply copy the OBJECT code from the HTML file and paste it into your web page. This code works for both Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers. |
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Assignment File |
.AVI File Size |
Flash Movie(.swf) File Size |
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Assignment # 8a |
5,248 KB |
5 KB |
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Assignment # 8b |
23,305 KB |
61 KB |
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Assignment # 8c |
2917 KB |
2 KB |
WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!
Flash has a scripting language called ActionScript which is based on
JavaScript. It's syntax is the same as JavaScript's. For non-programmers, using the Action panel will create simple
ActionScripts for you (via menus and lists). There is also an Expert mode
that allows the more knowledgeable scripters to enter more complex
scripts. With these scripts you can make your flash movies interactive.
(See Assignment 8b)
Actions can be associated with Buttons, Movie Clips or with Frames in the
timeline.
For assignment 8b, I found sometimes
confusing/conflicting/incomplete information when I sought help online in
understanding the Flash ActionScript language and most books on Flash didn't go into enough
depth. The best book I came across is FOUNDATION ACTIONSCRIPT by
Sham Bhangal which I found at the regional library. It is an in-depth
description of the Flash ActionScript language and its functions
for those
interested in becoming more familiar with ActionScript. If you already
know JavaScript, you will find ActionScript easy to pick up.
The current downloadable version of Flash is Version 6, Flash MX.
It is a bit different from version 5. I made extensive use of the online Help
and books from the public library to figure out how
to complete the assignments.
The best book for learning Flash basics is Teach Yourself Visually Flash 5
by Sherry Willard Kinkoph.
For independent study in general, I have found these Visual series
books to be the quickest way to learn the basics of software packages and
I recommend the series highly.
I have decided that I would like to own a copy of Flash for my own graphics development. It is a very powerful package and the ActionScript language is a very important and useful addition to animation capability, allowing user interaction with the graphic. The small file sizes are a huge plus, too. Since I already knew JavaScript, I found ActionScript easy to understand and use. I felt as if I was just getting the hang of Actions when my trial version of Flash expired.