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Writing ActionScript, Actions panel overview, Script Assist mode and behaviors

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FLASH CS3 383 User Guide Writing ActionScript When you write ActionScript code in the authoring environment, you use the Actions panel or Script window. The Actions panel and Script window contain a full-featured code editor that includes code hinting and coloring, code formatting, syntax highlighting, syntax checking, debugging, line numbers, word wrapping, and support for Unicode. • Use the Actions panel to write scripts that are part of your Flash document (that is, scripts that are embedded in the FLA file). The Actions panel provides features such as the Actions toolbox, which gives you quick access to the core ActionScript language elements, and Script Assist mode, in which you are prompted for the elements needed to create scripts. • Use the Script window if you want to write external scripts-that is, scripts or classes that are stored in external files. (You can also use a text editor to create an external AS file.) The Script window includes code-assistance features such as code hinting and coloring, syntax checking, and auto-formatting. See also "Debugging ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0" on page 401 "Debugging ActionScript 3.0" on page 411 "Script Assist mode and behaviors" on page 387 Actions panel overview To create scripts embedded in a FLA file, enter ActionScript directly into the Actions panel. The Actions panel consists of three panes: the Actions toolbox, which groups ActionScript elements by category; the Script navigator, which lets you move quickly between the scripts in your Flash document; and the Script pane, where you type your ActionScript code. A B C D A. Script pane B. Panel menu C. Actions toolbox D. Script navigator See also "Pin scripts in the Actions panel" on page 399

Section	Page
Contents	3
Chapter 1: Getting started	7
Installation	7
Requirements	7
Install the software	7
Activate the software	7
Register	7
Change or reinstall Flash Player	7
Using Help	8
About Flash Help	8
Adobe Help resources	8
Searching Flash Help	9
Access context-sensitive Help from the Actions panel	10
Choosing the right Help documents	10
Resources	12
Adobe Video Workshop	12
Flash CS3 Professional videos	13
Extras	14
Bridge Home	15
Adobe Design Center	16
Adobe Developer Center	17
Customer support	17
Downloads	17
Adobe Labs	18
User communities	18
What’s new	18
New features	18
Chapter 2: Workspace	21
Flash workflow and workspace	21
General Flash workflow	21
Workspace overview	22
Customize the workspace	24
Save, delete, and switch between workspaces	28
Using the Stage and Tools panel	29
Welcome screen overview	29
Using the Stage	29
Use rulers	30
Use guides	31
Use the grid	31
About the main toolbar and edit bar	32
Tools panel overview	32
Use the Tools panel	32
Use context menus	33
Set preferences in Flash	33
Customize keyboard shortcuts	37
Create custom keyboard shortcuts	38
The Timeline	39
About the Timeline	39
Change the appearance of the Timeline	40
Move the playhead	41
Change the display of frames in the Timeline	42
About layers	42
Create layers and layer folders	43
View layers and layer folders	43
Edit layers and layer folders	44
Organize layers and layer folders	45
Use guide layers	46
Using Flash authoring panels	46
About the Property inspector	46
About the Library panel	47
About the Actions panel	47
Use the Movie Explorer	48
About the Web Services panel	50
Accessibility in the Flash workspace	50
About accessibility support	50
About Flash authoring accessibility on the Macintosh	50
Select panels or the Property inspector with keyboard shortcuts	51
Select controls in a panel or the Property inspector using keyboard shortcuts	51
Navigate dialog box controls using keyboard shortcuts (Windows only)	52
Select the Stage or objects on the Stage using keyboard shortcuts	52
Navigate tree structures using keyboard shortcuts	53
Work with library items using keyboard shortcuts	53
Undo, redo, and history	54
Undo, Redo, and Repeat commands	54
Permanently remove items deleted with Undo	54
Using the History panel	54
Undo steps with the History panel	55
Replay steps with the History panel	55
Copy and paste steps between documents	56
Automating tasks with the Commands menu	56
Create and manage commands	56
Run commands	57
Get more commands	57
Steps that can’t be used in commands	57
Chapter 3: Creating and managing documents	58
Working with Flash documents	58
About Flash files	58
Create or open a document and set its properties	59
View a document when multiple documents are open	61
Save Flash documents	61
Working with other Adobe applications	62
Creating and previewing mobile content with Adobe Device Central	62
Access Adobe components from Adobe Device Central	62
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Flash CS3	63
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Photoshop	63
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Illustrator	64
Preview a movie on a virtual mobile device using Adobe Premiere Pro	65
Preview a movie on a virtual mobile device using After Effects	65
Preview mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Dreamweaver	66
Access Adobe Device Central from Adobe Bridge	66
Working with projects	67
About projects	67
Create and manage projects	67
Use version control with projects	70
Troubleshooting remote folder setup for Flash projects	71
Adding media to the library	71
Managing media assets with the Flash document library	71
Work with libraries	72
Work with library items	72
Work with folders in the Library panel	73
Sort items in the Library panel	73
Edit a library item	74
Rename a library item	74
Delete a library item	74
Find unused library items	74
Update imported files in the library	75
Work with common libraries	75
Working with timelines	75
About frames and keyframes	75
Manage frames and keyframes in the Timeline	76
About multiple timelines and levels	77
About nested movie clips and parent-child hierarchy	78
About absolute paths	78
About relative paths	79
Using absolute and relative target paths	79
Specify target paths	80
Working with scenes	81
About scenes	81
Use scenes	82
Find and Replace	83
About Find and Replace	83
Find and replace text	83
Find and replace fonts	84
Find and replace colors	84
Find and replace symbols	85
Find and replace sound, video, or bitmap files	86
Templates	86
About templates	86
To use templates	87
Use the Photo Slideshow template	87
Chapter 4: Adobe Version Cue	89
Working with Adobe Version Cue	89
About Version Cue	89
What’s new	89
Version Cue basics	90
Version Cue workflow	91
Accessing Version Cue features	92
Using Creative Suite 2 components and Acrobat 8 with Version Cue CS3	92
Use the Adobe dialog box	93
Version Cue Server and project icons	94
Enable Version Cue file management	94
View Version Cue information	95
Working with the Version Cue Server	96
About Version Cue Server installation	96
Turn on and configure the Version Cue Server	96
Set Version Cue Server preferences	98
Change the location of the Data folder	99
Connect to remote servers	99
Connect to a Version Cue Server using WebDAV	100
Migrate projects to the Version Cue 3.0 Server	100
Shut down or restart the Version Cue Server	101
Working with Version Cue projects	101
About Version Cue projects	101
Create projects	102
Open a project	103
Edit project properties	103
Change a project’s shared status	104
Change the location of project backups	105
Add files and folders to a project	105
Delete projects	106
Disconnect from projects	107
Working with files in Version Cue	107
About local project files	107
File statuses	108
Open a file in a project	109
Save changes to a local project file	109
Remove local project files	110
Edit files checked out by another user	110
Move and copy Version Cue files	111
Search for Version Cue files	112
Placing Version Cue files	112
Delete files or folders from a project	114
Version Cue versions	115
About versions	115
Check in versions	115
View, promote, and delete versions	116
Editing and synchronizing offline files	118
About offline files	118
Edit offline files	118
Synchronize files	119
Version Cue Server Administration	120
About Version Cue Server Administration	120
Version Cue Server Administration software requirements	121
Log in to Version Cue Server Administration	121
Create and manage users	122
Create and manage projects in Version Cue Server Administration	125
Back up and restore projects	127
Advanced Version Cue Server Administration tasks	129
Version Cue PDF reviews	131
About Version Cue PDF reviews	131
Start a Version Cue PDF review	132
Manage PDF reviews	132
View or delete PDF review comments	134
Troubleshooting	135
Keyboard shortcuts	137
Chapter 5: Using imported artwork	139
Placing artwork into Flash	139
About importing artwork into Flash	139
Place artwork in Flash	140
Importing file formats for vector or bitmap files	141
Working with Illustrator and Flash	141
About importing Fireworks PNG files	143
Using Fireworks effects and blend modes in Flash	143
Import text from Fireworks into Flash	144
Import FreeHand MX files	145
About AutoCAD DXF files	146
Working with Illustrator AI files	146
About Adobe Illustrator AI files	146
Import Adobe Illustrator files	147
Importing AI files to the Flash library	149
AI File Importer preferences	150
Copy and pasting between Illustrator and Flash	151
Illustrator object import options	152
Working with Photoshop PSD files	154
Working with Photoshop and Flash	154
About Photoshop PSD files	155
Import Photoshop PSD files	156
Importing PSD files to the Flash library	157
PSD file import preferences	157
Photoshop Import options	159
Imported bitmaps	162
Working with imported bitmaps	162
Use the Property inspector to work with bitmaps	162
Set bitmap properties	162
Import bitmaps at runtime	163
Apply a bitmap as a fill	163
Edit bitmaps in an external editor	164
Break apart a bitmap	164
Convert bitmaps to vector graphics	165
Chapter 6: Drawing	166
Drawing Basics	166
About drawing	166
About vector and bitmap graphics	166
About the Flash drawing models	167
About overlapping shapes	168
Use the Object Drawing model	169
Select objects	169
Combining objects	170
Specify drawing preferences	170
Using Flash drawing and painting tools	171
About Flash drawing and painting tools	171
Draw with the Pencil tool	172
Draw straight lines	172
Draw rectangles and ovals	173
Draw polygons and stars	175
Paint with the Brush tool	175
About paths	176
About direction lines and direction points	177
Drawing with the Pen tool	179
Interacting with the Pen tool	179
Set Pen tool preferences	180
Draw straight lines with the Pen tool	180
Draw curves with the Pen tool	181
Add or delete anchor points	182
Adjust anchor points on paths	183
Adjust segments	184
Reshaping lines and shape outlines	184
Display and adjust points with the Subselection tool	184
Reshape using the Selection tool	185
Straighten and smooth lines	185
Optimize curves	186
Erase	186
Modify shapes	187
Snapping	187
About snapping	187
Use object snapping	188
Use pixel snapping	188
Use snap alignment	188
Chapter 7: Working with color, strokes, and fills	190
Working with color	190
About color	190
About the Color panel	190
Modifying color palettes	192
About color palettes	192
Duplicate, delete, and clear colors	192
Use the default palette and the web-safe palette	192
Sort color by hue in the palette	192
Import and export color palettes	193
Strokes, fills, and gradients	193
Use the Stroke Color and Fill Color controls in the Tools panel	193
Use the Stroke Color and Fill Color controls in the Property inspector	193
Creating gradients	195
Work with solid colors and gradient fills in the Color panel	195
Modify strokes with the Ink Bottle tool	196
Apply solid, gradient, and bitmap fills with the Paint Bucket tool	197
Transform gradient and bitmap fills	197
Copy strokes and fills with the Eyedropper tool	200
Lock a gradient or bitmap to fill the Stage	200
Chapter 8: Working with graphic objects	202
About graphic objects	202
Understanding graphic objects in Flash	202
About shapes	202
About drawing objects	202
About primitive objects	203
Selecting objects	203
Selecting objects	203
Select objects with the Selection tool	204
Select objects with the Lasso tool	204
Hide selection highlighting	205
Set custom bounding box colors for selected objects	205
Moving, copying, and deleting objects	205
Moving and copying objects	205
Move objects	205
Move and copy objects by pasting	206
Copying objects with the clipboard	206
Copy transformed objects	206
Delete objects	207
Arranging objects	207
Stack objects	207
Align objects	208
Group objects	208
Break apart groups and objects	209
Transforming objects	209
Transforming objects	209
Move, realign, change, and track the transformation point	209
Transform objects freely	210
Distort objects	211
Modify shapes with the Envelope modifier	211
Scale objects	212
Rotate objects	212
Skew objects	213
Flip objects	213
Restore transformed objects	213
Chapter 9: Using symbols, instances, and library assets	214
Working with symbols	214
Symbols overview	214
Types of symbols	215
Create symbols	215
Convert animation on the Stage into a movie clip	217
Duplicate symbols	217
Edit symbols	217
Working with symbol instances	219
Create instances	219
About changing instance properties	220
Change the color and transparency of an instance	220
Swap one instance for another	221
Change an instance’s type	221
Set looping for graphic instances	221
Break apart an instance symbol	222
Get information about instances on the Stage	222
Library assets	223
Copy library assets between documents	223
Conflicts between library assets	224
Resolve naming conflicts between library assets	224
Using shared library assets	225
About shared library assets	225
Working with runtime shared assets	225
Define runtime shared assets in a source document	225
Link to runtime shared assets from a destination document	226
Update or replace symbols	226
Working with button symbols	227
Create a button	227
Enable, edit, and test buttons	228
Scaling and caching symbols	229
About 9-slice scaling and movie clip symbols	229
Edit movie clip symbols with 9-slice scaling	230
About runtime bitmap caching movie clip and button symbols	230
Specify bitmap caching for a movie clip	231
Symbols and ActionScript	231
About controlling instances and symbols with ActionScript	231
Controlling instances with behaviors	231
Add and configure a behavior	232
Create custom behaviors	233
Chapter 10: Creating animation	235
Animation basics	235
Creating motion	235
About layers in animation	235
Creating keyframes	235
Create keyframes	235
About representations of animation in the Timeline	236
About frame rates	236
About frame-by-frame animation	237
Create frame-by-frame animations	237
Edit animations	237
Use onion skinning	238
Move an entire animation	239
Copy and paste a motion tween	239
Paste motion tween properties	239
Copy motion as ActionScript	240
Extend still images	241
About mask layers	241
Work with mask layers	242
Using Timeline effects	243
About Timeline effects	243
Add a Timeline effect	243
Timeline effect settings	244
Edit a Timeline effect	246
Delete a Timeline effect	246
Tweened animation	246
About tweened animation	246
Distributing objects to layers for tweened animation	247
About new layers	248
Distribute objects to layers	248
Add a motion tween to instances, groups, or type	248
Tween motion along a path	251
Apply custom ease in/ease out to motion tweens	252
Compatibility with current ease in/ease out settings	254
Unsupported easing curves	254
Control shape changes with shape hints	254
Chapter 11: Special effects	256
About filters	256
Filter overview	256
About animating filters	256
About filters and Flash Player performance	257
Apply filters	257
Create preset filter libraries	258
Apply a drop shadow	259
Create a skewed drop shadow	259
Apply a blur	260
Apply a glow	260
Apply a bevel	261
Apply a gradient glow	261
Apply a gradient bevel	262
Apply the Adjust Color filter	262
About blend modes	263
Blend modes in Flash	263
Blend mode examples	264
Apply a blend mode	264
About importing filters and blends from Fireworks PNG files	265
Fireworks effects supported in Flash	265
Fireworks blend modes supported in Flash	265
Chapter 12: Working with text	267
Text and fonts in Flash	267
About text	267
Flash Text Anti-Aliasing	267
Unicode text encoding in Flash applications	268
Font outlines and device fonts	268
Masking device fonts	269
About anti-aliasing text	269
Substituting missing fonts	270
Work with substitute fonts	270
Creating text	271
About text fields	271
Create and edit text fields	272
Check spelling	274
Embed and share fonts	275
Scrolling text	276
Make dynamic text scrollable	276
Text effects	277
Break text apart	277
Link horizontal text to a URL	277
Setting text attributes	278
About text attributes	278
Set a font, point size, style, and color	278
Set letter spacing, kerning, and character position	279
Set alignment, margins, indents, and line spacing	279
Work with text anti-aliasing	280
Make text selectable	281
Use device fonts	281
Chapter 13: Creating multilanguage text	282
Creating multilanguage text	282
About multilanguage text	282
About fonts for Unicode-encoded text	283
Embedded fonts for dynamic or input text fields	283
XML font embedding table	284
Non-Unicode external files	286
Enter Asian characters on a Western keyboard	286
Encoding text formats	286
Text encoding	286
Unicode and Flash Player	287
Authoring multilanguage text	288
Workflow for authoring multilanguage text with the Strings panel	288
Select and remove languages for translation	288
Add strings to the Strings panel	289
Change the language displayed on the Stage	290
Editing strings in the Strings panel	290
Publishing multilanguage FLA files	291
Manually replace strings at publish time	291
Use automatic language detection with the default language	291
Use custom language detection	292
XML file format	292
About the XML file format	292
XLIFF examples	292
Exported XML file sample	293
Translate text in the Strings panel or an XML file	294
Import an XML file into the Strings panel	294
Multilanguage text and ActionScript	295
Use ActionScript to load external files	295
Create multilanguage documents using the #include action	295
Creating multilanguage documents by using text variables	296
Using the XMLConnector component to connect to external XML files	297
Chapter 14: Working with sound	298
Using sounds in Flash	298
About sounds and Flash	298
Importing sounds	298
Import a sound	299
Add a sound to the Timeline	299
Synchronize a sound with animation	300
Add a sound to a button	301
Edit a sound	301

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FLASH CS3

User Guide

383

Writing ActionScript

When you write ActionScript code in the authoring environment, you use the Actions panel or Script window. The

Actions panel and Script window contain a full-featured code editor that includes code hinting and coloring, code

formatting, syntax highlighting, syntax checking, debugging, line numbers, word wrapping, and support for

Unicode.

•

Use the Actions panel to write scripts that are part of your Flash document (that is, scripts that are embedded in

the FLA file). The Actions panel provides features such as the Actions toolbox, which gives you quick access to the

core ActionScript language elements, and Script Assist mode, in which you are prompted for the elements needed

to create scripts.

•

Use the Script window if you want to write external scripts—that is, scripts or classes that are stored in external

files. (You can also use a text editor to create an external AS file.) The Script window includes code-assistance

features such as code hinting and coloring, syntax checking, and auto-formatting.