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Writing ActionScript, Actions panel overview

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FLASH CS3 382 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 400 "Debugging ActionScript 3.0" on page 410 "Script Assist mode and behaviors" on page 386 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 398

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	41
About layers	42
Create layers and layer folders	42
View layers and layer folders	43
Edit layers and layer folders	44
Organize layers and layer folders	45
Use guide layers	45
Using Flash authoring panels	46
About the Property inspector	46
About the Library panel	46
About the Actions panel	47
Use the Movie Explorer	48
About the Web Services panel	49
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	50
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	52
Work with library items using keyboard shortcuts	53
Undo, redo, and history	53
Undo, Redo, and Repeat commands	53
Permanently remove items deleted with Undo	54
Using the History panel	54
Undo steps with the History panel	54
Replay steps with the History panel	55
Copy and paste steps between documents	55
Automating tasks with the Commands menu	55
Create and manage commands	55
Run commands	56
Get more commands	56
Steps that can’t be used in commands	56
Chapter 3: Creating and managing documents	57
Working with Flash documents	57
About Flash files	57
Create or open a document and set its properties	58
View a document when multiple documents are open	60
Save Flash documents	60
Working with other Adobe applications	61
Creating and previewing mobile content with Adobe Device Central	61
Access Adobe components from Adobe Device Central	61
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Flash CS3	62
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Photoshop	62
Create mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Illustrator	63
Preview a movie on a virtual mobile device using Adobe Premiere Pro	64
Preview a movie on a virtual mobile device using After Effects	64
Preview mobile content with Adobe Device Central and Dreamweaver	65
Access Adobe Device Central from Adobe Bridge	65
Working with projects	66
About projects	66
Create and manage projects	66
Use version control with projects	69
Troubleshooting remote folder setup for Flash projects	70
Adding media to the library	70
Managing media assets with the Flash document library	70
Work with libraries	71
Work with library items	71
Work with folders in the Library panel	72
Sort items in the Library panel	72
Edit a library item	73
Rename a library item	73
Delete a library item	73
Find unused library items	73
Update imported files in the library	74
Work with common libraries	74
Working with timelines	74
About frames and keyframes	74
Manage frames and keyframes in the Timeline	75
About multiple timelines and levels	76
About nested movie clips and parent-child hierarchy	77
About absolute paths	77
About relative paths	78
Using absolute and relative target paths	78
Specify target paths	79
Working with scenes	80
About scenes	80
Use scenes	81
Find and Replace	82
About Find and Replace	82
Find and replace text	82
Find and replace fonts	83
Find and replace colors	83
Find and replace symbols	84
Find and replace sound, video, or bitmap files	85
Templates	85
About templates	85
To use templates	86
Use the Photo Slideshow template	86
Chapter 4: Adobe Version Cue	88
Working with Adobe Version Cue	88
About Version Cue	88
What’s new	88
Version Cue basics	89
Version Cue workflow	90
Accessing Version Cue features	91
Using Creative Suite 2 components and Acrobat 8 with Version Cue CS3	91
Use the Adobe dialog box	92
Version Cue Server and project icons	93
Enable Version Cue file management	93
View Version Cue information	94
Working with the Version Cue Server	95
About Version Cue Server installation	95
Turn on and configure the Version Cue Server	95
Set Version Cue Server preferences	97
Change the location of the Data folder	98
Connect to remote servers	98
Connect to a Version Cue Server using WebDAV	99
Migrate projects to the Version Cue 3.0 Server	99
Shut down or restart the Version Cue Server	100
Working with Version Cue projects	100
About Version Cue projects	100
Create projects	101
Open a project	102
Edit project properties	102
Change a project’s shared status	103
Change the location of project backups	104
Add files and folders to a project	104
Delete projects	105
Disconnect from projects	106
Working with files in Version Cue	106
About local project files	106
File statuses	107
Open a file in a project	108
Save changes to a local project file	108
Remove local project files	109
Edit files checked out by another user	109
Move and copy Version Cue files	110
Search for Version Cue files	111
Placing Version Cue files	111
Delete files or folders from a project	113
Version Cue versions	114
About versions	114
Check in versions	114
View, promote, and delete versions	115
Editing and synchronizing offline files	117
About offline files	117
Edit offline files	117
Synchronize files	118
Version Cue Server Administration	119
About Version Cue Server Administration	119
Version Cue Server Administration software requirements	120
Log in to Version Cue Server Administration	120
Create and manage users	121
Create and manage projects in Version Cue Server Administration	124
Back up and restore projects	126
Advanced Version Cue Server Administration tasks	128
Version Cue PDF reviews	130
About Version Cue PDF reviews	130
Start a Version Cue PDF review	131
Manage PDF reviews	131
View or delete PDF review comments	133
Troubleshooting	134
Keyboard shortcuts	136
Chapter 5: Using imported artwork	138
Placing artwork into Flash	138
About importing artwork into Flash	138
Place artwork in Flash	139
Importing file formats for vector or bitmap files	140
Working with Illustrator and Flash	140
About importing Fireworks PNG files	142
Using Fireworks effects and blend modes in Flash	142
Import text from Fireworks into Flash	143
Import FreeHand MX files	144
About AutoCAD DXF files	145
Working with Illustrator AI files	145
About Adobe Illustrator AI files	145
Import Adobe Illustrator files	146
Importing AI files to the Flash library	148
AI File Importer preferences	149
Copy and pasting between Illustrator and Flash	150
Illustrator object import options	151
Working with Photoshop PSD files	153
Working with Photoshop and Flash	153
About Photoshop PSD files	154
Import Photoshop PSD files	155
Importing PSD files to the Flash library	156
PSD file import preferences	156
Photoshop Import options	158
Imported bitmaps	161
Working with imported bitmaps	161
Use the Property inspector to work with bitmaps	161
Set bitmap properties	161
Import bitmaps at runtime	162
Apply a bitmap as a fill	162
Edit bitmaps in an external editor	163
Break apart a bitmap	163
Convert bitmaps to vector graphics	164
Chapter 6: Drawing	165
Drawing Basics	165
About drawing	165
About vector and bitmap graphics	165
About the Flash drawing models	166
About overlapping shapes	167
Use the Object Drawing model	168
Select objects	168
Combining objects	169
Specify drawing preferences	169
Using Flash drawing and painting tools	170
About Flash drawing and painting tools	170
Draw with the Pencil tool	171
Draw straight lines	171
Draw rectangles and ovals	172
Draw polygons and stars	174
Paint with the Brush tool	174
About paths	175
About direction lines and direction points	176
Drawing with the Pen tool	178
Interacting with the Pen tool	178
Set Pen tool preferences	179
Draw straight lines with the Pen tool	179
Draw curves with the Pen tool	180
Add or delete anchor points	181
Adjust anchor points on paths	182
Adjust segments	183
Reshaping lines and shape outlines	183
Display and adjust points with the Subselection tool	183
Reshape using the Selection tool	184
Straighten and smooth lines	184
Optimize curves	185
Erase	185
Modify shapes	186
Snapping	186
About snapping	186
Use object snapping	187
Use pixel snapping	187
Use snap alignment	187
Chapter 7: Working with color, strokes, and fills	189
Working with color	189
About color	189
About the Color panel	189
Modifying color palettes	191
About color palettes	191
Duplicate, delete, and clear colors	191
Use the default palette and the web-safe palette	191
Sort color by hue in the palette	191
Import and export color palettes	192
Strokes, fills, and gradients	192
Use the Stroke Color and Fill Color controls in the Tools panel	192
Use the Stroke Color and Fill Color controls in the Property inspector	192
Creating gradients	194
Work with solid colors and gradient fills in the Color panel	194
Modify strokes with the Ink Bottle tool	195
Apply solid, gradient, and bitmap fills with the Paint Bucket tool	196
Transform gradient and bitmap fills	196
Copy strokes and fills with the Eyedropper tool	199
Lock a gradient or bitmap to fill the Stage	199
Chapter 8: Working with graphic objects	201
About graphic objects	201
Understanding graphic objects in Flash	201
About shapes	201
About drawing objects	201
About primitive objects	202
Selecting objects	202
Selecting objects	202
Select objects with the Selection tool	203
Select objects with the Lasso tool	203
Hide selection highlighting	204
Set custom bounding box colors for selected objects	204
Moving, copying, and deleting objects	204
Moving and copying objects	204
Move objects	204
Move and copy objects by pasting	205
Copying objects with the clipboard	205
Copy transformed objects	205
Delete objects	206
Arranging objects	206
Stack objects	206
Align objects	207
Group objects	207
Break apart groups and objects	208
Transforming objects	208
Transforming objects	208
Move, realign, change, and track the transformation point	208
Transform objects freely	209
Distort objects	210
Modify shapes with the Envelope modifier	210
Scale objects	211
Rotate objects	211
Skew objects	212
Flip objects	212
Restore transformed objects	212
Chapter 9: Using symbols, instances, and library assets	213
Working with symbols	213
Symbols overview	213
Types of symbols	214
Create symbols	214
Convert animation on the Stage into a movie clip	216
Duplicate symbols	216
Edit symbols	216
Working with symbol instances	218
Create instances	218
About changing instance properties	219
Change the color and transparency of an instance	219
Swap one instance for another	220
Change an instance’s type	220
Set looping for graphic instances	220
Break apart an instance symbol	221
Get information about instances on the Stage	221
Library assets	222
Copy library assets between documents	222
Conflicts between library assets	223
Resolve naming conflicts between library assets	223
Using shared library assets	224
About shared library assets	224
Working with runtime shared assets	224
Define runtime shared assets in a source document	224
Link to runtime shared assets from a destination document	225
Update or replace symbols	225
Working with button symbols	226
Create a button	226
Enable, edit, and test buttons	227
Scaling and caching symbols	228
About 9-slice scaling and movie clip symbols	228
Edit movie clip symbols with 9-slice scaling	229
About runtime bitmap caching movie clip and button symbols	229
Specify bitmap caching for a movie clip	230
Symbols and ActionScript	230
About controlling instances and symbols with ActionScript	230
Controlling instances with behaviors	230
Add and configure a behavior	231
Create custom behaviors	232
Chapter 10: Creating animation	234
Animation basics	234
Creating motion	234
About layers in animation	234
Creating keyframes	234
Create keyframes	234
About representations of animation in the Timeline	235
About frame rates	235
About frame-by-frame animation	236
Create frame-by-frame animations	236
Edit animations	236
Use onion skinning	237
Move an entire animation	238
Copy and paste a motion tween	238
Paste motion tween properties	238
Copy motion as ActionScript	239
Extend still images	240
About mask layers	240
Work with mask layers	241
Using Timeline effects	242
About Timeline effects	242
Add a Timeline effect	242
Timeline effect settings	243
Edit a Timeline effect	245
Delete a Timeline effect	245
Tweened animation	245
About tweened animation	245
Distributing objects to layers for tweened animation	246
About new layers	247
Distribute objects to layers	247
Add a motion tween to instances, groups, or type	247
Tween motion along a path	250
Apply custom ease in/ease out to motion tweens	251
Compatibility with current ease in/ease out settings	253
Unsupported easing curves	253
Control shape changes with shape hints	253
Chapter 11: Special effects	255
About filters	255
Filter overview	255
About animating filters	255
About filters and Flash Player performance	256
Apply filters	256
Create preset filter libraries	257
Apply a drop shadow	258
Create a skewed drop shadow	258
Apply a blur	259
Apply a glow	259
Apply a bevel	260
Apply a gradient glow	260
Apply a gradient bevel	261
Apply the Adjust Color filter	261
About blend modes	262
Blend modes in Flash	262
Blend mode examples	263
Apply a blend mode	263
About importing filters and blends from Fireworks PNG files	264
Fireworks effects supported in Flash	264
Fireworks blend modes supported in Flash	264
Chapter 12: Working with text	266
Text and fonts in Flash	266
About text	266
Flash Text Anti-Aliasing	266
Unicode text encoding in Flash applications	267
Font outlines and device fonts	267
Masking device fonts	268
About anti-aliasing text	268
Substituting missing fonts	269
Work with substitute fonts	269
Creating text	270
About text fields	270
Create and edit text fields	271
Check spelling	273
Embed and share fonts	274
Scrolling text	275
Make dynamic text scrollable	275
Text effects	276
Break text apart	276
Link horizontal text to a URL	276
Setting text attributes	277
About text attributes	277
Set a font, point size, style, and color	277
Set letter spacing, kerning, and character position	278
Set alignment, margins, indents, and line spacing	278
Work with text anti-aliasing	279
Make text selectable	280
Use device fonts	280
Chapter 13: Creating multilanguage text	281
Creating multilanguage text	281
About multilanguage text	281
About fonts for Unicode-encoded text	282
Embedded fonts for dynamic or input text fields	282
XML font embedding table	283
Non-Unicode external files	285
Enter Asian characters on a Western keyboard	285
Encoding text formats	285
Text encoding	285
Unicode and Flash Player	286
Authoring multilanguage text	287
Workflow for authoring multilanguage text with the Strings panel	287
Select and remove languages for translation	287
Add strings to the Strings panel	288
Change the language displayed on the Stage	289
Editing strings in the Strings panel	289
Publishing multilanguage FLA files	290
Manually replace strings at publish time	290
Use automatic language detection with the default language	290
Use custom language detection	291
XML file format	291
About the XML file format	291
XLIFF examples	291
Exported XML file sample	292
Translate text in the Strings panel or an XML file	293
Import an XML file into the Strings panel	293
Multilanguage text and ActionScript	294
Use ActionScript to load external files	294
Create multilanguage documents using the #include action	294
Creating multilanguage documents by using text variables	295
Using the XMLConnector component to connect to external XML files	296
Chapter 14: Working with sound	297
Using sounds in Flash	297
About sounds and Flash	297
Importing sounds	297
Import a sound	298
Add a sound to the Timeline	298
Synchronize a sound with animation	299
Add a sound to a button	300
Edit a sound	300

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FLASH CS3

User Guide

382

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.