Archive for the ‘ACE Flash’ category

The MovieClip class is used to add the concept of frames, frame labels, and scenes in ActionScript, with all the properties and methods required to query and control the playhead. A user can create MovieClip objects programmatically, but frames, labels, or scenes cannot be added with ActionScript code.

Flash tools are arranged in a panel and are used for creating different types of graphics in Flash. The names of the tools, along with their respective icons, are given in the table below:

Tool	Icon
Select arrow
Subselection
Free Transform

The array access ([]) operator enables a user to set and retrieve instance, variable, and object names dynamically. The operator also allows a user to access the properties of an object, including a movie clip.

The syntax for the array access ([]) operator is as follows:

Conditional statement is used for decision-making. It performs an action depending on whether or not a condition is true. If the condition is true, the statements following the condition are executed. But if the condition returns false, it will disregard the enclosed actions and continue to the next statement that follows the condition block.

A component is a movie clip that performs a specific task. Components are designed to allow a user to create interface pieces that can be reused over and over again. A component allows a user to customize the component either during authoring in Flash or at run time with ActionScript.

Take the following steps to add a component to a movie manually:

1. Select Window > Components to open the Components panel.

   

2. In the Components panel, select a component and drag it onto the stage.

   Or, alternatively, double-click a component in the panel.

   

Take the following steps to distribute objects to layers:

1. Select the objects to distribute to layers.

   

2. Select Modify > Timeline > Distribute to Layers.

   

   Or, alternatively, right-click (Windows) or control-click (Macintosh) one of the selected objects, and select the Distribute to Layers option from the pop-up menu.

   

Take the following steps to break text apart to place each character in a separate text field:

1. Click the text field with the Selection tool .

   

2. Select Modify > Break Apart.

   

   Note: This action breaks the selected text apart and places each character in a separate text field.

Take the following steps to duplicate a motion tween:

1. Click the first frame, hold down the Shift key, and then click the last frame in the Timeline to select the motion tween.

   

2. Select Edit > Timeline > Copy Motion.

   

Take the following steps to add a shape hint:

1. Select the first keyframe of the shape tween.

   

2. Choose Modify > Shape > Add Shape Hint.

   

   Note: A letter in a red circle appears in the middle of the shape.

   

3. Move the first shape hint to a point on the shape.