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Tips for Using Macromedia Flash 4 ActionScript for Flash Lite 1.1 Development


Bill Perry

Bill Perry

Macromedia

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Flash Lite 1.1 Publishing Profile
  3. ActionScript in Flash Lite 1.1
  4. Flash Lite 1.1 Examples
  5. Flash Lite 1.1 Interface Elements
  6. Warnings and Error Messages
Created:
1 November 2004
User Level:
Intermediate

With Macromedia Flash Lite 1.1, mobile phone consumers can enjoy multimedia-rich content on mobile phones—taking their favorite games, cartoons, or applications with them wherever they go. Mobile operators and content providers can distribute more and more engaging applications, created by Flash developers.

However, there's one important thing developers need to remember: Flash Lite 1.1 content requires the use of Flash 4 ActionScript. Using this limited set of ActionScript keeps the file size and processor hit small for mobile phone platforms.

So what does this mean? If you never used Flash 4 and started only with Flash 5 or a later version, you haven't been able to enjoy the limited aspects of that early ActionScript. In the Flash 4 days, ActionScript wasn't as robust as it is today; it offered only limited programming capabilities. Today you can develop web and desktop content using all of the rich features of Flash MX 2004 and ActionScript 2.0.

In this article I discuss in detail some of the common Flash 4 ActionScript syntax that can be used for Flash Lite 1.1 development in addition to some of the new Flash Lite 1.1 ActionScript commands. I also talk briefly about testing Flash Lite 1.1 content in Flash MX Professional 2004 and describe the various warning and error messages you might see.

Requirements

Flash MX Professional 2004

Macromedia Flash Lite 1.1 Content Development Kit

Level of expertise required:

Some familiarity with creating Flash content for various platforms.

Sample files:


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About the author

Bill Perry is in charge of developer relations for mobile and devices at Macromedia and is helping to shape the future of mobile devices using Flash technologies. He interacts and supports developers, content providers, media owners, mobile operators, and handset/device manufacturers from around the world. When he's not busy with work, Bill enjoys cycling and spending time with his wife and friends.