Packing Lite: A mobile media interface design primer

Creating and transferring a test file

Learn to quickly target a specific mobile device by making the appropriate settings in Flash.

Using Flash Professional 8

We'll use one of the built-in Flash Lite 1.1 templates to get started quickly (see Figure 4).

1. Choose File > New…
2. Select the Templates tab

3. Choose Global Phones > Flash Lite 1-1 Symbian Series 60

   

   Figure 4. The useful Flash Lite 1.1 templates included in Flash Professional 8 are a quick way to get started with mobile development

4. Choose File > Publish Settings… and note how "Flash Lite 1.1" is selected automatically in the Version drop-down menu (see Figure 5). Click OK.

   

   Figure 5. Use the Flash Version drop-down menu in the Publish Settings dialog box to target the version of Flash Lite desired, based on device capabilities and project requirements

5. Choose File > Device Settings… and select the Nokia 6680 from the list on the right (see Figure 6). This test device is very similar to our Nokia 6682.

   

   Figure 6. Use the Device Settings dialog box to set your Flash Lite Content type, Test devices and check pixel dimensions and platform support

6. Pay attention to the Device Settings characteristics:

   Content type: Standalone Player

   There are many different types of Flash Lite content types available in this drop-down menu. The Standalone Flash Player, however, is by far the most compatible format with the broadest support on mobile devices.

   Current stage type: 176 x 208

   There are many different screen sizes of devices, but this size is common for many older Series 60 devices.

   Test Devices: Various Symbian Series 60 devices

7. Click OK, and then select File > Save and save the Flash source file (.fla) to your local hard drive.
8. Create an extremely simple animation on the stage. As an alternative, you can skip to the section "Analyzing a quick 4-way menu example" below and work on the step-by-step example from the Flash Lite 2 Content Development Kit (CDK). Otherwise, you can focus on the transfer process and save the Flash Lite discussion for later—when you're comfortable with the process of transferring files to actual devices.
9. Choose Control > Test Movie to view your Flash Lite SWF in the built-in Flash Professional 8 emulator.

10. Choose the Nokia 6680 (176 x 208 pixels) option from the Test Device drop-down menu (see Figure 7).

    

    Figure 7. The Test Device simulates the soft key and directional pad interactions of the device

11. Follow the steps below, depending on your platform, to transfer the SWF file—which is now located in the same directory where you saved your Flash source file (.fla) to your Series 60 Flash Lite device.

Using Flash CS3

1. Launch Device Central
2. At the welcome screen, click Create New Mobile > Flash File
3. Select Player Version > Flash Lite 2.0
4. Choose Nokia > 5300 from the Available Devices list

5. Click Create (in the lower right-hand corner), which will launch Flash CS3 with the appropriate settings pre-configured (see Figure 8).

   

   Figure 8. Device Central makes quick work of targeting devices based on versions, content type and pixel dimensions

6. Create a sample animation in Flash CS3. Select Control > Test Movie. Device Central will launch and simulate Flash Lite on the Nokia 5300.

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