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Macromedia Flash designers and developers must structure applications in a way that is intuitive and beneficial to themselves as well as other people working on the same project. This is particularly important in FLA files with lots of assets. When you follow best practices, everyone on the design and development team can understand the file structure and can work more efficiently. This document helps formalize the Flash development process.
Because it is common for more than one designer or developer to work on a single Flash project, teams benefit when everyone follows a standard set of guidelines for using Flash and organizing FLA files. The sections in this document outline the best practices for organizing and structuring your Flash files, maintaining version control, optimizing for output, and making the best use of behaviors, screens, and video. Some sections of Flash Help (Help > Getting Started in Flash) or the Flash 8 LiveDocs (see Using Flash) cover best practices when using the Flash authoring tool.
Note: For information about ActionScript 2.0 coding conventions, see ActionScript 2.0 Best Practices. It complements this document.
The following guidelines encourage consistency for people learning how to use Flash. Adopt best practices at all times, whether you are a designer or developer, or working alone or as part of a team:
Consistent techniques and the following guidelines help people learning Flash, or people working effectively in team environments. Consistent methods help you remember how you structured your document when you work by yourself, particularly if you have not worked on the FLA file recently. These are only a few of the reasons to learn and follow best practices. You are bound to discover many more when you read these best practices and develop your own good habits.
These guidelines relate to the following software:
Jen deHaan was raised by wolves in the deep woods of the Canadian north. Later in life, Jen worked with Flash as a deseloper, then wrote about Flash for five versions, and then worked on stuff that didn't include much Flash. She came to her senses in 2007 by rejoining the fabled Flash team at Adobe as a QE, focusing on the good stuff—Motion (on timelines). Jen enjoys long walks in the rain pondering how many times she can use the word Flash in a bio, and admits that after numerous years in California she is no longer addicted to Tim Horton's coffee.