Writing Scripts with ActionScript > Writing scripts overview |  |

Writing scripts overview

ActionScript, the scripting language of Macromedia Flash MX, lets you add interactivity to a movie. ActionScript provides elements, such as actions, operators, and objects, that you put together in scripts that tell your movie what to do; you set up your movie so that events, such as button clicks and keypresses, trigger these scripts. For example, you can use ActionScript to create navigation buttons for your movie.

In Flash, you use the Actions panel to write scripts with ActionScript. Using the panel in normal editing mode, you build scripts by choosing options from menus and lists. Using the panel in expert editing mode, you enter text directly into the Script pane. In both modes, code hints help you complete actions and insert properties and events. Once you have a script, you can attach it to a button, movie clip, or frame to create the interactivity you need.

You can write simple scripts without a full understanding of ActionScript. To begin working with ActionScript right away, complete the ActionScript tutorial in Help > Tutorials > Introduction to ActionScript. To learn more about the ActionScript language, see Understanding the ActionScript Language.