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Guide to instructional media

The Flash package contains a variety of media to help you learn the program quickly and become proficient in creating your own Flash movies. These media include a printed manual, an expanded electronic version of the manual, online help that appears in your Web browser, a built-in ActionScript Reference panel, interactive lessons, and a regularly updated Web site. In addition, there are many third-party resources available to Flash designers and developers.

About the printed and electronic manuals

Information that appears in the printed version of Using Flash is primarily intended for users who are in their first three to six months of learning Flash. Online lessons and tutorials supplement this information.

The electronic version of Using Flash contains all of the information in the printed version, as well as additional chapters with instructions and information for using Flash tools and commands. It also includes chapters on ActionScript, which explain how to write and create interactions with the Flash scripting language.

Using Flash Help

Flash Help contains two main sections: Using Flash and the ActionScript Dictionary. For the best experience with Flash Help, Macromedia strongly recommends that you use a browser with Java player support, such as Internet Explorer 4.5 or later. Flash Help also supports Netscape Navigator 6.0 or later on Windows and the Macintosh. Running Flash and Flash Help simultaneously on a Macintosh may require up to 32 MB of memory, depending on your browser's memory needs.

Note: The first time you access Flash Help when running Windows XP, you may be prompted to install the Java player. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the Java player.

To use Flash Help:

1 | Choose one of the help systems from the Help menu.
2 | Navigate the help topics using any of these features:
| Contents organizes information by subject. Click top-level entries to view subtopics.
| Index organizes information like a traditional printed index. Click a term to jump to a related topic.
| Search finds any character string in all topic text. Search requires a 6.1 or later browser with Java enabled. To search for a phrase, type it into the text entry box.
| To search for files that contain two keywords (for example, layers and style), separate the words with a plus (+) sign.
| To search for files that contain a complete phrase, separate the words with a space.
| Previous and Next buttons let you move through the topics within a section.
| The Flash icon links you to the Flash Support Center Web site.

Using Flash lessons and tutorials

Flash lessons provide quick interactive instruction that introduces you to the main features of Flash, letting you practice on isolated examples. If you are new to Flash, or if you have used only a limited set of its features, start with the lessons.

Flash tutorials provide in-depth interactive instruction that helps you familiarize yourself with Flash and provides detailed instruction on some powerful Flash features.

The Introduction to Flash MX Tutorial introduces the workflow in Flash by showing you how to create a basic movie. The tutorial assumes an understanding of the topics covered in the lessons.

The Introduction to ActionScript Tutorial teaches you the basic principles of ActionScript, the object-oriented language Flash uses to add interactivity to movies.

The Introduction to Components Tutorial is designed to introduce components to beginner and intermediate Flash users and show how they can be used to quickly create a simple application. Before taking this tutorial, you should complete the Flash lessons, the Introduction to Flash MX tutorial, and the Introduction to ActionScript tutorial or be familiar with ActionScript.

The Introduction to Learning Interactions Tutorial teaches you how to use Flash quiz templates to create a movie that uses six different types of learning interactions.

To start the lessons:

Choose Help > Lessons > Getting Started with Flash.

To start a tutorial, do one of the following:

| Choose Help > Tutorials > Introduction to Flash MX.
| Choose Help > Tutorials > Introduction to ActionScript.
| Choose Help > Tutorials > Introduction to Components.
| Choose Help > Tutorials > Introduction to Learning Interactions.

Using additional Macromedia resources

The Answers panel consolidates development resources and connects you to the latest technical updates, extensions, components, code samples, training materials, and documentation. Menus and a powerful search feature assist you in finding the desired tools and information. When you're connected to the Internet, information in the Answers panel is updated after you click the Update button for the first time. Thereafter, the panel updates automatically as new resources become available.

To display the Answers panel:

Choose Window > Answers.

The Flash Support Center website is updated regularly with the latest information on Flash, plus advice from expert users, advanced topics, examples, tips, and other updates. Check the website often for the latest news on Flash and how to get the most out of the program.

The ActionScript Reference panel provides detailed information on ActionScript syntax and usage. The hierarchical structure of the information lets you easily scroll down to the specific information you need.

To display the ActionScript Reference panel:

Choose Window > Reference.

Third-party resources

Macromedia recommends several Web sites with links to third-party resources on Flash.

Macromedia Flash community sites:

Macromedia Flash books:

Object-oriented programming concepts: