Creating Components > Workflow for creating components

 

Workflow for creating components

To create a component, you must complete the following required procedures:

Create a movie clip that will serve as the basis for the component.

Add ActionScript with the variables that correspond to the component parameters.

Define the parameters for the component in the Component Definition dialog box.

Make the component available for Flash documents.

In addition, you can complete the following optional procedures:

Create a custom icon to display next to the component name in the Library panel, the Movie Explorer, and the Components panel. If you don't create a custom icon, you can use a component icon that is provided with Macromedia Flash MX.

Add a text description of the component that describes the component for users. You can add the description as plain text or as an XML item. Descriptions appear in the Reference panel.

Create a Live Preview movie for the component, to enable users to preview the effects of different parameter values while they work in the Flash MX authoring environment. If you don't provide a Live Preview, users can view the effects of parameter values by using the Test Movie feature.

Create a custom interface (UI) for the component—a Flash MX movie that lets users enter values for the component parameters. If you don't create a custom interface, users enter parameter values in the default component Property inspector panel or the Component Parameters panel.