General Flash Workflow for Adobe Flash Projects

The typical process of developing a Flash application is outlined below. Depending on the project and your working style, you may use these steps in a different order.

Step 1: Plan the application

Plan out and decide the tasks that your Flash application will perform.

Step 2: Add assets

Create or import assets, such as graphics, video, sound, or text.

Step 3: Arrange the elements

Place the assets on the Stage and in the Timeline to control when and how they appear in the application.

Step 4: Apply special effects

Apply any graphic filters (e.g. blurs, glows, and bevels), blends, and other special effects as desired.

Step 5: Use ActionScript to control behaviour

Write ActionScript code to control the media assets and how they behave, including how they respond to user interactions.

Step 6: Test and publish your application.

Test your application to ensure it is working as you intended, and fix any errors you find. Testing should occur throughout the creation process. Finally, publish your FLA files as SWF files that can be viewed in a web page using the Flash Player.

About Flash files

In Flash you work with two main file types, each of which has a separate purpose:

FLA files: these are the main files you work with in Flash, containing the assets, timeline, scripts and other items for a Flash document. Flash files have a FLA extension.

SWF files: when you publish a FLA file, Flash creates a SWF file. These are the files that you display in a web page and that are played by the Flash Player. SWF files have a SWF extension.

Creating a new Flash document

Do either of the following:

• Click an option in the Create New column of the Welcome Screen.
• Choose File > New and choosing an option in the General tab of the New Document dialogue box.

Tip: Flash documents can be created using one of two versions of ActionScript, the scripting language for Flash. These versions are ActionScript 2.0 and ActionScript 3. This is an option that can be changed during the publish process and will be discussed in a later topic.

Learn more by registering into the Flash Level 1, 2-day training course delivered by Alpha Computer Consultants www.alphacc.com.au.