flash 5 problem

[xtremerider247]

i recently bought flash 5 and its a great program for making movies and anims but i dont quite know how to make an actual web site(the part after the animation in the beginning) using the program. does anybody know how? help is greatly appreciated.

[xtremerider247]

oh...so the movie plays until you get to a certain part of your website. then it is html, then it is flash again when someone clicks a link? if this is true, then how did u get those rollover animations, and then also, where do you edit the html?

if i am wrong ignore the above

[rh71]

No, it's all Flash except for a couple links that link to an external html-type file. But nevermind that because you cannot do those 2 functions (webcam & discussion forum) in all-Flash.

What you do is have buttons exist across the entire timeline on their separate layers. You then have a LABELS layer and name them xxxxLabel where xxxx=linkname. You do this to label each section. In the buttons' script, for example "friends" link... do a gotoAndPlay "FriendsLabel". Give it the length of a few frames, however many you need to do your friends section. At the end of this little section, place a Stop() action so it doesn't run into the next section.

Simple as that... I can give you a screenshot of my FLA timeline showing these sections if you like...

[xtremerider247]

thanks rh71

'cept ur a little too complex for me. thanks for trying

[rh71]

What I recommend you do is to download some source files (FLA) from http://www.flashkit.com (movies section) or http://www.were-here.com ... those are the top 2 resources that have helped me in the past. Learn from them!

Sorry I cannot give out my source FLA because it's got passwords and whatnot embedded in it... but here's a screenie of how to structure it... SCREENSHOT of the source FLA

Anyway, pick up the basics... like using Labels and referencing them... manipulating movie clips by calling their assigned name... it'll all come together... don't get frustrated. The key is to experiment! The program wasn't cheap. I'll be here and so will the thousands of others at those 2 sites' forums.

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 08-23-2001).]

[rh71]

I don't understand exactly what it is you're asking for. If you mean "web site" as in making buttons that link everywhere, etc.... then you'd have to do some more in-depth coding within Flash (called actionscripting). For example, you'd use getURL and targets. Tell Target is another important one to know.

Personally, what I've done with http://www.rh71.com is make each link reference a different part of my timeline. I made labels on the timeline for the links and said gotoAndPlay "ResumeLabel" with my Resume button. The movie would move ahead to the section labeled "ResumeLabel"... and pertinent movie clips would play in that one section. You would have to put a Stop() action in there so it doesn't start/play the next section. All links should exist across the entire timeline for this to work, since the links have to be clickable at all times, no matter what section of the movie you're in.

This is just one of the many ways to create an entire website via Flash. Another method that comes to mind is to use separate scenes for each link. I love this program because it allows for so much creativity and ingenuity. You can do similar effects in so many different ways.

Keep in mind, however, some people don't go for all-Flash sites, using it only for animations/mouseovers for parts of a site. It can complement a well-coded & comprehensive non-Flash site very well if used appropriately. The only reason I did my front-end all in Flash is that I wanted a personal challenge and people who saw the old site kept asking me to do it all in Flash. EVERYTHING else I've ever done with Flash is used as either an intro or a small part of a site. Honestly, I still believe that's the best way to use Flash.

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 08-23-2001).]

[xtremerider247]

thanks rh71

your screen shot helped me but how would one get to THAT screen in flash? with the frame action bar at the top, and the .fla at the top and what are the COMMENTS, LABELS, etc you have line up an down on the laft side? what are those? i mean i am REEEEALAY a newbie at flash. thanks rhdude.

P.S. when i start up flash, a scren comes up where it appears that i can edit a movie. is making a web site a different format or do i just have to name files differently?

[xtremerider247]

thanks rh71

your screen shot helped me but how would one get to THAT screen in flash? with the frame action bar at the top, and the .fla at the top and what are the COMMENTS, LABELS, etc you have line up an down on the laft side? what are those? i mean i am REEEEALAY a newbie at flash. thanks rhdude.

P.S. when i start up flash, a scren comes up where it appears that i can edit a movie. is making a web site a different format or do i just have to name files differently?

[xtremerider247]

thanks a lot!

I actually just finished reading a flash book which was very helpful and your information was helpful too. where again did you say i could download example .flas? by the way i like your site. mine is www.looneytunes.dk3.com

thanks

[rh71]

Sorry about that... from your original post, I thought you had experience with Flash already because you mentioned making animations/movies... and that you just didn't know how to make a website. That's why I replied with my first sentence about not fully understanding you.

Anyway, what you see with the panels on the left side, the toolbar docked on the right, and the action/frame screen (minimized) up at the top... they're all properties for the Flash interface... I've simply moved them around to my own preference. You'll notice little icons on the bottom right to open up each of these properties.

It's extremely difficult to teach Flash 5 with just an explanation here. So, again, what I recommend you do is download sample FLA (source) files from Flashkit and see how Flash movies are made. Creating websites with Flash is no different... it's just 1 very big interactive movie/animation. So yes, it's the same screen that comes up as default that you work off of.

But like I mentioned before, it's critical that you plan ahead if you're doing an entire site. You have to think about how you're going to do page transitions (when a user clicks on a button). I simply chose to move to a section on the timeline dedicated to that link (hence the labels on the timeline). Alternatively, you can also make each link go into a difference scene. This is all easily done with the gotoAndPlay() action within Flash.

Just download source files and you will soon understand a lot better.

[rh71]

Couple places:
http://www.flashkit.com/movies/index.shtml
http://www.were-here.com/forum/fla/index.shtml

Also visit both their message boards for some good resources.