Home > Articles > Design > Adobe Creative Suite

Flash Reference Guide

Aug 22, 2003

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 36 of 398 Next >

In this section of the guide I would like to introduce you to ActionScript, a feature of Flash that has matured over the years, with a corresponding increase in complexity. This introduction highlights variables, objects, and methods, with an explanation on how to access externally shared scripts with the #include object. In the future, I intend to dig deeper into the technology to discuss more complex ActionScript features.

Variables

The foundation for any ActionScript you create is a variable. A variable is a name used to capture a set of values in ActionScript. The value can be today's date, the name of a game player, or the score of a game. The variable is limited only by what it can and can not capture. The information within the variable can then be used in other blocks of ActionScript.

The following code defines a very simple variable:

myNameIs = "Matthew";

A new variable, called myNameIs, now has a string value. This variable can be used at any time and the value will always be "Matthew " unless it is subsequently changed.

To see this in action, create a new movie and draw a text field on the stage using the text tool. Give the text field the name "txt." Open the Actions panel (press F9) and enter the following ActionScript:

myNameIs = "Matthew";
txt.text = myNameIs;

In this example, the variable is an alphanumeric string intended for use in a text field. While it is possible to define the text field using a string instead of a variable, that would be more limiting. It’s much more flexible to have the value generated from an expression. The second line of ActionScript in this example uses an expression to set the value of the text field to equal a variable.

Variables are very dynamic in nature. This is what makes them so useful. You can capture information on the fly and have it dynamically updated. The dynamic value of Flash can be demonstrated with a simple Flash movie.

Open Flash. Do not worry about the size of the screen you are working with.
On the stage use the Text tool and draw a dynamic text field. Name the text field "t".
The timeline defaults to a single layer named "layer 1" with one frame. Select frame 1 of layer 1. Press F5 to add a second frame. Preview this movie. The animation loops through two frames.
Open the Actions panel and enter the following ActionScript:
```
t.text = this._xmouse;
```
The ActionScript has a variable called "t." The value of "t" is property _xmouse. This property tells you where the mouse is on the stage.
Press CTRL+Enter and preview the movie again. As you move the cursor around the stage, the value in the text field changes. This is a dynamically updated variable value.

Objects

If variables are the communication tools that you use to talk to Flash, then objects are the main engines that expose the different tools you can use to build interactive elements. Each set of objects comes with a collection of methods and properties.

The four main groups of objects are:

Core
Movie
Client/Server
Authoring

The Core objects are basic objects such as math functions. With these you can generate random actions on the stage or calculate mathematical equations.

Flash is all about visual engagement. The Movie objects control what you see on the stage. In Movie objects you can control text fields, movie clips, graphics, mouse interaction, buttons, sound, and more.

The Client/Server objects enable you to connect with and receive content generated by databases. You can also connect to XML data sources.

Finally, the Authoring objects are specific to Flash authoring and not the Flash Player. These tools give you the power to extend Flash itself through component technology.

Methods

Each object has methods that allow you to control that object. Essentially, a method is a device that allows you to control and execute a specific request through ActionScript. Each and every object has methods. In the Actions panel, select the plus symbol to view any object. From within that object you can view all of the methods.

There are many different methods. An introductory example comes from the Date object. The Date object, as its name implies, controls the date. The methods within that object are what give you a value for a date.

Create a new movie. Draw a text field on the stage and give it the name "t". You will use this text field to display the date.
Open the Actions panel in Expert mode.
You need to tell Flash that you are going to use the Date object. You do that with the following ActionScript:
```
myDate = new Date();
```
Here a variable, myDate, is used for the object new Date.

Add the next line of ActionScript:

dateTextField = ((myDate.getMonth() + 1) + "/" + myDate.getDate() + "/" + myDate.getFullYear());

At the beginning of the line is a variable called dateTextField followed by an expression. The expression uses three methods from the Date object: getMonth, getDate, and getFullYear. The getMonth method allows Flash to find out the number of the month you are in today; the getDate method finds which day of the month it is; and getFullYear tells you which year it is. The dateTextField variable now has the expression for today's date. This can be passed to a text field.
After the last line of ActionScript, add the following line to pass variable data to the text field:
```
t.text = dateTextField;
```
Preview the movie and confirm that today’s date is displayed correctly.

Methods are a powerful way to extract useful information from the objects within ActionScript.

External ActionScript - #include Object

As an ActionScript programmer, you are going to start with small scripts and then they will grow as you become more confident in your skills. If you have an identical ActionScript required for two or more programs, you can re-use the ActionScript through the #include object.

The #include object allows you to point Flash to an external text file containing ActionScript. The file is dynamically loaded into Flash when a movie is run. The power of this tool is that you can re-use the same scripts in a limitless number of movie.

A simple example can show how you can use the same ActionScript to place content into multiple text fields.

Create a new movie. The new movie will open with a default of one frame and one layer. Save the movie and name it include.fla. When you begin working with include files it is a good idea to keep the include in the same folder as the final SWF file. This is because it is easy to tell Flash where to find the include.
With the Text tool, create a new dynamic text field on the stage. Name the text field "t." Later you are going to add ActionScript that will generate content for "t." Change the font size to 23, the type to Times New Roman, and the color to #993399.
Open a text editor such as Windows Notepad. You are going to write the ActionScript directly into the text editor. Enter the following ActionScript:
```
t.text="Flash";
```

This script will look for a text field clip labeled "t" and dynamically add the words "Flash."

Go back to Flash. Select frame 1 of layer 1, open the Actions panel, and enter the following line:
#include "script.as"
Preview your movie. You will see that the text field now populates dynamically from the commands in the include file.
Now you can create a second Flash movie with a dynamic text field labeled "t." Give the new text field different properties (change the font, size, and color) and link the movie to the same include file. Preview and you will see the action from the new movie is the same. You are re-using content. You can repeat these steps re-using the file hundreds of times. Later, you can change the content of the include file and have those changes replicated immediately through all of your Flash movies.

The include object is relatively simple to use. However, its power in re-use is undeniable.

Summary

As you can see, we have covered a lot but still have long way to go with ActionScript. If you are a Java, C#, or JavaScript programmer, then you will have seen techniques that are common across your languages. The strength of ActionScript is that it is bedded deeply within industry-standard programming languages. You will be delighted to know that this is the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more functionality to be discussed in future updates to the Flash Reference Guide.

< Back Page 36 of 398 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

Peachpit Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Peachpit and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Peachpit products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email ask@peachpit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.peachpit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address