I am a programmer with a relatively good background programming in ActionScript using Flash Builder. However, I have been handed a FLA file meant to be opened in Flash CS 4, and I have to add some code to it, but this is the first time I’ve ever used this software in my life.
After I opened the file, I was greeted by a quite unhelpful interface (maybe it’s friendly for artists?), and I immediately had questions such as:
- How can I edit the source code?
- How do I run the program?
- How is the source code organized?
- Where is the entry point of the program?
- How can I do source control of these files?
I’ve been looking at flash tutorials online, but every tutorial starts with drawing shapes, tweening, the timeline, etc. Honestly, I don’t care about any of those things (they’ve already been done by people at the design team).
I already know how to code in ActionScript, so what I need is a tutorial to give me a kickstart in coding -already designed- flash files using Flash (not Flash Builder).
Anybody knows of such a tutorial?
edit: I have been fighting against flash cs4 all day and I am very very disappointed with it. I thought I was good with technology, but it has been a really long time since I last found a tool so difficult to use and understand.
Sounds like you might need to start at the beginning, Flash is not an easy programme to just jump into.
Having ActionScripting knowledge is good but if you have never worked within the IDE you are going to really struggle.
For great tutorials you could have a look at http://www.flashkit.com I have learnt a lot from there and the people are very helpful in the forums.
You should really learn each of these things too, do a tutorial on each. Fair enough, it’s already been done for you on this project but unless you know what’s going on it will just continue to frustrate you, sorry.
Book:
This book really helped me get started it’s old now but maybe you could get a cheap ebook of it from somewhere. “Flash MX ActionScript: The Designer’s Edge”. The fundamentals will be the same.
Tutorials:
Flashkit actionscripting section… http://www.flashkit.com/tutorials/Actionscripting/