Any tools to enhance the ease of use of Flash MX? 1

[Jennyucf]

Hi, there

I am always stunned by the power of Flash MX. At the same time, I realize that mastering ActionScript seems the only way to master Flash. Is there any tool available so the designers don't have to be involved in a lot of coding? Like plug in, or exchange? Or any way to increase the Return on Investment and reduce the insensitity of labor? I don't know much about it. If you can give some suggestions, that would help a lot!

Thanks!

 

[billwatson]

lots and lots of excellent free components (add ons/ plugins) at

http://www.flashcomponents.net

other people have done the coding...all you have to do is use...a great resource

 

[Jennyucf]

Hi,

Yes, those components are excellent! I love it.
I am trying to find out some components which can record the desktop activities and allow users to practice the navigation of a software. Did you happen to see the examples before?

Thank you very much!!

 

[billwatson]

without actually having the software you mention loaded you cannot let the user practise its use which might be an option for an exe but not for the web.

all i can suggest is that you create a tutorial on the softwares use in flash and follow that up with a quiz.

http://www.techsmith.com/products/snagit/default.asp

is a program that allows easy screen capture (there are many more) and you could make this an online video which the user could watch as often as they wanted before taking the quiz.

perhaps if you gave some details a better solution might occur to me.

 

[Jennyucf]

Hi, billwatson

Thanks for the recommendation of the screen capture software. I also have the feeling that in order to allow users to practice the navigation of the software, I need something else instead of just Flash, if I don't have strong coding background..

I appreciate your help!

 

[billwatson]

well i suppose as a workaround you could have a number of relevant screenshots saved as jpegs and you could then build a menu in flash with the same structure as the software.
clicking menu options would then lead to the appropriate screen shot being displayed. (dynamically loaded into an empty clip).

 

[Jennyucf]

Hi, billwatson,
Thanks...would you explain a bit more about "dynamically loaded into an empty clip"? What the advantage of doing that?

Cheers
Jenny

 

[billwatson]

keep all your screenshots external to the flash file (keeps the size down) and just load the relevant screen shot depending on user action. the code for this can be attached to the menu button

on (release){
loadMovie("screen_1.jpg",clipholder);
}

where clipholder is the instance name of the empty clip on stage. there is no need to unload the previous one as when a new one is loaded the previous one is unloaded automatically.

 

[Jennyucf]

That is very cool! Thank you!