graphic symbols and movie clip symbols

[generlam]

what is the difference between creating a graphic symbol from an image with it's own timeline animation and creating a movie clip symbol from the same image that can be animated in the main timeline?

Or do I totally misunderstand the difference between the two?

 

[jazz88]

you can give mc an instance name and address them via actionscript

 

[generlam]

Thanks. So if you don't use action script, ie, you use the graphic symbol to create animation, that means you can't make it just repeat once?

 

[jazz88]

not sure what do you mean, but if you want to stop the animation put stop(); action at the end of your animation, if you want to repeat that animation without actionscript then you just repeat it in the timeline wherever you want it to be. The disadvantage is that it's more work and it's harder to change if you wish to modify something. Also if your animation is placed inside the mc (for example your animated graphic symbol is nested within the mc) then you can place it (drag from library) on the main timeline and it's packed in one frame and you cam move it around as you like it. Did I make sense ? Hope that helps.

 

[generlam]

I thought you couldn't use actionscript with a graphic symbol animation.

 

[jazz88]

if you put it inside mc and give it an instance name you sure can.

 

[generlam]

But then you have to create it to begin with as a mc symbol, not a graphic symbol, right?

 

[jazz88]

That's the fundamental concept with Flash: nesting one symbol within the other. For example, in your case: press contr. F8 choose mc (give it a name) this will open the whole new time line e.g. the timeline of that mc not the main timeline. there you can place your graphic symbol animation. Then, go back to the main (root) timeline by pressing the little icon on the top left corner. From your library find the mc you created (your graphic symbol nests within it) drag it on tha stage and now you can address it with actionscript.