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Adding Interactivity with ActionScript

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Tutorial 8 Adding Interactivity with ActionScript – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Adding Interactivity with ActionScript


1
Tutorial 8
  • Adding Interactivity with ActionScript

2
Objectives
  • Review the basics of ActionScript programming
  • Use ActionScript to create links to access
    external Web sites
  • Create input and dynamic text fields
  • Use ActionScript to create an input form
  • Create and test a Flash preloader

3
Programming with ActionScript
  • ActionScript programming language in Flash
  • ActionScript is used to make a document
    interactive
  • Examples make buttons operational, process user
    input
  • ActionScript may also be used to write
    applications
  • Example shopping card application
  • Tutorial tasks involving the use of ActionScript
  • Control multimedia elements to access Web pages
  • Process data entered into input forms

4
Sample Flash Application
5
Working with Objects and Properties
  • ActionScript is used to control and modify
    objects
  • Object Flash element with modifiable properties
  • Examples buttons, movie clips, and text blocks
  • Properties are identified by underscore e.g.,
    _alpha
  • ActionScript examines and modifies many
    properties
  • Objects to be manipulated often require a name
    assignment
  • Dot notation links object to properties and
    methods
  • Example circle_mc._alpha 30 // mc stands for
    movie clip

6
Code Hints in the Actions Panel
7
Using Actions, Methods, and Functions
  • Action statement passing instruction to SWF file
  • Functions
  • Statement blocks that process data when called
  • Return a value or perform some action
  • Parameters or arguments values passed to a
    function
  • Methods are functions specific to a particular
    object
  • Use dot notation to bind a method to an object
  • Example circle_mc.gotoAndPlay(10)

8
Writing ActionScript Using Variables,
Expressions, Operators, and Comments
  • Variable container that holds data while SWF
    plays
  • Keyword word or phrase reserved for ActionScript
  • Examples else, if, while, this
  • Expression statement assigning a value to a
    variable
  • Two types of data
  • String data series of characters within
    quotation marks
  • Numeric data numbers not enclosed with quotation
    marks
  • Operators manipulate values in expressions

9
Writing ActionScript Using Variables,
Expressions, Operators, and Comments (continued)
  • Types of operators
  • Assignment operator () assigns value to
    variable
  • Arithmetic operators , -, , and /
  • Comparison operators lt, lt, gt, gt, , !
  • Conditional statement
  • Uses comparison operators to compare values
  • Example if (x gt 50) gotoAndPlay(1)
  • Comments explanatory notes set off by slashes
    (//)

10
Comment in Script Pane
11
Writing ActionScript Code
  • Syntax set of rules specifying valid code
    constructs
  • ActionScript statements follow a specific syntax
  • Example parentheses are required to group
    arguments
  • Use Actions toolbox to limit syntax errors
  • Some places where scripts are added
  • Frame script triggered when playhead reaches
    frame
  • Button script activated when button clicked and
    released
  • Movie clip script performed as part of a movie
    clip

12
ActionScript Syntax
13
Exploring ActionScript Examples
  • Leslies Salad and Sandwich Shop Web site
  • Use this site to review ActionScript examples
  • ActionScript code for buttons in Specials page
  • Controls how playhead moves in the Timeline
  • Playhead moves to daily special based on button
    click
  • Another code example from ballsample.fla
  • _x property of movie clip is modified with
    ActionScript
  • _x property contains horizontal position (X
    coordinate)

14
ActionScript for Movie Clip
15
Linking to Web Sites Using the getURL() Function
  • Objective add links to a Resources page
  • getURL() loads a document into a browser window
  • Format getURL(url, window)
  • url (uniform resource locator) address of the
    Web site
  • window options _self, _blank, _parent, and _top
  • _blank option will be used in Resources page
  • Specifies that document is opened in a new window
  • Button clicks cause getURL() to load document

16
getURL() Function
17
Text Block Above Buttons
18
Creating an Input Form
  • How an input form works
  • User enters data into input fields
  • Input data processed by current page or Web
    server
  • Results of process are displayed
  • One scenario involving an input form
  • Visitor enters number and type of items to be
    purchased
  • Other fields display total price based on entry
  • Input forms must include dynamic text and input
    text

19
Using Dynamic and Input Text
  • Static text cannot be changed after document
    plays
  • Dynamic text defined to display variable
    contents
  • Variable can be manipulated to change value
    displayed
  • Use the Text tool to create a dynamic text block
  • Select Dynamic Text type in the Property
    inspector
  • Input text allows user to enter text into text
    block
  • Use Text tool to create an input text box
  • Select Input Text type in the Property inspector

20
Dynamic Text Options
21
Additional Options for Input Text
22
Creating the Team Jersey Calculator Page
  • Objective calculate costs for team jerseys
  • Calculator requirements
  • Four input text boxes to gather type, quantity,
    add-ons
  • Calculate button with ActionScript to process
    input data
  • Dynamic text block to display the total cost
  • Explanatory text for input text and calculate
    button
  • Pseudocode programming logic in English syntax
  • Use pseudocode to design the script

23
Dynamic Text Block For Cost Calculator Page
24
Complete ActionScript Code
25
Using a Flash Preloader
  • SWF files are often downloaded to a client
    computer
  • Factors affecting the download time of SWF files
  • Size of the file measured in kilobytes
  • Type of Internet connection e.g., broadband or
    dial-up
  • Large SWF file may require a long time to
    download
  • Ways to overcome excessive download wait time
  • Stream the content play frames as content
    arrives
  • Add a preloader animation to advise user of
    status

26
Sample Preloaders
27
Creating the Preloader ActionScript
  • Adding a preloader requires ActionScript code
  • Pseudocode for the preloader logic
  • Get the total number of bytes
  • Get the number of bytes loaded
  • If the number of bytes loaded equals the total
    number of bytes Play the rest of the SWF
    fileelse continue playing the preloader
    animation

28
Changing the Width of a Movie Clip
29
Creating a Preloader for the Jacksons Sports Web
Site
  • Objective create a preloader on main page
  • Specifications for preloader
  • Add preloader to revised version of Main.fla file
  • Preloader will start Frame 1 of its own layer
  • ActionScript is added to second frame of Actions
    layer

30
ActionScript for Preloader
31
Completing the Actions for the Jacksons Sports
Web Site
  • Objective make new buttons on Main.fla
    functional
  • Resources and Calculate buttons load SWF files
  • Requirements
  • SWF files load in level 1 of Flash Player
  • loadMovieNum() action will be added to each
    button
  • Action will execute after button is clicked
  • Files to load Resources.swf and Calc.swf
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