Flash Developement (easier to maintain)

Question

Hi guys, I have several questions in which are not quite
answered in my searches. I am a web designer for a marketing firm.
Recently I was asked to create a flash animation for one of our
departments. As it turned out, they liked it too much. They are
taking it to a show, but now they are having all of the departments
use it. I am the only one in the company that has intermediate
knowledge of flash.
Anyways, with this animation and all the departments that
will be using it as a standard, each will want to have changes
according to the department. Unfortunately, the way the animation
is set up, it would require me to basically re-animate each frame
because some frames are using distort or shaping. Then most of the
rest is simply swaping instances of videos and other images, though
they might want to add more videos to the original which in turn
would force me to make yet another animation to compensate for the
new videos.
My supervisor is now also asking me to find an easier way to
maintain the animation for other future changes and uses.
Basically, my first question is where can I find info and tutorials
on creating components and so forth, programming my flash file to
simply switch instances of images with same positioning, shapes,
and size. This also goes with adding videos and new animations just
to maintain it, like drag and drop using containers or something.
Maybe, something like using a text file that can swap instances of
images and so forth. I just don't know where to start.
I've seen a source file of JW FLV MEDIA PLAYER. He seems to
use containers. Where can I find info on how to create them, and
program them to do what it needs? If successful, I can foresee the
company asking me to do the same with their main web product so
they can save money from using a third party tool.
My second question is not so technical as developement. I've
been trying to export my movie to .avi and .mov but neither works.
I use CS3, and the only possible explanation I can think of in why
they don't work is because I only have one frame in the scene. I'm
using movie clips in the main scene. I've tried third party tools
for swf to video conversions, but most lose quality in both image
and animation. The best I've found was Sothink's swf to video
encoder. But is there another way around using 3rd party tools for
file conversion or export? I've tried screen capturing tools as
well, but I get the same poor quality, even after I try to improve
the quality back by another conversion.
Sorry for the long stories, just makeing sure there's enough
information there to understand what I'm talking about and so
forth. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for
your time in reading. I look forward to hearing some answers.
Jakes

Answer 1

An optical drive, depending on the build design configuration, can be
used to record, and play DVD/CD media; can be used to save files
of most kinds off the computer, for later use, and archival storage.
•Apple USB SuperDrive - Apple Store (US)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive
This model has limitations, and they are covered on the site.
It is intended to work with models that do not have a built-in
optical drive, of a certain vintage or newer.
System Requirements
Compatible with the following computers:
MacBook Pro with Retina display
MacBook Air
iMac (late 2012) and later
Mac mini (late 2009) and later
Mac Pro (late 2013)
There are other brands, that can be useful and more versatile with
older Macs whose internal DVD/CD (superdrive/combo) failed; as
this model won't work directly with older models whose internal drive
has failed. Third-party brands such as LG and others, can be used
with old Macs, as external drives, and helpful when using original
install-restore system media; lacking a functional built-in superdrive.
Hopefully this helps.
Next time, you'd be ahead by starting a new thread of your own.
Good luck & happy computing!