Flash skins and designers

Hello,
I'm primarily a Designer and I'm trying to create multiple themes for a flex application. Each theme/look will be replaced every couple of months. It seems as though Flash (at least from a designers perspective) is the best way to do that outside of flash Builder itself. In flash pro CS5, I've been using the flex template and changing each component there. I'm hoping that exporting a swc will be pretty seemles. I'd like to bring the new swc files in each time. Is this reasonable workflow for changing themes?
I can use PS for example, but I'd like to avoid bitmaps where I can. Can anyone suggest ways that they're working with designers to build UI's?
I'm using CS5 on a mac.
Thanks

Hi again
Yes, the standard.js file is used to overcome the "Click to
activate" message we now see with Flash content when it displays
inside Internet Exploder. And yes, it should typically reside
inside the same folder as the other files. However, I recently
concocted a workaround for another user that didn't want to
sprinkle many copies of this file all over the place. If that
solution sounds remotely interesting,
click
here to read the thread.
Cheers... Rick

Similar Messages

Spark Skinning and Flash Professional

Hello,
In transitioning to Flex Builder fom Flex 3, I am running into a wall with the whole spark component architecture. I used to create my visual content in Flash, convert those assets to symbols and then reference the skin classes using an external CSS file. This may not have been the most elegant way to do things, but it allowed me to leverage my proficiency in Flash (and tons of existing assets) to create a workflow that was as flexible as I needed it to be, while at the same time allowing me to make changes easily and rapidly.
I am a single designer/developer, so this 'separation' of everything between 'designers' and 'developers' is creating some serious drag on my workflow. I just don't understand how this new spark workflow model can possibly be viewed as 'efficient' when it adds so much overhead and boilerplate code to my projects. I used to go from vector graphics (using 9 slice scaling) directly into my Flex projects, and now I have to filter all of these vectors through catalyst, and then create these skin classes which require the tweaking of the catalyst output for me to use them (which, in effect, destroys the round-trip editing of the catalyst projects).
I must be missing something major because, it just doesn't make any sense to me. I know that I can always use the mx components to continue to work the way I am now, but to what end ? I get these warnings that all but tell me the mx buttons are going to be deprecated sooner or later so what should I do ? Just because it's possible to represent vectors with xml doesn't mean that it's a good idea. It seems as if Adobe took something that was optimized (at least for my workflow), and turned it upside down and made things so much more labor-intensive, with no real benefits. I'd use CSS until I couldn't achieve the appearance I wanted, and then for the rest I'd skin the components in Flash Professional.
If you are still reading this, thank you. I really only have a couple of simple questions: Are MX components going to be deprecated ?, which, I know only Adobe folk can answer, and the more important question (for me): Does a workflow exist between Flash Professional and Flash Builder for the skinning of spark components. I have read a couple of other posts which ask similar questions, and some have 'solutions', but again, these seem to be ways to work around the new component architecture, rather than how to maximize it's efficiency and effectiveness.
I feel like I should have just stayed with Flex Builder, and Flash Pro because the newest version of Flash Builder just seems more and more like a tweener version that I could have skipped altogether and waited for the platform to mature a little more.
Thanks for staying with me, I apologize for the rambling.

I can't really help you pick the best MVC framework, but I can recommend that if you are moving your Flex 3 projects to Flex 4, make as few changes as possible for moving components right now. Like you said, we are in the middle of a transition. The Adobe guys recommend not porting all of your mx Projects over to Spark. I have a large Flex 3 project that I'm almost finished moving to 4.1 and I have changed as little as possible. The only reason I converted it was to take advantage of some of the nice things they've done with data services and binding.
I don't think it is a waste of time to take Flex 3 projects and make them run in Flex 4.1 or higher, but I do think it is a waste of time to convert all of those components over to their Spark counterparts at this time.

Flash Catalyst and the problem of designers who can't to program.

Let us assume that Flash Catalyst is still limited to certain resources. For example, a loop sequence of images, a video and photo gallery, a contacto form and others.
I always have to work with Flash Builder - and then have to programs code? Will future versions of Flash Catalyst help us in this aspect? I hope so. I wanted to hear from you. Recalling that Flash Catalyst is a valuable aid to designers who do not know programming.
Graceful.
@eldermarx

Exactly, my dear juviesi.
To create a little more complex sites we have to learn to program in Flash Builder - even if only a few lines. The Flash Catalyst' idea is great, no doubt, but I hope that Adobe will facilitate futher the life of graphic designers in future version of this software.
Thanks.
@eldermarx

Testing the water on possible Flash Professional and Flash Builder integration

Hey,
I just wanted to throw this out here instead of the bug area to see if I'm off my rocker or I'm on to something.
Basically one of my major pains is that any application design I do, I do it in Flash Pro and I code in FB. Switching back and forth between apps just to press CTRL + ENTER seems like a) a waste of time and b) a waste of system resources.
So what I'm proposing is having FB integrate with FLA files.
When you create your product you have the option to specify a target FLA (or multiple with a build order) so that when you test your project it will actually build your FLAs in order (in the situation that the final SWF requires others) and you're off to the races.
You could also have the currently associated FLA files have a checkbox next to them which could temporally disable them for a build.
If you still need to make design tweaks later on, it's a mater of opening Flash and doing them, but it would be so slick to be able to have FB render the FLA for you in the same app (no more random CTRL+ENTER in FB anymore!)
As far as where it could go. I think it would work the best if it was just a new tab that could be added to the perspective. Would allow drag+drop of FLA files to it, drag+drop ordering and also have the checkboxes to disable any FLAs from the build.
So there we go, does that sound like a decent workflow?
Cheers!

Hi guys,
Have you considered Testing the water on doing your design work in the new Flash Catalyst software http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcatalyst/ for your skins instead of Flash CS4.
You would be able to export directly in the new FXG format and integrate it directly in your FB4 coding.
There is a tremendous productivity potential gain there.
I am planning to abandon eventually completely Flash CS4 for both design and coding and substitute it eventually by simultaneously working in FB4(coding) and Flash Catalyst(design) with input symbols directly linked to photoshop and illustrator related files.
For those of you who would like to wet their toes and initiate a quick dive, Lynda.com has already released, on june 11, an 1h40 min course on this subject. Here are the details.
Length: 1 hour
Online Training Library® exclusive!
Flash Catalyst Beta Preview
with: Mordy Golding
Flash Catalyst is a new Adobe application that is currently in beta and available for downloading atlabs.adobe.com, that allows designers to quickly create interactive Flash content and rich internet applications without having to write a single line of code. In Flash Catalyst Beta Preview, Mordy Golding demonstrates a workflow that emphasizes the intuitive nature of the tool, and shows how to achieve results in a short time. Meant to bridge the gap between designers and developers, Flash Catalyst allows the designer to work with familiar applications, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, while automatically generating the necessary code in the background for the developer. Exercise files accompany the course.
Topics include:
Creating interactive content from Photoshop and Illustrator design compositions
Turning ordinary graphics into functional components like buttons and sliders
Using smooth transitions and animation techniques
Moving content between Flash Catalyst and Flash Builder
Declarative Graphics
Flex 4 will make good use of FXG, the new graphics interchange format used with the CS4 graphics applications. Flex 4 and Flash Player 10 can together render FXG graphical elements. These include:
graphics and text primitives
fills, strokes, gradients, and bitmaps
support for filters, masks, alphas, and blend modes.
FXG graphical elements can be used in Flex 4 in a number of ways. FXG elements can be used within an MXML file or component and can also be saved as an .fxg file format. The CS4 tools will typically export an FXG using the FXG 2008 namespace. Because these files are designed to be shared between graphical applications, you’ll find that they have a stricter format to what’s used in Flex; the Flex compiler will only use the FXG-specific tags. Adobe’s new application, Flash Catalyst, will make it easy to create FXG graphics compatible with Flex 4, which you can then use to complete your application’s user interface and appearance.
New effects have been added to Flex 4 that can also be applied to FXG graphical elements. These new effects will work on both new and old components alike. Standalone effects must now be declared within fx:Declarationstags instead of the body of the application. Once again, Flash Catalyst has additional tools to help make using these effects easier.
Ref:http://www.sitepoint.com/article/whats-new-flex-4/ by Andrew Muller

Importing swf file with skin and closed captioning problems

I created a flv file in Preimere and I pulled it into flash to create close captioning. When I publish it, it creates a swf file that I can open up on its own and it has the skin with the button to push to show the closed caption. When I try to bring that file into captivate, it doesnt bring in the skin and it just automatically shows the captions. How do I get it to bring the skin in with it?

Are you seeing this problem when you preview you project. or only after you publish it? If it is when you publish, is it in both the local version and/or in the web version?
Also, which version of Flash Catalyst? 1.0 or 5.5.?
Chris

Need help creating custom .swf skin and exporting for use

Please, can anyone help...
I am currently working on a projects that needs to have a custom flash skin player.
I have tried copying and editing excisting skins, but when I export the swf and fla into the crrect folders, I am able to select it from the skin list- however it doesn;t show in the player.
Am I exporting/publishing this in the correct way and to the right folders?
If anyone can give me a tip of how to achieve this that would be great, or a link to somewhere that may have the infor I'd be happy,
Cheers
Cliff

Hi,
Do you mean skinning FLVPlayback palyer?
Warm Regards
Deepanjan Das
http://deepanjandas.wordpress.com/

Flash CS4 and ActionScript 2.0

Hello
Was wondering if you could recommend the publish and save
settings in Flash CS4 when working with ActionScript 2.0.
What are my publish settings?
Flash Player 8 or 9?
Script: ActionScript 2.0
Should I be saving the project as CS4 or CS3?
- I no longer have the ability to save the file as Flash 8 in
CS4.
- It looks like I lose my XML files when I save as CS3
Are there any other settings that need to be changed?
Thanks in advance
M

troika22,
> Was wondering if you could recommend the publish and
save
> settings in Flash CS4 when working with ActionScript
2.0.
Ultimately, it depends on what version of Flash Player
you're aiming
for.
> What are my publish settings?
> Flash Player 8 or 9?
> Script: ActionScript 2.0
There are numerous reasons you might decide to code a
project in AS2.
You might, for example, not yet have "taken the plunge" to
AS3, so you may
not be comfortable with it yet. Your project requirements
might dictate
that you support as low as Flash Player 6 (may ad agencies
have such
requirements). You might be updating an existing project,
already built in
AS2.
In any of these cases, your publish settings will be
determined by the
version of Flash Player you're targetting. Flash Player 8 was
the first to
support blend modes and filter effects (drop shadow, etc.),
so in order to
support that, you would have to publish to Flash Player 8. If
you don't
need those, and if your code itself doesn't rely on features
that require
Flash Player 7, you may as well publish to Flash Player 6 and
reach the
greatest number of potential viewers. (The farther back you
go, the more
likely your viewer will have Flash Player installed, because
not everyone
decides to upgrade. That said, most people seem to upgrade.)
> Should I be saving the project as CS4 or CS3?
If you're working with a team and some of those people use
Flash CS3,
you'll have to save it as CS3 any time you want to share the
file;
otherwise, save it as CS4. The FLA settings are independent
from the SWF
publish settings.
> - I no longer have the ability to save the file as Flash
8 in CS4.
Correct. Each edition of the IDE only save to the previous
edition, as
far as source files go. But each edition of the IDE is
capable of
*publishing* as far back as you like.
> - It looks like I lose my XML files when I save as CS3
Which XML files are those?
David Stiller
Co-author, Foundation Flash CS4 for Designers
http://tinyurl.com/dpsFoundationFlashCS4
"Luck is the residue of good design."

Flash Skin not showing up on website

Hello,
I am having what seems to be a common problem, but am not having any luck with any of the solutions I have tried.
I have created a video, gone through the steps in flash cs3, and made the corresponding .swf and .flv files.
I publish preview - html and everything works great, the video plays, the skin shows up and functions flawlessly.
Then, I put the .flv, .swf, and skin.swf files on my hosting server put the html in my site code, and the skin won't show up.
The video plays on its own, and the space is blank where the skin should be, just the skin is not there.
I have tried most anything I can that I have found scouring message boards, etc, but none of the solutions are working for me.
I can give more exact descriptions to anyone willing to help me out.
Thanks for your time

Warning: Not a known player download type, http://mhtlc.com.s60311.gridserver.com/SkinUnderPlaySeekStop.swf
Error #2044: Unhandled skinError:. text=[IOErrorEvent type="ioError" bubbles=false cancelable=false eventPhase=2 text="Error #2124: Loaded file is an unknown type. URL: SkinUnderPlaySeekStop.swf"]

Newbie problems installing Flash 11 and windows 7/SWF issues-PLEASE HELP!

I am VERY new at Dreamweaver (llike four days in) - my church has a website & they need someone to take it over so I'm trying to help out while teaching myself something new.
I was doing okay til now. I downloaded a free template to play with so as not to mess up their real site just yet. I was able to get the majority of the site up except for the top part with flash. Error message says: "this page contains some SWF objects that may not work properly in the most recent versions of IE. Dreamweaver cannot convert them to SWF markups. Please delete each of them and insert again" This mesage comes up on the index.html, index-1.html, and index-2.html pages.
I deleted & re-typed everything that had an SWF in it (then realized maybe I only needed to do the ones with the .swf extension, duh on me!) but I'm still getting a gray box with the "f" inside.
Additionally, I keep having to re-install Flash because it says I have to use version 10 or higher - the browserlab worked during the online lessons offered by Adobe, but now it won't work at all! I installed Flash 11 more times than I can count but it still won't work, yet when I go to my Programs flash it's installed twice - once as a 64 bit and once without. I'm assuming one of those can go.
I'm familiar with HTML and have created smaller websites using templates on sites like Yahoo Business, Wix and Office Live and thought I could handle this, but it's really stumping me, thought there'd be a learning curve and trial/error but WOW! Much respect to all you web designers out there, this stuff is no joke!
If anyone could please help me fix this problem and dumb your answer down as much as possible cuz I'm admittedly very lost! I'm worried that I'll have the same problem with the church site because they want some flash aspects. Did several internet searches & couldn't decipher the programmer jargon, nor could figure out if I was doing the suggested fixes correctly.
Thanks in advance for the help from anyone! I have a brand new computer, dell xps15 only 3 weeks old, so it's not the computer!
Anne

FYI: Dreamweaver questions are better answered in DW's General Discussion Forum.
http://forums.adobe.com/community/dreamweaver/dreamweaver_general?view=discussions
Older versions of DW used an Active-X JavaScript to initialize Flash in IE browsers. Adobe later switched to a different script in CS4 and again in CS5 and CS5.5 which uses SWF Object Replacement. I suspect your Template was made with an older version of Flash & DW which is why you're getting the nag screens.
Option 1: Preview the original template pages in browsers. If it works, ignore the DW error messages.
Option 2: Rebuild the Template by stripping all Flash object and embed code and removing links to any Flash supporting scripts. Then re-insert your media. Insert > Media > Flash...
Nancy O.
Alt-Web Design & Publishing
Web | Graphics | Print | Media Specialists
http://alt-web.com/
http://twitter.com/altweb

Dreamweaver CS5.5 pre-built flash skins

How do I add a full screen button option to the Dreamweaver pre-built flash skins?

Don't use Flash. It's a dead web technology because the list of supporting devices is shrinking each day. To reach the widest possible audience, you should use HTML5 <video> instead of Flash.
Copy & paste this code into a new, blank document. Save as test.html.
Change YourVideo.ogg, ....mp4 and ....webm to your actual video file names.
Save and preview in browsers / mobile devices.
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>HTML5 with Video</title>

</head>
<body>
<header>
<h1>SITE NAME</h1>
</header>

<div id="video">
<video controls>
<source src="YourVideo.ogg" type="video/ogg">
<source src="YourVideo.mp4" type="video/mp4">
<source src="YourVideo.webm" type="video/webm">
</video>
</div>

</body>
</html>
Nancy O.

Importing movie to Flash 8 and error message appears

I have tried to import a movie into Flash 8 and the message appears "The operation could not be completed as an error has occurred". It will not pu the movie on to the stage. Do you think there is something wrong with the movie file or am I missing a step? This is what I do:
1) open a new flash file
2) file - import video
3) browse to find the movie file and then click next
4) Click the option 'progressive download from a web server'
5) I dont change any of the default settings and I don't want a skin on it
6) It runs through like it is making the file and then the message appears "The operation could not be completed as an error has occurred".
Any ideas what I am doing wrong??
Thanks,
Rachel

Now that I have restored my pc to the time before installing Autodesk, the
import facility now works again.
If you have installed programs that you do not really need, the best thing
to do is either uninstal them, or restore your computer through the control
panel. If you do need them you could try using another flash encoding
program, encode it through that and then open the file in your flash
program.
There is also a program called "Super" that enables flash encoding. It
sounds good, and I am going to check it out as it is a freeware.
If it works well I may use it to encode the video into flash:-
If interested, here is the link
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html
I too have very little knowledge in computers, but I like the creative side
of using flash.
Hope this helps a little.
Let me know how you get on.

Flash CS3 and FLVPlayback

Hello.
Is there a way to dynamically instantiate a FLVPlayback with
ActionScript 3?
I imported fl.video.FLVPlayback and Flash accused not knowing
this class...
Thanks,
Ian L.

Ian,
> Is there a way to dynamically instantiate a FLVPlayback
with
> ActionScript 3?
Sure thing.
> I imported fl.video.FLVPlayback and Flash accused not
knowing
> this class...
Just make sure to drag the FLVPlayback component from the
Components
panel into your Library. After that, the following four lines
(just for
example) will do it:
import fl.video.FLVPlayback;
var player:FLVPlayback = new FLVPlayback();
player.source = "
http://www.helpexamples.com/flash/video/caption_video.flv";
addChild(player);
David Stiller
Co-author, Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers
http://tinyurl.com/2k29mj
"Luck is the residue of good design."

Using Flash Skins - any issues?

Just upgraded from RoboInfo 5 to RoboHelp 7 (long overdue)
I'm considering using a Flash skin, but am just curious if
there's any issues in doing this.
Is it possible to add a new menu button if I use a Flash skin
(I have experience using Flash, but don't think it is possible to
edit the source code so I could create a new menu button as I've
done previously with html).
Does using a Flash skin slow down the performance at all? I
won't use a Flash skin just to get a few cool animations if I know
that it slow down the application and affect the user experience.
Any other issues with using a Flash skin I should be aware
of?

Hi hughbetcha
There is no FlashHelp skins editor as there is in WebHelp. So
adding a button is normally right out, unless you have some Flash
skills. But you said you actually do have Flash skills. So you will
be interested in the Skins Development Kit. Don't worry, it's not a
separate thing you have to purchase. It's really a collection of
documentation and some source files to use. You should find it in
the following location:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe RoboHelp 7\FlashHelp SDK
Cheers... Rick

Swf skin and caption

I publish the swf from flash. The swf preview fine in Flash,
the html file created from flash views properly. However, when I
place the swf in Dreamweaver and test the flv file views, but the
skin and captions do not. I get these errors:
Error #2044: Unhandled skinError:. text=[IOErrorEvent
type="ioError" bubbles=false cancelable=false eventPhase=2
text="Error #2035: URL Not Found. URL:
SkinUnderPlaySeekCaption.swf"]
Error #2044: Unhandled ioError:. text=Error #2032: Stream
Error. URL: caption_video.xml
What can I do here.
Thanks

correct, it is an xml. actually, an xml with a specific (timed text) format:
from the flash help files:
var xml:XML = <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
     <tt xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2006/04/ttaf1" xmlns:tts="http://www.w3.org/2006/04/ttaf1#styling">
         <head>
             <styling>
                 <style id="1" tts:textAlign="right"/>
                 <style id="2" tts:color="transparent"/>
                 <style id="3" style="2" tts:backgroundColor="white"/>
                 <style id="4" style="2 3" tts:fontSize="20"/>
             </styling>
         </head>
         <body>
              <div xml:lang="en">
                 <p begin="00:00:00.50" dur="500ms">Four score and twenty years ago</p>
                 <p begin="00:00:02.50"><span tts:fontFamily="monospaceSansSerif,proportionalSerif,TheOther"tts:fontSize="+2">our forefathers</span> brought forth<br /> on this continent</p>
                 <p begin="00:00:04.40" dur="10s" style="1">a <span tts:fontSize="12 px">new</span> <span tts:fontSize="300%">nation</span></p>
                 <p begin="00:00:06.50" dur="3">conceived in <span tts:fontWeight="bold" tts:color="#ccc333">liberty</span> <span tts:color="#ccc333">and dedicated to</span> the proposition</p>
                 <p begin="00:00:11.50" tts:textAlign="right">that <span tts:fontStyle="italic">all</span> men are created equal.</p>
                 <p begin="15s" style="4">The end.</p>
             </div>
         </body>
     </tt>
and the caption button needs to be created and coded by you or, use a skin with a caption button like the skin you said you used, SkinUnderPlaySeekCaption.swf

Swf. file only shows skin and no video! Please Help!

I've created a flash video that tests great in flash, in its folder with its skin and flv. component and even in Dreamweaver test. But when I upload all of the files onto my server it will show only the empty player with the skin progress bar looking green hash-marked. Does anyone know what is wrong? For some reason it looks like it can't find the .flv.
I've the latest version of Flash and Dreamweaver and the .swf file works great until it is actually uploaded on my site. All the files are in their own folder, in my site folder.
Is there a proper way to put these 3 files on the site? I usually just pull the files into the folder on my computer and refresh and then upload. My other videos appear to work but this is a re-ocurring problem!
Thanks to anyone for their help!!!
East

The Flash will not likely be able to load the file from your harddrive if it is on the server... hopefully your browser would prevent any online file from being able to access files on your harddrive.
You will know if the file is dynamically loaded or not if you physically placed the flv contents into the Flash files (manual) or you just provide the name of the file for the Flash file to load (dynamic).

Flash skins and designers

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