Week 14
Monday * April 11
Working with dynamic text, TLF Text (new in CS5), and XML in Flash.
- LAB XML how-to and exercise. Work on Lesson 7 (bring book and CD to class!).
- LECTURE 1 Flash Project workshop and Q & A
- LECTURE 2 Flash Project workshop and Q & A
DUE Nothing! The Flash Project is due NEXT WEEK
READ Lesson 7 in Adobe Flash CS5 Professional Classroom in a Book (ACiaB).
Notes * * *
XML data: Most news organizations feed external information into Flash via XML. You may never need to create an XML document from scratch, but you may well be expected to edit one, or to insert data into an XML format.
Dynamic text: The three types of Classic Text in Flash are Static, Dynamic, and Input. New in CS5 is TLF Text, which offers some interesting potential for layouts, as seen in Lesson 7 in your textbook (ACiaB). ALthough TLF Text provides some exciting new capabilities in Flash, it also increases the file size of the SWF that is produced.
Classic Static text: It seems to me (from my research so far) that we should still use Classic Static text for about 90 percent of our work in Flash. When text is dynamically loaded from an outside source (such as an XML file), then we cannot use Classic Static, and we need to assess the possible outcomes of using Classic Dynamic vs. TLF Text. This has significantly complicated text decisions for Flash development.
Whenever you create a Static text field, you need to specify:
- Font family
- Font style (bold, italic, etc.)
- Font size
- Text color
- Anti-alias ("for Readability" is best in most cases)
- Selectable or not (There is a tiny button for this, marked with Ab; in MOST cases, text should NOT be selectable. You DO NOT want the text cursor -- an "I" bar shape -- to show up instead of the usual arrow cursor when people are rolling over a map, for example.)
- Alignment (left, center, right, and [NEVER DO IT] justify)
- Position (X,Y)
With Dynamic text, you also need to consider :
- An instance name for the text field (ending in _txt): This is NECESSARY if ActionScript needs to see or use this text field
- Character Embedding (a button on the Properties panel, under Character): If you fail to embed fonts, who knows what someone on another computer might see? (Note that this is NOT an issue with Classic Static text.)
- Multiline: On the Properties panel, under Paragraph (Behavior). Do not specify Single line unless you are certain the text will fit.
With TLF Text, the Character Embedding is always necessary. There are other considerations, which are covered in your book. NOTE: TLF Text requires Fash Player 10 or later.
Supplemental * * *
- Create and edit text fields: From Adobe.com. There is nothing wrong with using Classic Static text in CS5, and this document makes that clear. It also gives you a nice step-by-step in clear, simple language. A related document from Adobe is About classic text fields.
- Embed fonts for consistent text appearance: Adobe.com how-to for CS5.
- Flash CS5: Text Engine. TLF Text explained in a 10-minute video. Pretty good. Embedding explained at 3:25 in the video.
- Having trouble with embedded fonts and HTML text in Flash CS5? A good explanation that also has some good tips.